Canadian defenceman C.J. Garcia joins the Steeldogs after two strong seasons with the Manchester Storm, where he was a mainstay on the blue line across all 54 league games in both 2023–24 and 2024–25. Last season saw Garcia post a career-high 16 points in the EIHL.

A product of the Ontario Hockey League, Garcia logged over 260 OHL games with Barrie, Guelph (where he wore the captain’s “C”), and Saginaw, bringing leadership and consistency to each stop. He made a brief professional debut in the ECHL before heading to Carleton University, where he became a key contributor over four USports seasons.

Since turning pro full-time, Garcia has featured in France’s Ligue Magnus with Anglet, Romania’s Erste Liga with Corona Brasov, and the AIHL with Perth Thunder—demonstrating a strong two-way game and reliable minutes wherever he’s gone.

Head Coach Slava Koulikov said:
“CJ is a very dependable defenceman with a high hockey IQ and great character. He’s played big minutes in the EIHL and shown he can contribute in all situations. He’s steady, smart, and brings valuable experience across multiple levels of the game. We think he’ll be a strong piece of our D core this season.”