Two Veteran, Champion Players Return to Idaho

The Idaho Steelheads Hockey Club announced today it has come to terms with defenseman Darrell Hay and forward Marty Flichel. The veteran duo were members of the 2007 Kelly Cup Championship team; Hay was instrumental in also bringing the 2004 championship to Idaho in its inaugural ECHL season.?The experience and leadership both Darrell and Marty bring to the team as contributors to all aspects of the game are immeasurable,? said Steelheads head coach Derek Laxdal. ?Marty will come back as a third-year captain and we?ll look to Darrell to take on an expanded role and work with the younger defensemen coming in.?At 6-foot and 200-pounds, Hay returns to Idaho for a fifth season. In addition to claiming two championships and being just one of 15 individuals to have his name engraved on the Kelly Cup Trophy twice, the 28-year-old has been voted a starter in the ECHL All-Star Game for two consecutive years, his first in 2007 when he was named Captain of the National Conference squad. In 2008, Hay was named to the All-ECHL First Team, in a vote of ECHL coaches and media, after posting a career-high 45 points (9g-36a). He earned a call up to the American Hockey League?s Grand Rapids Griffins where he played four games, tallying one assist. His teammates voted him Top Defenseman each of the past two seasons. The Kamloops, BC native began the 2006-07 season in training camp with Idaho?s American Hockey League affiliate, the Iowa Stars, following one season in Germany with Schwenningen ERC in the 2.GBun league. Hay began his career with the WHL?s Tri-City Americans (1996-2000) where he won Scholastic Player of the year (1996-97) and was voted Top Defenseman and MVP (1997-98). Since joining the professional ranks nine years ago, Hay has played for the ECHL?s Florida Everblades (2000-01) and the IHL?s Kansas City Blades (2000-01). He returned to the ECHL, with the Columbia Inferno (2001-03) and helped lead the team to the Kelly Cup finals. He also played for the AHL?s Manitoba Moose (2001-03). Hay signed with the Steelheads in 2003-04, and was called up to Idaho?s AHL affiliate the Utah Grizzlies for 10 games, then finished that season and the next with the Steelheads. Hay was originally drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the 9th round, (271 overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. His father, Don Hay was head coach of the NHL Calgary Flames (2000-01) and Phoenix Coyotes (1996-97).Flichel, who is entering into his sixth season with Idaho and 12th professional, was named co-recipient of the 2007-08 Cal Ingraham Leading Scorer Award (67 pts), which ranked him 17th in the ECHL in scoring. The team captain led the Steelheads with 48 assists in 2008 and was named runner-up for In Glas Co ECHL Player of the Week from Feb. 25 ? March 2 (3GP = 2g-7a). He hit a career, game-high seven points (1g-6a) in a March 1, 8-3 win over Bakersfield becoming only the 13th player in ECHL history to earn six assists in a game. The 32-year-old had a career-high season in 2006-07 as the team?s leading scorer with 87 points, 39 goals and 48 assists. He finished tied for third in the ECHL in goals scored and fourth overall in points. Flichel tallied 22 points (9g-13a) in 22 postseason games, which ranked second behind former teammate Lance Galbraith (27 points). In April, he was named to the All-ECHL First Team, becoming the first Steelheads player to gather the accomplishment.Flichel, 5-foot-9 and 195-pounds, was drafted by the Dallas Stars 9th round, 228th overall in 1994. His career has spanned the WHL, IHL, BISL, WCHL, UHL and ECHL. Flichel hails from Hodgeville, Saskatchewan. He is married to wife Rachel and together they have two daughters. A variety of Season Ticket Plans for the 2008-09 season, with reduced pricing, are now available by calling (208) 383.0080 or visiting the team?s website at www.idahosteelheads.com.- www.idahosteelheads.com -