A Goalie, A Forward and A D-Man Ready to Battle for Steelheads

The ECHL?s Idaho Steelheads Hockey Club announced today the team has agreed to terms with Philadelphia Flyers draft pick goaltender Rejean (Reggie) Beauchemin , and Americans Ben Nelson (forward) and Kelly Sullivan (defenseman). Beauchemin, who was a sixth-round selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, played 41 games for the ECHL?s Dayton Bombers in his third professional season last year. With the Bombers, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound backstop registered a 2.88 goals-against average with a .912 save percentage for a 16-17-7 record. From 2005-07, the 23-year-old spent time with the American Hockey League?s Philadelphia Phantoms, as well as the ECHL?s Bakersfield Condors and Trenton Titans. Beauchemin, who hails from Winnipeg, MAN., played three junior seasons with the Western Hockey League?s Prince Albert Raiders from 2002-05.Nelson, 25, played seven games with the ECHL?s South Carolina Stingrays last season following the cessation of his NCAA career with Quinnipiac University (Conn). In four seasons with the Bobcats, the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Spokane native scored nearly a-point-a-game with 134 points (66g-68a) in 143 games. Prior to college, the rookie Nelson played two seasons with the British Columbia Hockey League, ranking fourth overall in goals his final season.Sullivan is a Michigan native who played the last four seasons with UMass-Lowell in the NCAA. In 88 games with the River Hawks, the 6-foot, 190-pound blueliner had 10 points (2g-8a). The 25-year-old played junior hockey for four seasons prior to his collegiate career, three in the United Hockey League and one with the North American Hockey League.These three additions bring the Steelheads 2008-09 roster to ten. More announcements are expected in the week ahead.The Steelheads open the season at home on Sat. October 18. A variety of Season Ticket Plans for the 2008-09 season, with reduced pricing in some sections, are now available by calling (208) 383.0080 or visiting the team?s website at www.idahosteelheads.com. The Idaho Steelheads are the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League?s Dallas Stars.- www.idahosteelheads.com -