High Scoring Forward Back to Lead Steelheads Charge

The Idaho Steelheads Hockey Club announced today that two Ferris State University standouts, left wing Mark Bomersback and defenseman Adam Welch, have agreed to terms with the ECHL team for the 2008-09 campaign.After attending American Hockey League training camp with the (now defunct) Iowa Stars, Bomersback signed with the Steelheads to start his rookie season in 2007-08 season and scored 39 points (20g-19a) in 35 games. He earned a call up to the Stars in Dec. and was eventually signed to an AHL contract. Iowa returned the 5-10, 195-pound forward to Idaho at the end of the ECHL regular season to help the Steelheads with their playoff push. ?Mark is very excited to be back with the Steelheads and we?re excited to have him,? said Steelheads Head Coach Derek Laxdal. ?He?s been offered the opportunity to attend the Providence Bruins camp in the AHL and, upon his return to Idaho, we?ll be looking for ways to increase his role with the team offensively and defensively.?Bomersback, who hails from Alberta, had a stellar collegiate and junior career. He was named MVP of his team at Ferris State University following his senior season in 2006-07 and in 2003-04 received FSU?s Rookie of the Year award. He completed his Alberta Junior Hockey League career as the league?s all-time leading scorer, tallying 394 points in 250 games. In 2002-03, he posted 114 points in 64 games to lead the Canmore Eagles (AJHL) in scoring and was named the RBC Financial Group Canadian Junior ?A? Player of the Year.Welch, 6-3 and 210-pounds, captained the Ferris State Bulldogs in 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08, becoming only the fourth skater in the program's history to serve as team captain for more than two seasons. Bulldogs head coach Bob Daniels touted Welch as someone who ?provided outstanding leadership? and who was ?well-respected by his teammates and coaching staff.?Laxdal said that as a big, strong stay at home defenseman, Welch will be a great addition to the solid core he?s bringing back from last year. ?Our defense will be the strongest it has been in the last three years with this years? new recruits,? added Laxdal.Welch played four seasons with the Bulldogs from 2004 through 2008, and compiled eight points (2g-6a) in his senior year. He was a co-recipient of the team's Blueline Competitive Award in 2006-07 and was also a 2005-06 co-winner of the award. As a freshman walk-on in the 2004-05 season, Welch achieved Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) All-Rookie Honorable Mention Team honors and was selected as FSU's Rookie of the Year after posting six points (1g-5a) in 36 games. Welch's 2004-05 season points total tied for him for top team honors among the Bulldogs? defensemen. Welch, a Hastings, Minn. native, will suit up for the Dallas Stars squad at this years NHL prospects camp in Traverse City prior to joining Idaho?s ECHL training camp. Both Bomersback and Welch were Bulldogs teammates with former Steelhead Greg Rallo, who signed for the 2008-09 season with the AHL?s Manitoba Moose. The Steelheads open their season at home on Saturday, Oct. 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 -