Six Suit Up for Steelheads

The Idaho Steelheads today announced six rookies will join the ECHL team for the upcoming 2008-09 campaign. The signings give the Steelheads 18 players on their roster heading in to the opening of training camp on October 3. Camp will be held in McCall, and the Steelheads will play two preseason games against the Victoria Salmon Kings at the Manchester Ice Centre in McCall October 10 and 11.Two Manitoba natives, both graduates of Bemidji State University, impressed Steelheads head coach Derek Laxdal, himself a Manitoban: Riley Weselowski, a 23-year-old defenseman, 6-0 and 195-pounds, had 39 points (8g-31a) and 150 penalty minutes in 124 games played with the Beavers. Weselowski was selected to the ESPN The Magazine / College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) University Division All-District V At-Large Team, and was named to the All-District first team, his third consecutive appearance on the all-district squad. Left wing Blaine Jarvis, 24, had 65 points (33g-32a) and 91 penalty minutes in 129 games played. The 6-0 and 200-pound forward earned a spot on the 2005-06 CHA All-Academic team. Jarvis? five career game-winners ranks him fifth at BSU since 1999.As captain of his Michigan Tech team, senior forward Jimmy Kerr earned the 2007-08 Wildcat Slayer Award, given to the team?s standout player against rival Northern Michigan for showing tremendous leadership and effort. The 5-foot-9, 200-pound Alberta native also received Michigan Tech?s 2007-08 Unsung Hero Award. As a Husky, Kerr played 144 games and scored 53 points (27g-26a) with 264 penalty minutes.Dan Eves, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound forward, out of Lake Superior State University, tallied 63 points (29g-34a) and 229 penalty minutes for his NCAA career. The Michigan native was named LSSU Freshman of the Year in 2004-05 and is a two-time winner of the Soo BlueLiners Award (2006-07 and 2007-08).Curtis Billsten stands 6-foot-3, weighs in at 220, and is considered a power forward. He played parts of five seasons in the Western Hockey League. In total, Billsten recorded 72 goals and 156 points in 266 games, including a career-best 24 goals and 64 points in 70 games during 2006-07 while serving as an assistant captain with the Kootenay Ice. In 2007-08, the Calgary-born Billsten notched 25 points (14g-11a) on 27 games with 59 penalty minutes.Also on board with the Steelheads this season is left wing Kris Sparre. Sparre, 21, played 9 games with the Columbia Inferno of the ECHL at the end of last season, scoring 1 goal and 3 assists, with 10 penalty minutes. In 2007-08 he had 37 points (22g-15a) and 35 penalty minutes in 59 games while splitting the season with the Barrie Colts and Mississauga St. Michael?s Majors of the Ontario Hockey League. The 5-foot-9, 170-pounder from Mississauga, Ontario has 92 points (52g-40a) and 75 penalty minutes in 150 career OHL games with Barrie and Mississauga from 2005-06 through 2007-08. 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 -