Off the Hook: Weekly Update 12/22/08

The Idaho Steelheads (16-11-1-1) will be a little merrier as they begin their Christmas break, coming off a 5-2 win over the Bakersfield Condors (9-14-2-2) Saturday night at Qwest Arena. In The Steelheads took two of three of the three game series, beating the Condors 4-3 on Wednesday and losing 1-3 on Friday. The Steelheads also jumped a spot in the West Division, moving into second place, following the Victoria Salmon Kings sweep of the Alaska Aces this week. Idaho is six points behind the Salmon Kings and one point ahead of the Aces. STEELHEADS BECOME STARS FOR MDAQwest Arena will have an NHL look on Friday, Dec. 26 as the Steelheads will wear their National Hockey League affiliate authentic Dallas Stars jerseys marking the second Pepsi ?Future Stars? Jersey Auction benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Their opponents, the Utah Grizzlies, will don the New York Islanders jerseys. Fans will have the opportunity to bid on their favorite players? jerseys, which will start at $200 and can be bought outright for $1,500. The players will pose for a photo with the winning fans after Friday?s game. The two teams will wear the jerseys again in Utah the following night when the teams face off on Utah?s ice giving the Grizzlies the opportunity to auction their jerseys for St. Judes Children?s Hospital. This auction marks the seventh year the Steelheads and Pepsi have teamed up for the MDA. In six years, the auction has raised $64,485.IDAHO STEELHEADS AT A GLANCE34 Points; 2nd West Division, 4th National Conference, 8th OverallOverall: 16-11-1-1 (34 points) Home: 8-6-0-1 (home)Away: 8-5-1-0 (road)Streak: 1-0-0-0Past 10: 6-4-0-0ECHL NATIONAL CONFERENCE, DIVISION STANDINGS West GP W L OTL PTS PCTVictoria Salmon Kings 30 19 9 2 40 0.667Idaho Steelheads 29 16 11 2 34 0.586Alaska Aces 28 16 11 1 33 0.589Phoenix RoadRunners 26 12 11 3 27 0.519Utah Grizzlies 26 11 11 4 26 0.500 Pacific GP W L OTL PTS PCTOntario Reign 28 17 9 2 36 0.643Las Vegas Wranglers 26 11 13 2 24 0.462Stockton Thunder 28 10 14 4 24 0.429Bakersfield Condors 27 9 14 4 22 0.407STEELHEADS BITES• Goaltender Matt Climie has won in six of his last seven starts, including his last three consecutively? Forward Bryan McGregor has goals in his last two games, and points in four of his last five games (3g-1a)? Forward Garett Bembridge tallied four points (3g-1a) in three games vs. Bakersfield this weekROSTER TRANSACTIONS (12/14/08 ? 12/22/08)12/22/08 Add Mark Bomersback, F returned from Syracuse (AHL)12/19/08 Add Tyler Shelast, F assigned by Dallas (NHL)12/18/08 Add Derek Paget, F activated off IR12/18/08 Delete Craig Cescon, F placed on the 3-day IR12/16/08 Delete Mark Bomersback, F loaned to Syracuse (AHL)HOLIDAY GIFT PACKAGESThe Steelheads are offering Holiday Gift Packages for those hard-to-buy-for sports lovers. Starting at $25.00, three different packages are available for purchase at the merchandise stand/store at the game, by calling the Steelheads office (208) 383-0080, or online at the Idaho Steelheads Web site. Visit: http://www.idahosteelheads.com/steelheads-store/holidaypackages.aspxSTEELHEADS SCHEDULE THIS WEEKMonday, Dec. 22 - Thursday, Dec. 25 ? OFFFriday, Dec. 26: ? Practice Qwest Arena 10-11 am? GAME NIGHT Utah @ Idaho 7:10 pm? Pepsi?s Future Stars Jersey Auction, benefiting MDA Saturday, Dec. 27: ? Travel to Utah? Idaho @ Utah 7:05 pm* OF NOTE: The Steelheads front office will be closed from Saturday, Dec. 27 through Monday, Jan. 5.BROADCAST INFOListen to all 72 games with Doug Plagens calling the action. Doug is joined in the booth this season by Steelheads players who will provide color commentary. Tune in to ESPN Radio 1350 KTIK the Ticket on games nights as well as Monday though Friday at 6:00 pm for the Bud Light Idaho Steelheads Hockey Show as Doug and Will Hoenike talk all things Steelheads.All home and road games can be watched through a link on the Steelheads website provided by B2 Networks for $6 a game.STEELHEADS ON B2 TV DEC. 30B2 Networks, the ?Official Broadband Broadcast Provider of the ECHL,? announced that the program lineup for ECHL TV on B2CableTV.com for Dec. 23-30 will be Stockton at Fresno on Saturday, Dayton at Cincinnati on Saturday, Reading at Trenton on Saturday, Utah at Las Vegas on Saturday, Bakersfield at Idaho on Saturday, Elmira at Gwinnett on Sunday and South Carolina at Charlotte from Sunday. To watch ECHL games free of charge 24 hours a day go to B2CableTV.com, click on the ?Hockey? tab and select ECHL TV. Viewers need a high-speed internet connection and a current version of Microsoft Windows Media Player to watch the Network. TICKET INFOThe Idaho Steelheads offer a variety of ticket plans to fit any schedule or pocket book. Call (208) 383-0080 to find out more. For day of game tickets, visit idahosteelheads.com and use the print at home feature, or call (208) 331-TIXS or visit the box office at Qwest Arena.- www.idahosteelheads.com -