Off the Hook: Steelheads Update 2/16/09

Nearly 10,000 fans came out to Qwest Arena over the weekend to support the Steelheads after a 30-day absence from home ice. The 4,579 were disappointed on Friday the 13th though as Idaho lost 3-1 to the Phoenix RoadRunners. But, the team staged a comeback against the RoadRunners Saturday and, with a 4-2 win, gave the 4,965 in attendance something to cheer about.VEGAS, BABYThe Steelheads (27-16-2-1=57 points) continue their home stint at Qwest Arena with games this Wednesday, Friday and Saturday against the arch-rival Las Vegas Wranglers (26-19-1-4=57 points). The series should be a good one as teams are closely matched; Idaho ranks 8th overall in the league and Vegas ranks 9th. They?re 4th and 5th respectively in the National Conference.The visit to Boise is the first this season for Las Vegas.Previous meetings this season @ Las Vegas: Idaho 1 @ Las Vegas 7 (Nov 15 2008) FinalIdaho 6 @ Las Vegas 1 (Nov 14 2008) FinalSLIERS AND SPECIAL OLYMPIANS HONOREDThe Steelheads honored pediatric patients of St. Luke?s*Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Services and Idaho?s Special Olympians at the games on Friday and Saturday at Qwest Arena. The team wore Special Olympics-themed jerseys during the weekend homestand and auctioned them off. $9,300 was raised from the auction and from a raffle held for a team-autographed jersey. All proceeds benefit pediatric therapy services at SLIERS and the Special Olympics of Idaho. • Jan Sprague won the team-autographed jersey.? Ben Boyd dropped the puck Friday night. Ben is a patient of SLIERS and was thrilled to be a particpant in the Special Olympics Invitational Games last year when he was selected to carry the torch.? On Saturday, Andrew Schade, a patient of SLIERS who plays hockey on the unified floor hockey team for Special Olympics of Idaho, dropped the puck amongst several of this year?s World Winter Games medalists: -The Caldwell Wildcats Team USA Floor Hockey Team - Silver Medal. -Reuban Murray - two Bronze Medals in the Snowshoe events. -Analine Travis - two Bronze Medals in the Cross Country Skiing events.IDAHO STEELHEADS AT-A-GLANCE57 Points; 3rd West Division, 4th National Conference, 8th OverallOverall: 27-16-2-1 (57 points) Home: 12-8-0-1 (home)Away: 15-8-2-0 (road)Streak: 1-0-0-0Past 10: 6-3-1-0ECHL NATIONAL CONFERENCE, DIVISION STANDINGS West GP W L OTL PTS PCTVictoria Salmon Kings 53 30 17 6 66 0.623Alaska Aces 52 30 19 3 63 0.606Idaho Steelheads 46 27 16 3 57 0.620Utah Grizzlies 48 18 16 14 50 0.521Phoenix RoadRunners 47 21 23 3 45 0.479 Pacific GP W L OTL PTS PCTOntario Reign 50 27 19 4 58 0.580Las Vegas Wranglers 50 26 19 5 57 0.570Stockton Thunder 52 24 23 5 53 0.510Bakersfield Condors 52 19 27 6 44 0.423STEELHEADS BITES? Bryan McGregor factored into all four goals in the Steelheads' 4-2 W vs. PHX on 2/14 (1g-3a)? Looks like Steelheads captain and team-leader in scoring Marty Flichel (13g-28a=41 points) will miss upcoming games due to an injury he sustained in Saturday?s game against Pheonix.? Steelheads netminders split the weekend set, with Matt Climie getting the 1-3 loss Friday and Reggie Beauchemin recording a 4-2 win Saturday. Climie is 16-9-1-0 with 2.73 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage on the season while Beauchemin is 11-7-1-1 with a 2.79 GAA and .877 sv%.HATS OFF!? Kris Sparre had the first Steelheads hat trick of the season in Monday's 6-1 W @ STK.ROSTER TRANSACTIONS (2/10/09 ? 2/16/09)2/16/09 Delete Marty Flichel, F placed on the 7-day IR2/16/09 Add Brent Shepheard, F activated off the 3-day IR2/13/09 Add Derek Paget, F activated off IR2/13/09 Delete Brent Shepheard, F placed on the 3-day IRSTEELHEADS SCHEDULE THIS WEEKMonday, Feb. 16: Practice at Qwest Arena, 10-11:00 amTuesday, Feb. 17: Practice at Qwest Arena, 10-11:00 amWednesday, Feb. 18: Practice at Qwest Arena, 10-11:00 am; GAME NIGHT VS LAS VEGAS; 7:00 PM MSTThursday, Feb. 19: OFF DAYFriday, Feb. 20: Practice at Qwest Arena, 10-11:00 am; GAME NIGHT VS LAS VEGAS; 7:00 PM MSTSaturday, Feb. 21: Practice at Qwest Arena, 10-11:00 am; GAME NIGHT VS PHOENIX; 7:00 PM MSTSunday, Feb. 22: Qwest FREE Skate at Qwest Arena: 1-3pm; Steelheads team appearance PROMOTIONSMonday, Feb. 16: Join Voice of the Steelheads Doug Plagens and Will Hoenike ? along with Steelheads Kyle Radke and Brent Shepheard tonight at Hooters for the Bud Light Idaho Steelheads Hockey Show, broadcast live from 6-7pm. Friday, Feb. 20: Pucks For Pets! is Back as The Steelheads and Westvet Team Up For Homeless Pets? The Idaho Steelheads and WestVet Emergency & Specialty Center are asking fans to bring a bag/cans of pet food to donate at the game on Friday, Feb. 20 to help homeless cats and dogs through Northwest Animal Companions. WestVet will have their ambulance set up on the Grove Plaza and will give fans a 2-for-1 coupon to an upcoming Steelheads game for every donation. Saturday, Feb. 21: ICCU Night! Idaho Central Credit Union will be at the Steelheads game 800 strong, and will give Steelheads fans a chance to win CASH on the concourse. Come on out for your chance to win!STEELHEADS GAME SCHEDULEThe following is a schedule of games left to be played in the 2008-09 season:OPPONENT DAY DATE47 Las Vegas Wed 2/18/200948 Las Vegas Fri 2/20/200949 Las Vegas Sat 2/21/200950 Utah Tue 2/24/200951 Utah Wed 2/25/200952 at Stockton 2/27/200953 at Stockton 2/28/200954 at Stockton 3/1/200955 Victoria Wed 3/4/200956 Victoria Fri 3/6/200957 Victoria Sat 3/7/200958 at Utah 3/11/200959 at Las Vegas 3/13/200960 at Las Vegas 3/14/200961 at Utah 3/15/200962 at Victoria 3/18/200963 at Victoria 3/20/200964 at Victoria 3/21/200965 at Victoria 3/22/200966 Ontario Wed 3/25/200967 Ontario Fri 3/27/200968 Ontario Sat 3/28/200969 Phoenix Tue 3/31/200970 Phoenix Wed 4/1/200971 Phoenix Fri 4/3/200972 Phoenix Sat 4/4/2009BROADCAST 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.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 -