Off the Hook: Steelheads Update 3/2/09

The Steelheads will play, what could be their biggest week of hockey this season, at Qwest Arena as they face off against the Victoria Salmon Kings on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. On the line? The West Division lead. With only 18 regular season games left in the 2008-09 season, the teams are jockeying for playoff positioning. Alaska pulled into first place over the weekend and currently sits at 71 points. Victoria comes in tied with Idaho at 68 points. The difference is both Alaska and Victoria have played 57 games, while Idaho has only played 54.PLAYERS TO WATCH IN THE BATTLE OF THE FISH• Victoria: Wes Goldie has tallied 3 goals in his last 4 games and is second in the ECHL with 42 goals in 57 games after leading the league in 2007-08 with 42 goals?Curtis Billsten, who began the 2008-09 season with Idaho, is fourth on the team in points, 11g-22a for 33 pts?Between the pipes, the Salmon Kings have Todd Ford, who in 28 games touts a 15-10-0-1 record, 2.43 goals-against average and .921 save percentage?Julien Ellis is 6-6-1-2 with a 2.25 GAA and a .927 SV%.? Idaho: Bryan McGregor leads the team in points with 46 (21g-25a) in 51 games-played; his six-game point streak was snapped in Sunday?s 2-1 SOL @ STK; he had 4 goals and 4 assists in the six-game stretch? Garett Bembridge has 2 goals and 2 assists in his last three games? Mark Bomersback is second on the Steelheads in points with 42 (21g-21a) points in 37 games-played?Rookie Matt Climie is 3-1-0 with a shutout and a goals-against average of 1.25 in his last four starts...overall he?s 19-10-1-0 with a 2.54 GAA and .909 SV%...Rejean Beauchemin is 13-8-1-2 with a 2.65 GAA and .864 SV%. STEELHEADS REEL REWINDThe Steelheads finished up a tough week with a 2-2-1 record, playing five games in six nights, including three consecutive in Stockton, and head coach Derek Laxdal said he?s happy with his team?s effort. ?We came out of a hostile environment in Stockton with a split and I?m happy with the position we?re in right now,? said Laxdal. ?We?ve got three critical games ahead of us against Victoria and that?s what we?re focused on now.?STEELHEADS BITESEntering this week, the Steelheads are second in the league in winning percentage @ .630% behind the American Conference?s Florida Everblades @ 693%. Idaho is tied with National Conference rivals Victoria and Ontario for fourth in the league in points with 68. IDAHO STEELHEADS AT-A-GLANCE68 Points; T2nd West Division, T2nd National Conference, T4th OverallOverall: 32-18-2-2 (68 points) Home: 16-9-0-1 (home)Away: 16-9-2-1 (road)Streak: 1-0-0-1Past 10: 6-3-0-1ECHL NATIONAL CONFERENCE, DIVISION STANDINGS West GP W L OTL PTS PCTAlaska Aces 57 34 20 3 71 0.623Idaho Steelheads 54 32 18 4 68 0.630Victoria Salmon Kings 57 31 20 6 68 0.596Utah Grizzlies 56 21 20 15 57 0.509Phoenix RoadRunners 54 25 26 3 53 0.491 Pacific GP W L OTL PTS PCTOntario Reign 57 32 21 4 68 0.596Las Vegas Wranglers 58 26 24 8 60 0.517Stockton Thunder 58 27 26 5 59 0.509Bakersfield Condors 59 24 28 7 55 0.466ROSTER TRANSACTIONS (2/22/09 ? 3/02/09)3/2/09 Delete Matt Stephenson, D recalled by Manitoba (AHL)2/26/09 Delete Justin Bourne, F suspended by teamSTEELHEADS SCHEDULE THIS WEEKMonday, Mar. 2: Travel DayTuesday, Feb. 23: Practice at Qwest Arena, 10-11:00 amWednesday, Feb. 24: Practice at Qwest Arena, 10-11:00 am; GAME NIGHT VS VICTORIA; 7:00 PM MSTThursday, Feb. 25: Practice at Qwest Arena, 11am-NoonFriday, Feb. 26: Practice at Qwest Arena, 10-11:00 am; GAME NIGHT VS VICTORIA; 7:00 PM MSTSaturday, Feb. 27: Practice at Qwest Arena, 10-11:00 am; GAME NIGHT VS VICTORIA; 7:00 PM MSTSunday, Feb. 28: Off DayPROMOTIONSWEDNESDAY: ? COOL. PERIOD. GREEN. PERIOD. The Steelheads are going GREEN on Wednesday and want to thank the following GREEN Partners: Green Foundations Building Center, Renewable Energy Resources, Ferox Fuel Tabs, Scooters of Boise, and the City of Boise. And, as part of our recycling program the Ronald McDonald House will be collecting the following items at the door: Please bring old cell phones and accessories, including batteries and chargers, iPods and MP3 players, Pocket PCs, PDAs and other handheld devices and digital cameras.FRIDAY:? NAPA Auto Parts 2-for-1 Family Night: Visit any Treasure Valley Napa Auto Parts store and ask for your 2-for-1 admission coupon redeemable at the Qwest Arena Box Office for the Steelheads March 6th home game.? Autograph Party: Immediately following the game, come on down to the ice to meet the Idaho Steelheads team and get an autograph from your favorite players.SATURDAY:? Pepsi Hat Giveaway Night: It?s one of the favorite games of the year! The Pepsi Hat Giveaway is guaranteed to all Full-Season Idaho Steelheads Ticket Holders and Season Mini Holders. Any remaining giveaway items will be distributed to the first fans through the door while supplies last. Doors open at 6:30pm.STEELHEADS GAME SCHEDULEThe following is a schedule of games left to be played in the 2008-09 season:OPPONENT DAY DATE55 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 4/4/2009STEELHEADS AT HOOTERS!Join Voice of the Steelheads Doug Plagens and Will Hoenike Monday nights at Hooters when the team is in town for the Bud Light Idaho Steelheads Hockey Show from 6pm-7pm. Tonight?s guests will be Boise Burn Head Coach Brent Winter.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.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 -