Preparations continue for Steelheads training camp

The Qwest Arena staff spent Wednesday cooling the floor. Thursday afternoon was preparing the surface. Thursday night ? the logos and lines painted on the ice. It?s almost hockey season in Boise. The ECHL?s Idaho Steelheads are scheduled to hold their first official practice of training camp on Sunday morning, but the team is busy preparing for camp and the season. While the rink was being prepared, equipment manager Khris Bestel was making sure players had their equipment. Head coach Derek Laxdal was making final adjustments to the training camp schedules and the sales staff was on the phone with excited fans. Physicals, dental checkups, and paperwork abound for the 29 players in town, working for a spot on this season?s team. It?s shaping up to be a busy Friday and Saturday before the team takes the ice as a full unit for the first time on Sunday. Friday ? team meetings, fitness testing. Saturday ? full-team participation in the annual ?NAMI Walk,? an event that head coach Derek Laxdal is the honorary chairperson of, in Boise. Sunday ? two practices, one in the morning and one in the evening, as the team begins preparations for the 2009-2010 ECHL season. The Steelheads and Utah Grizzlies will face off in two exhibition games. The first is Friday night, October 9, in Logan, UT. The team will then hop back on the bus for Boise before heading to McCall on Saturday, October 10, to play at the Manchester Ice and Events Centre. The regular season opens Friday, October 16, at Qwest Arena as Idaho hosts the Stockton Thunder. Single-game tickets are available by calling the arena?s box office at 208.331.TIXS. Season-ticket packages for all 36 home games remain available, starting at $450 per seat. Partial-season plans are available for as little as $150 per seat. Contact the Idaho Steelheads front office and ask to speak to an account executive for more information (208.383.0080).