Bachman, Spurgeon, Tousignant all called up to AHL

(Boise, ID) ? Goaltender Richard Bachman and forward Mathieu Tousignant have been recalled by the AHL?s Texas Stars and forward Tyler Spurgeon has been loaned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. Also, defenseman Trevor Ludwig has been reassigned to Idaho by Texas. ?It goes hand-in-hand with having a great season at this level of hockey,? Idaho Steelheads head coach Derek Laxdal said of the flurry of callups. ?Those three guys are a big part of why we have the league?s best record, they?ve all earned this opportunity at the next level.? Bachman, 22, leads the ECHL in wins (9), is second in goals-against average (2.12), and tied for fourth in save percentage (.916). He had posted wins in his last five starts, allowing just seven goals in that stretch. The Colorado College product is on an NHL contract and was assigned to Idaho by the Dallas Stars in late September.Tousignant, 20, has been one of the Steelheads? most-productive skaters recently with four goals and three assists in Idaho?s past six games. The Quebec native has 17 points on the season (6 goals, 11 assists), which is third on the team through 20 games. Tousignant is on an AHL contract and was assigned to Idaho by Texas in early October. The 23-year-old Spurgeon is in the ECHL?s top-ten in scoring with 23 points (4 goals, 19 assists), a mark that leads the team. He also leads the team with a plus-14 rating. He signed an ECHL deal with Idaho in the offseason after spending the past three seasons in the AHL, including 34 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2006-07. Ludwig, 24, has bounced back and forth between Idaho and the AHL?s Texas Stars this season. He has played in 11 games so far with Idaho, totaling six points (1 goal, 5 assists). He also played 35 games with Idaho last season. He will join the team in time for Thursday?s home game against Alaska at Qwest Arena. The Steelheads return to the Qwest Arena ice Thursday night, December 3, when they host the Alaska Aces. Tickets are available at the Qwest Arena box office or by calling 208.331.TIXS. Full-season and partial-season ticket plans remain available as well. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 for more information..