Beauchemin returns from AHL, defenseman added

(Boise, ID) ? Even though his team is off for the ECHL All-Star break, Idaho Steelheads head coach Derek Laxdal continued to work with his roster on Monday. Goaltender Rejean Beauchemin was returned by the AHL?s Manitoba Moose and defenseman Steven Oleksy (oh-LEX-ee) has signed a contract with the team. Both will be with Idaho (25-10-2) when the team returns to the ice Friday night at home against Las Vegas. Beauchemin spent the weekend with the Moose, seeing some ice time in relief during a 7-2 Moose loss on Friday night in Winnipeg. The 24-year-old has moved into the top three in the ECHL in goals-against average (2.69) this season. He has also cracked the organization?s top three in wins (30) since the team joined the ECHL prior to the 2003-2004 season. Oleksy, 23, joins the team after skating in 28 games for Port Huron of the International Hockey League. He also has brief ECHL stints with Toledo and Las Vegas following a three-year college career at Lake Superior State, the same school that produced former Steelhead standout Kory Scoran. ?A couple of our guys are familiar with Steven, which helped me out a bit,? Laxdal said. ?And, after trading two defensemen last week, we could use a little extra depth on the blue line.? Oleksy?s signing gives Laxdal seven healthy defensemen: Oleksy, Riley Weselowski, Weston Tardy, Guillaume Monast, Brendan Milnamow, Cody Lampl, and the recently-acquired Dustin Friesen. Brad Miller is on the team?s injured-reserve list. Idaho is off for the ECHL All Star break, returning to action January 22 against Las Vegas in Boise. Tickets are available at the Qwest Arena box office or by calling 208.331.TIXS. Group outings are a great way to get friends, family, co-workers, or colleagues together to enjoy a night out at great savings over walk-up ticket prices. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 for more information.