Flichel becomes Steelheads' all-time leading scorer

(Boise, ID) ? With a third-period rip past Bakersfield netminder Timo Pielmeier on Friday night, Marty Flichel became the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Idaho Steelheads. Flichel now has 382 points (150 goals, 232 assists) while wearing a Steelheads sweater, moving him past Steelhead icon Cal Ingraham, who had 381 points (175 goals, 206 assists) between 1998 and 2002, when Idaho was in the West Coast Hockey League. "Any time you can be mentioned in the same sentence as a player like Cal, it's something special," Flichel said. "It's a big honor and a great feeling for me." Flichel was already the organization's all-time leading scorer in the ECHL era. He played one season with the team in the WCHL (2002-2003), played one season with Kalamazoo in the United Hockey League, and then returned to Idaho in 2004-2005, after the team had joined the ECHL. Overall, he's in his seventh season with the Steelheads. "It's a shame he couldn't do it in front of the home fans, but how fitting," Steelheads head coach Derek Laxdal said. "The goal that puts him over the top is the game-winner in a big game for the team." Flichel's goal gave Idaho a 4-2 lead over the Pacific Division-leading Condors in a game the Steelheads went on to win, 6-3, to increase their lead in both the West Division (over Victoria) and the National Conference (over Bakersfield). The 33-year-old Flichel is a native of Hodgeville, Saskatchewan. He was a 9th-round selection by the Dallas Stars in the 1994 NHL Draft. He has 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) on the season with his best season coming in 2006-2007, when he had 87 points in 70 games to help Idaho win the ECHL's Kelly Cup championship, earning first-team All-ECHL accolades. He remains the only Steelhead player to earn that honor. The Steelheads return to Qwest Arena in Boise on February 10, when they host the Utah Grizzlies. It's a "2-for-1 Wednesday" -- where fans can receive two tickets to the game for the price of one and be eligible for a number of discounts from downtown merchants. Tickets are available by calling the Qwest Arena box office at 208.331.TIXS.