Laxdal named ECHL All Star head coach

(Boise, ID) ? Idaho Steelheads head coach Derek Laxdal has been selected to be the head coach for the National Conference in the upcoming ECHL All Star Game on January 20. ?I?m excited,? Laxdal said. ?It?ll be the first time for me as a coach. It?s going to be great to work with the best players in our league.? Joining Laxdal on the National Conference bench will be Marty Raymond, the head coach of the Bakersfield Condors. Cail MacLean of the South Carolina Stingrays will be the head coach for the American Conference. ?There are a lot of great coaches in our league,? Laxdal continued. ?To have this opportunity to represent our organization and our fans is a big honor for me.? The 2010 ECHL All Star Game presented by Reebok Hockey and brought to you by Toyota and the City of Ontario will take place at the Citizen Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, on January 20. The head coaches are selected based on winning percentage. Laxdal and MacLean are the head men for the two best teams, percentage-wise, in the ECHL. Assistants are picked based on a combination of winning percentage and a league-wide vote of coaches. The 43-year-old Laxdal is in his fifth season as head coach of the Idaho Steelheads. He has a career mark of 192-99-30 with the Steelheads and led the organization to the 2007 ECHL Kelly Cup championship. Idaho has won at least 40 games in each of Laxdal?s four seasons at the helm and, and 23-8-2 going into tonight?s home game against Stockton, appear primed to make it five straight seasons with at least 40 wins. The Steelheads conclude a three-game homestand against Stockton tonight, January 2, at Qwest Arena. The team?s next home game is January 13 against Utah. 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.