Bachman, Barlow named to ECHL All-Rookie team

(Boise, ID) ? Goaltender Richard Bachman and forward Evan Barlow have each been named to the six-member ECHL All-Rookie team, announced Thursday by the ECHL league office. ?Very deserving,? Steelheads head coach Derek Laxdal said of the announcement. ?They?ve both worked their tails off this season.? Barlow, 24, is tops among ECHL rookies in plus/minus at plus-28. He?s second among ECHL rookies in points with 72 (behind fellow All-Rookie honoree Justin Donati?s 96) and also second in the entire ECHL with 14 power-play goals, only trailing teammate Mark Derlago?s 18. The Cornell product is second on the Idaho roster in goals (32), assists (40), and points (72). He was also named the MVP of the ECHL All Star Game in January. Bachman, under contract with the NHL?s Dallas Stars, leads the ECHL in goals-against average (2.26) and is tied for the league lead in shutouts (4) after blanking the Alaska Aces late Tuesday night. The 22-year-old carries a 22-7-3 record between the pipes for Idaho in his first season out of Colorado College and, like Barlow, participated in the ECHL All Star Game. Barlow and Bachman were the only two representatives of the National Conference on the six-member team. The All-Rookie team was determined by a vote of ECHL coaches, who were asked to vote for a goaltender, two defensemen, and three forwards. A rookie is defined as a player who had played in fewer than 25 games prior to the start of the current season. The All-Rookie team, as announced Thursday by the ECHL: F ? Evan Barlow, Idaho Steelheads (55 gp, 32g, 40a, 72 pts, +28) F ? Justin Donati, Elmira Jackals (62 gp, 38g, 58a, 96 pts, +13) F ? Maxime Tanguay, Toledo Walleye (63 gp, 25g, 43a, 68 pts, +3) D ? Drew Paris, Gwinnett Gladiators (68 gp, 12g, 32a, 44 pts, -18) D ? Sam Roberts, Gwinnett Gladiators (67 gp, 10g, 30a, 40 pts, -15) G ? Richard Bachman, Idaho Steelheads (34 gp, 22-7-3, 2.26 GAA, .909 Save Pct.) The Steelheads open up the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs on April 16 and 17 at Qwest Arena. Catch playoff fever with a group night with the Steelheads ? a great way to get family, friends, or colleagues together for a discounted price. Each ticket comes with a soda, hot dog, and bag of chips. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 for more information.