Three 'Heads loaned to AHL

(Boise, ID) ? Three separate American Hockey League teams came calling on the Idaho Steelheads Wednesday night, leaving head coach Derek Laxdal making travel plans and roster adjustments headed into the team?s final two home games of the regular season. Forward Tyler Spurgeon (Abbotsford Heat), forward Ashton Rome (Hershey Bears), and defenseman Dustin Friesen (Bridgeport Sound Tigers) have all been loaned to AHL teams and will not be with Idaho this weekend. ?As a coach, you don?t want to lose players of that caliber in the final two weeks of the regular season,? Laxdal said. ?But it?s good for some of our younger guys, they?ll get an opportunity to prove what they can do in some different roles.? For Friesen, it?s his first callup to the AHL, the highest level of minor-league hockey in North America. Rome is headed up for the third time this season ? including a three-game stint with Hershey last weekend where he scored two goals ? and Spurgeon is making his second trip to the AHL after spending 20 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earlier this season. Both Rome and Spurgeon have extensive AHL experience prior to joining the Steelheads this season. Spurgeon has 64 points (26 goals, 38 assists) and a plus-32 rating, Rome has 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) and a plus-16 rating, and Friesen has 18 points (3 goals, 15 assists) and a plus-18 rating with Idaho this season. Note: With his goal on Wednesday night, Mark Derlago has tied the Steelheads? ECHL-era records for goals in a season (39) and points in a season (87). He?s three assists away from tying the team?s assist mark as well (51, set by Derek Nesbitt in 2006-2007). Also, a win over Victoria on Friday night would secure the Brabham Cup for Idaho, awarded by the ECHL to the team that finishes the regular season with the most points. Idaho?s concludes the home portion of their regular-season schedule with games Friday and Saturday against the Victoria Salmon Kings. Tickets are available at the Qwest Arena box office or by calling 208.331.TIXS. This weekend is your last chance to enter the Idaho Lottery Second Chance Drawing where you can win a 12-person suite to a Steelheads playoff game or 300 scratch-off tickets or a prize pack from Moxie Java. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 for more information.