Steelheads add Mucha to roster

(Boise, ID) ? Idaho Steelheads head coach Derek Laxdal announced Tuesday that the team has signed goaltender Kurtis Mucha to an amateur tryout agreement. Mucha will be in uniform Tuesday night, backing up Rejean Beauchemin in Game 6 of the ECHL?s National Conference Finals against the Stockton Thunder. Laxdal made the move to bring in Mucha after Richard Bachman was recalled by the AHL?s Texas Stars on Monday. This will be Mucha?s second stint with the Steelheads. His first appearance came in the final weekend of the 2009 regular season. Laxdal, without a goaltender due to AHL call-ups, found Mucha (pronounced MOOK-uh) at home in the Edmonton, Alberta, area after concluding his season with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. Frantic travel arrangements were made to get the then-19-year-old netminder to Boise in time for a game. He arrived at Qwest Arena just minutes before the game against the Phoenix Roadrunners began. After taking a few moments to put his gear on, he replaced emergency backup goaltender Andy Pate in net and ? with virtually no time to stretch or warm up ? proceeded to stop 25 of 28 shots for the Steelheads. Mucha, now 20, split this past season between the Winterhawks and Kamloops Blazers of the WHL, posting an overall record of 23-17-4 for the two squads, including a pair of shutouts. Ironically, he also appeared in three games earlier this season with the Thunder, going 1-2 with an .869 save percentage. Game 6 is Tuesday night at Qwest Arena. Idaho leads the best-of-seven Conference Finals, three games to two. Game 7, if necessary, would be at Qwest Arena on Wednesday. The winner of the series advances to the Kelly Cup finals against either the Reading Royals or Cincinnati Cyclones. 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.