Steelheads close book on 2009-2010

(Boise, ID) ? After 48 wins during the regular season and a trip to the ECHL?s Kelly Cup finals, the Idaho Steelheads have begun work on the 2010-2011 season. But, before moving too far, a recap of the 2009-2010 season shows plenty of high points. On the Ice: The Steelheads finished the regular season 48-17-7, clinching the Brabham Cup for achieving the top record during the ECHL?s regular season. The team went on to hoist the Taylor Cup as National Conference champions before falling to Cincinnati in the Kelly Cup finals. Derek Laxdal was named the league?s Coach of the Year and Mark Derlago was named first-team All-ECHL. Evan Barlow won the league?s All Star Game MVP award and Marty Flichel became the leading scorer in the organization?s history. In the Stands: The Steelheads finished strong, selling out six games after the ECHL All Star Break (seven overall), including a season-high 5,456 to watch Idaho play the Las Vegas Wranglers on January 22. A big reason for the strong finish at the turnstiles was the team?s group sales, which increased more than 65 percent from the previous season. Of the sixteen ECHL teams to qualify for the playoffs, Idaho finished fourth in average attendance at 3,977 fans per game. The team averaged 3,949 fans per contest in the regular season. In the Community: The team held three jersey auctions, with the team wearing specially-themed jerseys and auctioning them off to raise money for local causes. The three auctions ? benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association, St. Luke?s Mountain States Tumor Institute, and St. Luke?s Elk?s Children?s Rehab ? raised more than $27,000. Enforcer Adam Huxley?s three jerseys netted more than $2,000 while long-time Steelhead Marty Flichel?s jerseys brought in $1,450. In total, the Steelheads have raised more than $325,000 for local causes via jersey auctions. The team also made six appearances as a group, from participation in the annual NAMI Walk fundraiser to ?Free Skate Day? at Qwest Arena. In the Schools: The Idaho Steelheads visited 48 schools during the 2009-2010 season, ranging from Melba to Meridian, Caldwell to Kuna, and Boise to Nampa. The players read to kids, played floor hockey, and spoke at assemblies. Steven Oleksy visited eight schools while Riley Weselowski and Michael Olson each visited close to ten while they were with the team. ?Cody?s Crew:? Not counted in those totals are the appearances made by Ketchum?s Cody Lampl at Frank Church High School in Boise. Lampl was determined to give back to students in his home state, so he helped to set up an attendance and academic-based program at the city?s alternative high school. Then, throughout the spring semester, he volunteered his time at the school on a weekly basis. The results were impressive as nearly 150 students met each of the three challenges set forth by the school to be part of ?Cody?s Crew.? Ticket plans for the 2010-2011 season are available right now, starting at just $275 per seat for all 36 home games during the regular season. Partial-season plans are also available. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 for more information.