Friesen returns from AHL

(Boise, ID) ? Defenseman Dustin Friesen has been released from his Player Tryout Agreement (PTO) by the AHL?s Bridgeport Sound Tigers and has returned to the ECHL?s Idaho Steelheads. The 27-year-old Friesen is in Boise and will be in the lineup Wednesday night when the Steelheads host the Bakersfield Condors (7 PM, KTIK 1350 AM). Friesen was loaned by the Steelheads to the Sound Tigers just before Thanksgiving. While in Bridgeport, he skated in 20 games, scoring one goal and adding two assists. He also appeared in eight games with Bridgeport last season, scoring a goal and picking up an assist. He had two assists in eleven games this season with Idaho prior to his recall to the American Hockey League, the highest level of minor-league hockey in North America. Between the regular season and the playoffs, Friesen (pronounced FREEZE-un) has appeared in 46 games with Idaho over the past two seasons, scoring four goals, handing out 29 assists, and registering a plus/minus rating of plus-39. Head coach Hardy Sauter now has eight defensemen on his roster: Friesen, Weston Tardy, Steve Oleksy, Cody Lampl, Matt Case, Chris Hepp, Tyler Ludwig, and Guillaume Monast. ROSTER NOTE: Forward Brad MacMillan, who appeared in one game with the Idaho Steelheads, has retired from hockey to pursue other professional interests. The Steelheads return to the ice on Wednesday, February 9, against the Bakersfield Condors at Qwest Arena. It?s a ?Twice the Ice? week, where fans can purchase a ticket for Wednesday?s game for $15 and get a ticket to Saturday night?s game for just $7. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 or log on to www.idahosteelheads.com for more information.