Derlago named Team MVP

(Boise, ID) - For the second consecutive season, forward Mark Derlago has been voted th Most Valuable Player for the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads.The award, voted on by his teammates, was announced prior to Idaho's game against Ontario on Friday night.The 25-year-old winger from Brandon, Manitoba, has 39 goals on the season with four games left in the regular season. Going into Saturday's action, he was second in the ECHL in goals behind Alaska's Wes Goldie. His 74 points is fourth in the ECHL. He's just three goals short of the ECHL-era single-season record for goals in a season (42) that he set last season.Derlago was first-team All-ECHL last season and named captain for the ECHL All-Star team in January.With 81 goals, Derlago is third in team history in the ECHL era behind Marty Flichel (142) and Lance Galbraith (83). He's also in the Steelheads' top five in points (4th, 166) and assists (5th, 85) in the ECHL era.The Steelheads joined the ECHL for the 2003-04 season after initially competing in the West Coast Hockey League from 1997-2003. Numbers accrued in the WCHL era are no longer counted.Other team awards, as voted upon by the players, announced Friday:Rookie of the Year: Kael MouillieratDefenseman of the Year: Dustin FriesenMost Inspirational: Marty FlichelMost Improved: Cody PurvesUnsung Hero: Geoff Irwin