Sauter brings in three Lake State products

(Boise, ID) ? Head coach and director of hockey operations Hardy Sauter dipped deep into the Lake Superior State University talent pool Thursday, announcing that Chad Nehring, Tyson Hobbins, and Matt Cowie have each agreed to terms with the ECHL?s Idaho Steelheads. All three played at Lake Superior State last winter before turning pro. Nehring and Hobbins made their debuts with Idaho late in the regular season, while Cowie skated his first professional games for the Victoria Salmon Kings. Hobbins and Nehring each netted their first professional goal in a Steelheads uniform. Nehring buried his tally in the final home game of the regular season, March 30 against the Utah Grizzlies, while Hobbins? first marker was a memorable one, a game-winning rebound goal in Game 3 of Idaho?s first-round playoff series against Las Vegas. Cowie appeared in ten games between the regular season and postseason for the Salmon Kings. Hobbins and Nehring are each forwards, while Cowie is a defenseman. ?With Tyson and Chad, we saw them, we saw that they?re capable of competing at this level.? Sauter said. ?We just need them to continue to progress and improve as professionals. ?With Matt, here?s a kid who was among his team?s leading scorers last season in college as a defenseman, and we hope he can help add that dimension to the blue line here.? Cowie had 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 39 games at Lake State and one assist during his tenure with the Salmon Kings. The Steelheads now have four players who have agreed to terms and are slated to attend the team?s traning camp in October ? Hobbins, Nehring, Cowie, and second-year forward Cody Purves. Hobbins and Purves were teammates in junior hockey for the Nipawin Hawks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League from 2005-2007. Steelhead Season-Ticket Holders get six games FREE when they sign up for full-season packages. Plans for all 36 home games start at just $275 per seat. Partial-season plans are also available. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 for more information.