Idaho draws Ontario in the first round of the playoffs

(Boise, ID) ? The Idaho Steelheads learned Saturday night that they will face the Ontario Reign in the first round of the 2012 KeyBank ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs. It will be the first time Idaho and Ontario have ever played in the postseason. Idaho enters the Western Conference playoffs as the no. 7 seed, while the Reign are seeded second. The best-of-five, first-round series opens up on Tuesday at Boise?s CenturyLink Arena. Game time is 7 PM and tickets are available online now at www.idahosteelheads.com or by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office at 208.331.TIXS. Game 2 will be in Boise on Wednesday night before transitioning to Ontario for the final three games of the series on Friday, Saturday (if necessary) and the following Monday (if necessary). Idaho has reached the postseason in each of its 15 years of existence, including each season since joining the ECHL prior to the 2003-04 season. Ontario has missed the ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs each of the past two seasons. The Steelheads are 1-5-1 against the Reign this season, but four of the seven games have been decided by just one goal. Derek LeBlanc leads the Steelheads with seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) against Ontario this season. Former Idaho players Geoff Irwin and Tristan King have combined for 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) in those seven contests. It?s time for the post season and the best way to enjoy playoff hockey is with your friends, colleagues or co-workers. Group discounts are available and group tickets come with a Pepsi, Double-R Ranch Hot Dog, and bag of Tim?s Cascade Chips with each ticket. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 or log on to www.idahosteelheads.com for more information.