Idaho extends qualifying offers to eight players

Boise, ID (7/2/12) ? Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Brad Ralph announced Monday that the Idaho Steelheads have given qualifying contract offers for the 2012-13 season to eight players. The eight players are: Matt Case, Jacob Cepis, Deron Cousens, Patrick Cullity, Chad Klassen, Ian Lowe, Kael Mouillierat, and Chad Nehring. Teams are allowed to issue qualifying offers to a maximum of eight players. The qualifying offer must remain open for acceptance until Aug. 1 at which time the qualifying offer becomes null and void and the team may sign the qualified player to any salary or may elect to take no further action. Players on open qualifying offers cannot be traded. Teams that extend a valid qualifying offer to a non-veteran player shall retain the rights to that qualified player for one playing season. None of the players on Idaho?s list qualify as ?veterans? by ECHL standards. Seven of the eight players on Idaho?s list competed for the team during the 2011-12 season, with the exception of Patrick Cullity. Idaho acquired the defenseman?s rights from the Utah Grizzlies in June to complete an earlier trade between the two teams. Cullity spent most of last season playing for the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, the highest level of minor-league hockey in North America. The 16th season of professional hockey in Boise kicks off on Friday, October 12, when the Idaho Steelheads host the Utah Grizzlies at CenturyLink Arena. Season Ticket packages are available now, starting at just $275 per seat for all 36 home games. Partial-season packages start at as little as $150 for fans who want a little more flexibility. Contact the Idaho Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 for more information.