Steelheads add three to training-camp roster

Boise, ID (9/26/12) ? Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Brad Ralph announced Wednesday that the ECHL?s Idaho Steelheads have added three skaters to the team?s training camp roster. Defenseman Craig Gaudet and forwards David Grun and Mike Towns have each agreed to terms and will arrive in Boise this weekend in time for training camp, which opens on Monday. Gaudet (pronounced gaw-DAY) spent last season playing professionally in Norway after splitting his first pro season between the ECHL?s Alaska Aces and Ontario Reign. In an odd twist, eight of the 28 games he has played at the ECHL level have been against the Steelheads. Ralph on Gaudet: ?He?s a well-rounded player who has experience at this level of the pro game. We expect him to contribute some in the offensive zone as well.? Grun comes from the highly successful Minnesota-Duluth program, where he was a member of the 2011 NCAA national championship team. The White Bear Lake, MN, native scored 27 points during his college career and was a model of durability, skating in each of the last 103 games of his college career. Ralph on Grun: ?David is a big, strong winger from a strong college program with great work ethic that we think should be able to produce offensively here.? Towns competed last season for Knoxville of the Southern Professional Hockey League, the same team that produced former Steelhead goaltender Brian Hince. Prior to that, Towns was part of the first-ever recruiting class at Adrian College and, in his four seasons at Adrian, the team went 102-12-2. Towns played in the 2010 NCAA Division III national championship game. Ralph on Towns: ?He?s a physical guy who sticks up for his teammates. He?s been a captain before, he has good leadership qualities.? 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.