Case wins Reebok ECHL Plus Performer Award

Boise, ID (4/1/13) ? The Idaho Steelheads, in conjunction with the ECHL, announced Monday that defenseman Matt Case earned the 2012-13 Reebok ECHL Plus Performer Award, given annually to the player who finishes the season with the league?s top plus/minus rating. Case concluded the 72-game campaign with a career-high plus-32 rating, narrowly out-plussing Ontario?s Mario Lamoureux (plus-30) to earn the league honors from Reebok. Seven of the ECHL?s top 13 players in plus/minus rating played for either Idaho or Ontario. Austin Smith (plus-24, 7th) and Adrian Foster (plus-19, 13th) also finished strong in plus-minus. The 27-year-old from Plymouth, MN, is the second Steelhead to win the award, joining Mark Derlago, who had the league?s top plus/minus in 2009-10. Case is also the first blue-liner to finish with the highest plus/minus since Chad Starling in 2007-08. The honors continue to roll in for the third-year pro. Case was voted first-team All-ECHL last week in recognition of a career year where he set new standards in goals (6), assists (33) and points (39). He was also selected as the Steelheads? Defenseman of the Year and voted ?Fan Favorite? by Steelheads fans who attend games at CenturyLink Arena in Boise. Plus/minus rating is defined as the number of goals scored versus goals allowed when a player is on the ice at even-strength. A player can get a plus or minus if a team scores a short-handed goal during a game as well, with a plus given to the short-handed players and a minus given to the players on the power play. Playoff time is upon us! Help cheer on the Idaho Steelheads as the team begins another run toward an ECHL Kelly Cup championship by purchasing your tickets to Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven, first-round playoff series NOW. The games are Wednesday, April 3, and Thursday, April 4 at CenturyLink Arena in Boise. Tickets are available at www.idahosteelheads.com or by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office at 208.331.8497.