Four former 'Heads recognized by THN

Boise, ID (5/24/13) ? The Hockey News, one of the foremost hockey publications in North America, has released its ?Awards? issue for 2013. The cover of the magazine dubs the issue as ?2013?s Ultimate Players in 13 Catagories,? handing out its NHL league MVP, Rookie of the Year and Goaltender of the Year, among others. The THN staff also hands out team awards ? and four former Steelheads are among the winners. Defenseman Steve Oleksy was selected as the Washington Capitals? Rookie of the Year, even earning his own photo next to the Capitals? team report with a caption that reads, in part, ?He went on to play at Lake Superior State, then bounced between eight minor league teams in four leagues before getting his first NHL contract at 27.? Oleksy played in Idaho as recently as November of 2011 and appeared in 103 regular-season games with the Steelheads over parts of three seasons. The other players recognized by The Hockey News in the June issue: Forward Richard Clune was selected as the Rookie of the Year and Toughest Player for the Nashville Predators. Clune, who played in Idaho during the 2007-08 season, led the NHL?s Western Conference in hits. For his ?Toughest Player? nod, it notes, ?Third in NHL in fights, faced likes of Zenon Konopka.? Konopka, likewise, is a former Steelhead, a key piece of Idaho?s Kelly Cup championship team in 2003-04. He was recognized by THN as the Toughest Player for the Minnesota Wild. Like Oleksy, Konopka was featured briefly alongside the Wild team report with the caption, in part, saying ?With Zenon Konopka, his attributes are about having quick hands. He?s terrific in the faceoff circle and tough as nails in puck battles and fighting, an unusual combination.? The fourth former Steelhead recognized by THN was BJ Crombeen, who was part of Idaho?s Kelly Cup championship run in 2007. Crombeen, like Clune and Konopka, earned the title of ?Toughest Player? for the Tampa Bay Lightning after leading the NHL with 14 fights in the lockout-abbreviated season. Season Tickets for the 2013-14 Idaho Steelheads hockey season are already on sale! After finishing the regular season with 45 wins and nearly 100 points in the standings, you won?t want to miss any of the action next season when the Steelheads take the ice. Full-season packages begin at as little as $275 per seat. Partial-season packages are available as well. Contact the team?s front office at 208-383-0080 and ask to speak to an account executive today!