Mercier returns from AHL

Boise, ID (3/15/14) – Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Brad Ralph announced Saturday that forward Justin Mercier has returned to the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads from the American Hockey League.

Mercier has joined the team in Bakersfield and is expected to be available for the team’s game Saturday night against the Condors. (8 PM, KTIK 1350).

The 26-year-old Mercier appeared in 19 games in the AHL for Iowa and Bridgeport, combining for five points, including a game-winning overtime goal for Iowa on February 7.  Mercier has ten goals and eight assists in 32 games with Idaho.

The Steelheads have added three other players to its roster in the past three games:

Ryan Murphy (F):  Murphy made his Steelheads’ debut last Saturday at home against Las Vegas and netted his first professional goal Wednesday at Ontario.  The first-year pro led Niagara University (NCAA) in scoring last season with 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) in 36 games.

Jason Bast (F):   Bast made his Steelheads’ debut at Ontario on Wednesday before knocking home his first professional goal during Friday night’s win at Bakersfield.  Bast had a highly-successful major-junior career with Moose Jaw (WHL) before moving on to a highly-successful college career in Canada at St. Francis Xavier (CIS), where he had 110 points in 111 career games.

Kevin Kapalka (G):  Kapalka recently concluded his college career at Lake Superior State (NCAA), where he had nine career shutouts and a .921 save percentage.  He ranked in the NCAA’s top eleven twice in save percentage and is expected to make his professional debut this weekend for the Steelheads after backing up Pat Nagle on Friday night.

Following Idaho’s game at Bakersfield on Saturday night, the team travels to Ontario to conclude a four-game/five-night stretch with a Sunday game against the Reign.  The Steelheads return home on Wednesday, March 19, to host the Colorado Eagles at CenturyLink Arena in downtown Boise.

Group outings at a Steelheads game are a great way to gather friends, colleagues, or co-workers for a fun night out in downtown Boise. Ticket prices are discounted and you can get 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.