PREVIEW: Idaho Steelheads (0-0-0) @ Utah Grizzlies (0-0-0)

FRIDAY, OCT. 5, 2018 | 7:00 P.M. | MAVERIK CENTERUPDATES: @STEELHEADS (TWITTER)

Tonight’s Game: The Steelheads open a home-and-home preseason weekend against the Utah Grizzlies at Maverik Center.

Head-To-Head: The Steelheads and Grizzlies have enjoyed a two-game preseason schedule for over a decade as the closest geographic team in the Mountain Division for the Grizzlies. Since 2009, the Steelheads are 10-6-2 in the preseason series with wins in both games last season. During the regular season, the Steelheads went 8-4-3 against the Grizzlies including wins in their final two games on March 30-31. Overall, the Steelheads own a 92-42-24 record over the Grizzlies.

What To Watch For: The Steelheads will have their first chance to evaluate players and skill in game form this weekend with both games against the Grizzlies. The team has skated for the last four days with an inter-squad scrimmage on Wednesday night to get the team’s first game simulation underneath them before heading to Utah. Head Coach Neil Graham has taken the first days of camp to focus on systems, implementation and development in order to help analyze skill and response within the system in a game scenario. Lines and starters are expected to change throughout the weekend as part of that process.

Back In The Fold: The Steelheads have 11 players from last year’s team on the preseason roster, including eight forwards, one defenseman and two goaltenders. Two of their top-three scorers are back for their second seasons with the team: ECHL All-Star Justin Parizek (27+33=60) and Steven McParland (31+26=57). Speaking of two’s, Ryan Faragher and Tomas Sholl both begin the preseason in camp, accounting for two-thirds of the team’s primary netminders and combining for a 24-7-4 record with a 2.17 goals-against average and .930 save percentage in 2017-18. Eric Sweetman is the lone defenseman returning from last season.

Movin’ On Up: Forward Kale Kessy was loaned to the Manitoba Moose yesterday afternoon in preparation for the 2018-19 season. Kessy marks the first Steelheads player under an ECHL contract this season to be called up to the AHL. Last year, the Steelheads ranked third in ECHL contract call-ups with eight players, three of whom are on this year’s preseason roster (Ryan Faragher, Steve McParland, Justin Parizek).

Grizzled: The Utah Grizzlies have seven players returning to their preseason roster from the 2017-18 team. Former Grizzlies Matt Berry (‘15-’16) and Teigan Zahn (‘13-’14) also return to the roster after two and six years, respectively, playing throughout the ECHL and AHL. Only two of their top-six scorers make another appearance with the team: Jake Marchment (18+32=50) and Ryan Misiak (15+27=42). However, both goaltenders from last season (Kevin Carr & Brandon Wildung) begin the preseason with the Grizzlies.

Local Ties: Though he’s not playing for the Steelheads, Grizzlies goaltender and Boise native Chris Komma is at training camp to begin the year. After four seasons at the University of Utah, Komma gets the chance to tryout for the ECHL club following 75 games with the ACHA club. Komma is now 26 years old and played two years of junior hockey between the NAHL (Corpus Christi), WSHL (Boulder) and Kirkland Lake (NOJHL).

PRESEASON SCHEDULE:Friday, Oct. 5 @ Utah GrizzliesSaturday, Oct. 6 vs. Utah Grizzlies

Next Game: The Steelheads finish their two-game preseason schedule on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 7:10 p.m. from CenturyLink Arena. Tickets are only open to season ticket members, but updates can be found on Steelheads Social Media throughout the night.