IDAHO STEELHEADS (1-0-0) @ UTAH GRIZZLIES (0-1-0)

SATURDAY, OCT. 23, 2021 | 7:10 P.M. MTMAVERIK CENTER | WEST VALLEY CITY, UTRADIO: 1350 KTIK-AM | STREAM: FLOHOCKEY

Tonight’s Game: The Steelheads continue their three-game, three-day weekend against the Utah Grizzlies with a switch of venue to Maverik Center.

Head-To-Head: The Steelheads earned their best start to the season series in team history, posting seven goals in their opening game. This will be the second of a 16-game season series between the Steelheads and Grizzlies with the first in Utah. The Steelheads have won 10 of their last 12 meetings dating back to the 2019-20 regular season, only losing on Nov. 1, 2019 (5-4 L) and Jan. 20, 2020 (2-1 SOL). The Steelheads are 107-52-26 all-time against the Grizzlies in the ECHL era as well as 49-28-13 on the road.

Last Night: After the Grizzlies netted the lone goal in the first period, the Steelheads scored four-straight goals in the second period with two back-to-back from forward Luc Brown (12:53 2nd; PP, 15:36 2nd) to take a 2-1 lead. Forward A.J. White (PP, 16:33 2nd) netted the first 5-on-3 goal of the night, and forward Colby McAuley (17:12 2nd) pushed in a rebound for a three-goal lead, 4-1. The Grizzlies answered early in the third, but 16 seconds later White (4:59 3rd) netted his second to push momentum back in the home favor. The Grizzlies added one more before White (PP, 7:08 3rd) completed the hat-trick and forward Zack Andrusiak (PP, 8:22 3rd) added one insurance tally in the 7-3 victory. Adam Scheel (1-0-0) earned the win, stopping 24 of 27 shots.

Seventh Heaven: The Steelheads had one of their best offensive nights in recent memory and on Opening Night, posting seven goals to start the season. It’s the most goals the team has scored since the Steelheads scored nine goals against the Rapid City Rush on Dec. 28, 2018 and the most at home since Dec. 22, 2018 when they scored another 7-3 win over the Grizzlies. It’s also the best Opening Night tally in the ECHL era, surpassing the five-goal mark set at home in 2015-16 against Rapid City (5-1 W) and in 2010-11 against Victoria (5-0 W). The team’s four-goal second period matches the team’s ECHL record set nine times in the 2005-06 season and four times in the 2006-07 season.

Powered Up: The Steelheads power play unit was one fire to start the regular season, posting four goals as part of the team’s offensive output. While the Steelheads also had a multitude of opportunities, the four-goal night on special teams was the most in over a decade when the team scored six power play goals against the Phoenix RoadRunners on Apr. 1, 2009 in a 6-3 home win, which shares the ECHL team record with their six-goal night on Jan. 27, 2006 against the Las Vegas Wranglers in a 9-4 win. The Steelheads have vaulted to the ECHL lead in power play conversion (4-for-11, 36.7%) thanks to their strong night.

Hats Off To Ya: Steelheads forward A.J. White earned his first hat-trick of his six-year professional career in last night’s opening game to take the early ECHL lead in goals scored. It’s the first hat-trick recorded at Idaho Central Arena since Feb. 11, 2017 when forward Anthony Luciani posted three tallies in a 5-1 win over the Wheeling Nailers. The last overall Steelheads hat-trick was on Dec. 31, 2019 in a 6-5 overtime win over the Allen Americans when Anthony Nellis posted three goals, including the game-winner. It was one of two hat-tricks across the ECHL last night, joining Maine’s EduardsTralmaks in that feat. White now owns 64 goals in his professional career and 44 goals with the Steelheads.

What Can Brown Do: Steelheads forward Luc Brown netted the first two goals in last night’s game, recording the first goal of the 2021-22 Steelheads season. While it’s his first goals of his Steelheads career, it’s also the second-straight season in which he has scored at least one goal in his debut game. He scored in his professional debut on Jan. 15, 2021 with Greenville against South Carolina, but last night’s goals doubled his professional goal total. Through 10 ECHL games, Brown owns four goals and two assists.

New To The Den: Two Grizzlies forwards earned their first professional goals on Opening Night despite the loss. Forward Brandon Cutler netted the game’s opening goal and posted his first tally after five seasons in the WHL between Victoria and Red Deer and scoring 47 goals with 106 points. Forward Quinn Ryan also had his first tally after five seasons with Liberty University in the ACHA, where he scored 88 goals and posted 235 points in 147 games. The team’s other goal-scorer, defenseman Charle-Edouard D’Astous, now has five professional goals following one tally in 17 games with the Grand Rapid Griffins (AHL) over the last two seasons and 46 games with Toledo.

2019-20 MOUNTAIN DIVISION STANDINGS:

Next Game: The Steelheads closetheir three-in-three opening weekend on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 1:10 p.m. from Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah. Coverage begins at 12:50 p.m. on 1350AM KTIK & FloHockey.