ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Extend Qualifying Offers To Seven Players

July 1, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, Idaho - The Idaho Steelheads, ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Dallas Stars, announced today the club has extended qualifying offers to seven (7) players for the upcoming 2008-2009 season.

Goaltender Kellen Briggs, defenseman Craig Cescon and forwards Taggart Desmet, Greg Rallo, Mike Sullivan, Brent Shepheard and Mark Bomersback all received qualifying offers from Steelheads' Head Coach Derek Laxdal. Each ECHL team was entitled to reserve Rights to a maximum of eight (8) Qualified Players. Of these eight (8) Qualified Players, no more than four (4) of the Qualified Players shall be Veterans (260 regular season professional hockey games played as of the start of the upcoming 2008-09 season).

On the announcement, Laxdal said: "We sent in our qualifying offers to potential returning players who are either signed in the AHL or abroad (Europe), while some of the offers were sent to players who we know will return next year."

Briggs, a Colorado Springs, CO native went 17-11-2 in his rookie season last year, while receiving two AHL call-ups. Cescon, the Steelheads' lone blue-liner from last season that received a qualifying offer, racked up 149 penalty minutes in addition to his six points (3g, 3a).

Of the five forwards that received offers, Desmet has already agreed to compete overseas for the 2008-2009 season and Rallo has signed with the AHL's Manitoba Moose. However, if either Desmet or Rallo return to the ECHL at some point next season, the Steelheads would hold their playing rights.

The other three forwards to receive qualifying offers were all rookies in 2007-2008. Sullivan posted 13 goals and nine assists in 64 contests, while Shepheard had three points in nine games before his rookie season came to an end with a dislocated kneecap in late November. Bomersback, who signed an AHL contract with the Steelheads' former affiliate in Iowa last February, racked up 39 points in 35 games during the regular season in Idaho and two points in four playoff games.

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