ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Weekly

January 13, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


BOISE, Idaho - The Idaho Steelheads remain the top team in the West Coast Hockey League and improve their record to 25-7-3 (home: 16-1-0 / away: 10-7-3) with their two wins against red-hot San Diego. The 3-2 victory on January 7th snapped the Gulls 12-game win streak, and the 2-0-shutout win on January 10th marked San Diego's first ever shutout at home during regular season play. The Gulls squeaked by the Steelheads in the last of the three-game series with a 2-1 win on January 11th. San Diego scored two goals late in the third period for the win. The Steelheads 53 points puts them 12 points ahead of second place San Diego.

Of Note: "In The Crease" national online magazine ranked the West Coast Hockey League's Idaho Steelheads the second best team in all minor league hockey, week of January 10th - www.inthecrease.com.

Top of Their League: The Steelheads lead the league in goals (130), assists (213), points (343), and power play goals (48). They also have the best overall power play record scoring 48 goals with 210 opportunities (22.9%). Overall, Idaho has the best penalty kill holding the opposition to just 22 goals in 197 chances (88%).

Sizzling Steelhead: The Steelheads have three of the top ten scorers in the league: Marty Flichel (RW) and Joe Rybar (C) are tied for third spot with 40 points apiece (Anchorage's Dean Larson leads the league in points with 49). Scott Swanson (D) is fifth with 38 points. Flichel is second in goals scored with 20, and first in power play goals with 11. Swanson leads the league in assists with 33 and is the top scoring defensemen in points total.

Between the Pipes: Jason Cugnet (19-6-1) is third in the league in goals against average with his 2. 05 and save percentage of .920. Blair Allison's (7-1-2) average is 2.10 and his save percentage is .901 - he has not played since December 6, 2002. Steelheads goaltenders Jason Cugnet and Blair Allison each have two shutouts so far this season.

Roster Notes: Grant Sjerven (G) added as an Emergency Goaltender, effective January 7th; Signed forward Dampy Brar (LW) on January 9th.

In the Community: The Steelheads deliver hot meals to homebound citizens on Mondays through the Meals on Wheels program.

Up Next: Idaho will travel to Bakersfield to play the third place Condors on January 15th. After that, they play a two-game weekend series against fourth place Fresno (17th and 18th) and return to Bakersfield to play their last road game on the 19th before coming home.

Listen Up: All Steelheads games can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1350 KTIK in Boise with Britt Talbert behind the mic, or by logging on to www.ktik.com. Television... Regular season home games will be seen on a next-day tape-delay at 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on Cable One Channel 17.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics



ECHL Stories from January 13, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central