-
1 of 10
-
2 of 10
-
3 of 10
-
4 of 10
-
5 of 10
-
6 of 10
-
7 of 10
-
8 of 10
-
9 of 10
-
10 of 10
Steelheads hockey tries to stay on top of the West Division
Archive
Comments
Story
Coming off a three-game losing streak in a series against the Las Vegas Wranglers, the Idaho Steelheads started a three-game series against division-rival Phoenix Road Runners Wednesday.
Going into Wednesday’s game the Steelheads were leading the ECHL West Division with an 11-6-1-1 record. The Steelheads are trying to defend their division lead against the Road Runners who are currently in third place and only four points behind Idaho. Steelhead head coach Derek Laxdal said the Road Runners are dangerous because of their recent acquisitions from their NHL affiliate Phoenix Coyotes.
“Phoenix is a very good hockey club,” Laxdal said. “They’re very offensive, they’re very young and (the series) is gonna be another gage for us.”
The Steelheads managed seven road wins so far this season after finishing a strong road trip prior to the series against the Wranglers. The Steelheads beat the Fresno Falcons twice in the five-game road trip and got another win against the Stockton Thunder. Laxdal is pleased with his team’s effort, but knows that having a strong home record is an important part of a successful season.
“It was a great road trip for us,” Laxdal said. “Our road record has been pretty good this year. We need to continue to prove it at home here. You have to make sure that you’re over .500 on both parts, and obviously your home record wants to be very good.”
The Steelheads have a 4-3-1-1 home record and it might have been better, had it not been for a couple of bad bounces in Saturday’s game against the Wranglers. Las Vegas got up 2-0 early in the game on two unorthodox goals. Las Vegas scored its first goal without registering a single shot on goal. The puck bounced over Steelhead captain Darrel Hay’s stick and hit the back of the net right between Idaho goalie Steve Silverthorn’s legs.
The Wrangler’s second fluke goal of the night came only seven minutes later. Wrangler’s center Derek Edwardson sent the puck around the boards; it took a weird bounce of the glass and beat a surprised Silverthorn.
“I’ve never seen bounces like that in 20 years of hockey, playing and coaching,” Laxdal said.
Laxdal was pleased with the effort the team showed in Saturday’s loss, however. He said that continuing that kind of effort would help the Steelheads win a lot of hockey games.
“The guys played pretty hard,” Laxdal said. “We fought through the adversity, we battled back and then we just couldn’t pull it out. We have to build on the positives of the weekend.”
Laxdal also added that one of the weekends’ positives was having D’Arcy McConvey back on the team. McConvey was the team’s top producer last season. He missed the first part of the season recovering from sports hernia surgery.
McConvey is one of several starters that have missed games due to injuries and call-ups. Considering this situation Laxdal is happy with the way the year is going and sees his team improving over the course of the season.
“We’re going to have guys going up all year and we have to have that core balance,” Laxdal said. “We’re only getting better. We just got D’Arcy McConvey back last week, who’s going to add some firepower to the team. We’re gonna be better as we go along.”
The Steelheads play the Road Runners tonight and Saturday, Dec. 9 at Qwest Arena. The puck will drop at 7:10 p.m. both nights.
The team will be wearing special 10th anniversary jersey throughout the series against the Road Runners. Jersey’s will be auctioned following Saturday’s game to benefit Muscular Dystrophy Association.
“Anybody who wants to buy a game worn jersey and get it off the backs of the players gets it after the game,” Laxdal said. “All the proceeds go to a very good cause.
ANDREAS KREUTZER