Matchup: Alaska Aces at Idaho Steelheads, Thursday and Friday, 7 PM at Qwest Arena.
Rivalry Week: It’s a matchup that dates back to the very origins of professional hockey in Idaho – Aces versus Steelheads. It began in the old WCHL days and has grown in the ECHL days, with Idaho knocking Alaska out of the playoffs en route to each of its two Kelly Cup championships (2004 and 2007). Aces fans like to beat the Steelheads … and Steelheads fans certainly like to beat the Aces.
Wear your Steelhead gear: To help promote the rivalry, the Steelheads will be giving a free drink voucher (soda or beer) to the first 1,000 fans who show up Thursday or Friday night sporting the Idaho Steelheads logo (a hat, jersey, t-shirt, or jacket). Fns purchasing Steelheads merchandise will receive two vouchers with a purchase of a new Steelheads hat, jersey, or t-shirt.
Like looking in a mirror: Steelheads fans certainly loved “The Rooster,” Lance Galbraith, when he wore an Idaho sweater. Well, Lance will be back with Alaska and he’ll get to see a younger version of himself in Idaho rookie Mathieu Tousignant. Tousignant can score, can agitate, and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves with anyone, just like Galbraith.
The Idaho Steelheads (17-3-1) extended their winning streak to six games with a 6-4 victory over the Alaska Aces (10-9-2). Playing in his first professional game, St. Cloud State product Michael Olson earned a goal and an assist in the winning effort. The six-game winning streak ties a season-high for the Steelheads, who also won a half-dozen consecutively to start the season from October 16th to October 30th.
The Steelheads exploded for four goals in the second half of the first period, and the first came courtesy of John Swanson at 10:19 on the power play. Matt McKnight and Ashton Rome assisted on Swanson’s third of the season, as Swanson collected a loose puck that resulted from a blocked shot, and fired the puck top-corner on Alaska’s Scott Reid.
At 14:34, Matt McKnight scored his first of the season after taking a pass from Michael Olson, who pulled a puck away from Reid behind the net. The assist was the first point of Olson’s career.
With Idaho on top 2-0 and once again on the power play, Brad Miller, playing in his first professional game, fired a puck home from the high slot for his first professional goal. Mark Derlago and Marty Flichel assisted on the tally that put the Steelheads up by three.
Olson capped off the first period onslaught with a goal of his own, picking up a loose puck in the crease and finding the back of the net. Assisting on the goal at 19:17 was Brandan Kushniruk, who was a junior teammate of Olson’s with the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL from 2003 to 2005.
Alaska got on the board in the second period when Alexandre Imbeault scored at 12:51. However, Mike Stuart answered for Idaho, firing home a one-timer on an Evan Barlow pass. The assist gives Barlow at least a point in each of the games on the Steelheads’ current six-game winning streak. Derlago also assisted on the goal.
Alaska tacked on two more before the period could close, as a Matt Stefanishion point shot and Bryan Leitch rebound effort beat Idaho’s Rejean Beauchemin. After 40 minutes, Idaho led 5-3.
Each team scored in the third period. For the Steelheads, it was John Swanson’s empty netter at 18:53, assisted by Rome.
A Matt Stefanishion centering attempt with nine seconds on the clock cut the Steelheads’ lead to 6-4, which is how the game would end.
Rejean Beauchemin has now won seven of his first eight starts in net for Idaho; he is 7-1-0 after stopping 24 of 28 shots. Scott Reid stopped 25 of 29 in the loss; he is now 5-4-2. Sebastian Dahm appeared in relief for the final 3:21 of the first period, stopping five of the six shots sent his way.
Idaho and Alaska will wrap-up the two-game set Friday night at Qwest Arena, as the puck will drop at 7:10 PM. From there, the Steelheads will head on the road to take on the Utah Grizzlies Saturday night at 7:05 PM.