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THANK YOU FOR A GREAT SEASON STEELHEADS FANS
BOISE, Idaho - The Idaho Steelheads Hockey Club thanks you, our fans, for supporting the team through the 2005-06 season. The team would not, could not, exist without you. We think you are the best fans in the league and you show it nightly. Thanks for being the “seventh man” on the ice.
Despite several challenges this season, it was a great success. The team finished with the highest point total since joining the ECHL in 2003 (94 points), the most wins overall 43 and road 23.
Derek Laxdal was hired as the new head coach very late in the recruiting year - in August - and put together a solid team in a very short time period. Coach Laxdal said he only recruits character players and his words rang true. This year’s team captured the essence of team spirit, both on and off the ice.
Coach Laxdal said, "On behalf of myself and my family, we'd like to thank the fans in Boise for making this year a success and we're looking forward to building a team for next year to make a run at the Kelly Cup."
Our affiliation with the NHL’s Dallas Stars and AHL’s Iowa Stars provided some great talent and the had team its share of call ups to the American Hockey League. Though we wanted the players to play for “our” team, we were happy to see several players get a chance to play at the next level and further develop their talent. In fact, at the end of the season, five players were recalled – forwards D’Arcy McConvey, Dan Hacker, David Bararuk and goaltender Steve Silverthorn. Garett Bembridge was recalled to Portland (Maine). This season also marked the start of several Steelheads’ player professional careers.
The Idaho Steelheads organization believes that giving back to the community is an important part of doing business here in the Treasure Valley. This year alone, the Steelheads have helped raised 100,000 for arts and educational programs, youth sports, health and human service groups, local nonprofits and schools to help with their fundraising efforts.
In addition to the ticket and merchandise donations, the many appearances the players made to schools and nonprofits around the Valley, the team encouraged and rewarded children to read through the Qwest Hat Trick Reading Program with free game tickets, hats and a skate with the team. Also, the Gold’s Gym Be Hip Get Fit Play Hockey program kicked off in January and has been a great success by encouraging children to make healthy lifestyle choices.
We are proud to report that $24,000 was raised for Youth Hockey through the Chuck-A-Puck program and the Tickets Sales Fundraiser program.
The Pepsi Retro Jersey Auction benefiting Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)brought in $10,925 and the St. Luke’s Pink-in-the-Rink Jersey Auction benefiting breast cancer patients brought a record $21,791.
The Boise Police and Firefighters Guns n’ Hoses Charity Hockey Game & Jersey Auction benefiting MDA and MADD raised $6,200.
And, raffles for the American Heart Association and United Way of Treasure Valley brought in a combined $1,500.
Our Sports Equipment Drive benefiting Boys & Girls Club gathered four barrels of equipment ranging from hockey gear, skates, golf clubs, footballs, soccer balls, baseball bats and gloves, and everything in between! And, several hundred books were collected for the Book Drive benefiting the St. Vincent de Paul Booklets Program. The Steelheads gave every fan that made a donation a ticket to an upcoming game.
The Idaho Steelheads would like to thank YOU, our fans, for supporting the team and our charitable causes, because without you, none of this would be possible.
We hope that you’ll check back with us often over the summer months. The Club will be making a lot of announcements leading up to our 10th Year Anniversary Season in 2006-07! Come along for the ride – it will be fun!
NICE THAT THEY THANK THEIR FANS EH!!!!
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