Laxdal accepted a position with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League earlier this summer. He ended his tenure on the Steelhead bench with a season ending record of 48-17-7, finishing atop the ECHL, and once again reaching the Kelly Cup finals. He earned the league’s Coach of the Year award for his efforts. He compiled an overall record of 217-108-35 with the Steelheads, including a Kelly Cup Championship in 2007.
Sauter, 39, hails from
Sauter was named to the Central Hockey League’s “All Decade” second team following his time with the Blazers. He was named a CHL All-Star in each of his nine seasons in Oklahoma City and skated in 590 games; missing only 8 games. He was named CHL Defenseman of the year in 1997 and 1998.
Sauter spent the last three seasons with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League. He was the assistant coach when the Chiefs brought home the Memorial Cup, and has been head coach for the past two seasons. His coaching record is 91-45-8, with an appearance in the WHL playoffs each season behind the bench.
Among the first activities on Sauter’s list as coach were to touch base with all of last years players, and to determine their goals, to see if any wanted to return.
“I hoped to get a majority of last years’ core players,” Sauter said. ” It seemed like they were doing things right. Then I’d just have to add a few small pieces.”
Sauter remarked that there is a possibility that a small handful of the players from last years team may take or have been looking at potential offers to play in
“I’m happy that they are getting the chances and some of them are taking the opportunities to play,” Sauter said. “It’s good for them.”
As the Steelheads prepare for the next season, the Dallas Stars (NHL) and Texas Stars (AHL) have announced they have extended their affiliation agreements through the 2010-11 season with the Idaho Steelheads. This will be the second season the three teams have worked together. However, the Dallas Stars have been the NHL Parent team for all but one of
The Texas Stars of Austin are in their second year of AHL franchise and reached the Calder Cup finals in their first season. Both the NHL and AHL affiliates helped the Steelheads reach the Kelly Cup Finals last season, assigning players such as defenseman Brendan Milnamow and forward Kevin DeVergilio, and from Texas forwards Mathieu Tousignant and Michael Neal, defenseman Guillaume Monast and goaltender Richard Bachman from Dallas. Bachman was named runner-up ECHL Goaltender of the year and Rookie of the Year.
“This affiliation agreement is real important,” Sauter said. “We are proud of it. Hopefully the two-way street works well for players to get opportunities to move up and down.”
Referring to the effort to attract players, Sauter said, “It really gives credibility to our team and helps to create more interest (among potential future players).”
Sauter got down to business signing his first three players. He brought back defensemen Weston Tardy, Brendan Milnamow and forward Geoff Irwin.
Tardy will enter his second year with the Steelheads and was voted defenseman of the year last year by his teammates, netting 19 points, (1 goal, 18 assists) in 50 games. He appeared in all 15 playoff games, tallying four assists and a plus-4 rating.
This will mark Milnamow’s second full season with
Following a successful
The Steelheads open their 2010-11 season at Qwest Arena on Friday, October 15, when they play host to the Victoria Salmon Kings.
Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
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