Idaho Sweep Opening Series

BOISE , Id – The regular season finally arrived, as the fans waited patiently for the doors to open to the Qwest Arena in Boise.   Everything was nearly ready, the rosters were printed and left on the seats, and 4,367 fans filed into the arena.   By the end of the three game series, the Idaho

Steelheads finished on top.   The Steelheads were the victors as they took all three games against the Thunder.
 
In game one, the Thunder broke out in a physically played game.   There were several solid checks against the boards, causing some fans to gasp in unison.   The first game goal came at 1:39 into the period on a wrist shot by returning forward Judd Blackwater, putting Stockton on the board 1-0.  
 
The nearly solid offense of the Steelheads would keep the puck in Stockton’s territory for the better part of the game.   Stockton would never lead Idaho again for the rest of the weekend.   Idaho’s Mark McCutcheon scored the first goal of the season at 15:45 into the first period.
 
The teams remained tied at 1-1 until a third period power-play goal by Mark Derlago at 5:57.   Stockton’s goalie was pulled just before the final minute of the game, to allow an extra skater, but a botched pass let Evan Barlow escape the zone with a long shot to the empty net at 19:24.   Idaho posts a 3-1 win in their first regular season game.
 
Stockton ’s goalie, Andrew Perugini was hammered by the Steelheads, but managed to stop 41 shots from their offense.   Rejean Beauchemin didn’t have to work as hard, had 20 saves in the net for Idaho.
 
On Saturday Night, in game two, Idaho’s fifth year coach Derek Laxdal was prepared for another physical game, as he addressed his team in the morning skate. They were a little tired, since this completing their first game of the season. “I re-emphasized [they’ve] got to be ready to go tonight. [They’re] not going to win or lose in the pre-game skate, but we have to make sure we’re focused”, said Laxdal.
 
“Last night we had some pretty good scoring opportunities. We’re two different clubs, and we’re a lot more offensive,” Laxdal added while he discussed the second game.
 
Laxdal was right, Stockton came out in a physical game again, accompanied by some heavy groans from fans as the Thunder continued to remind Idaho of their presence.
 
Stockton ’s coach Matt Thomas said “We’ve got have a better effort in the face-off circle, we lost that battle last night.” He added, “They did a better job of getting pucks to the net,” last night, but “we did a good job defending them.”   Stockton made it tough for them to score.
 
During the off season, Laxdal picked up a new enforcer in former Stockton forward, in Adam Huxley.   The few Thunder fans in attendance and many prior to the season wondered how long it would be before Huxley took on one of the remaining enforcers   Garet Hunt –the answer came in the second game.
 
Idaho scored twice in the first period on goals by Barlow and Ashton Rome.   Immediately following the first Idaho goal, at the puck drop, Huxley and Hunt went toe-to-toe, giving the fans a look at their new enforcer at work.   The momentum stayed with Idaho for the remainder of the period.  
 
Stockton ’s James Bates found his first goal of the season at 15:53 into the second period.   There were 37 total penalty minutes accessed in the period between the two teams. Stockton Luis Tremblay was given a game misconduct, following a tussle with Idaho’s Mathieu Tousignant, and a kneeing major.
 
Idaho ’s Michael Neal scored late in the third at 16:10, for his first of the season.   Late in the period, after Steelheads Guillaume Monast went to the box for a hooking call, gave the Thunder a glimmer of hope.   A power-play opportunity and goalie Bryan Pitton was pulled for the extra skater, while Blackwater found the net with only three seconds to play.  
 

Judd Blackwater

Idaho ’s net-minder Beauchemin had 23 saves, while Pitton posted 42 saves before a crowd of 3,553 at Qwest Arena.
 
At the final buzzer, Idaho chalked up their second win with a 3-2 score.
 
Game three brought more of the same.   The physical play by Stockton, and offensive driving to the net by the Steelheads continued and led to another 3-2 win for Idaho.  
 
On a Sunday evening, before 2,654 fans, Idaho completed the season opener undefeated.
 
In the first period, both teams tallied a goal. Derlago scored his second of the season, while Blackwater scored his third goal in as many nights, at 15:15.
 
The second period led to an unassisted goal by Tyler Spurgeon (former Stockton Thunder player in 06-07 season) at 1:52 into the period.   Stockton’s Chris D’Alvise scored his first professional goal to end the period with a tie at two-apiece.
 
But in the third, Idaho was able to take and maintain the lead for the rest of the game on a power-play goal by John Swanson to end the game at 3-2.
 
In the net for Stockton, Perugini racked up 36 saves, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Steelheads off the board.   Idaho’s Richard Bachman had 26 saves in his first season appearance in the net.
 
Both Thomas and Laxdal have related that the ECHL games are going to be better than ever this season. With the decrease in team choices for players at this level, and the quality of skaters out there, it made the job of earning a roster spot on a team that much more difficult.
 
Laxdal said, “I had let a guy go last week, that would have played in our top 6 forwards last year and now he didn’t make the top 12.” He continued, “It’s a treat for the coaches.   We’re in for some good hockey.”
 
The small handful of Stockton fans that came over 600 miles to watch the game in person went away a bit disappointed, but hopeful their team will bring their “A” game to their own home opener next weekend against the Ontario Reign on Friday, October 23^rd in Stockton Arena.
 
The Idaho Steelhead will also hit the road for a Friday night game in Utah against the Grizzlies.
 
  Contact the writer at: shellie.lima@prohockeynews.com  
Contact the photographer at: jack.lima@prohockeynews.com