The Steelheads and Alaska Aces will tangle for the second straight night- and final time in Anchorage this season- tonight at 9:15 PM MST. I’ll have all the action on KTIK beginning with the pregame show shortly before 9:00 PM; listen live at www.ktik.com or at AM 1350 on your radio dial.

I’m not a big believer in moral victories; a loss is a loss, but the mere fact that the Steelheads- with just 13 skaters- managed to just narrowly miss tying last night’s game against Alaska was very encouraging, and a sign of what the team would be capable of with a full lineup.

When I say “full lineup”, I’m talking about one with defenseman Dustin Friesen (Currently with AHL Bridgeport), captain Marty Flichel (IR), center Geoff Irwin (IR), forward Matt McKnight (IR), and enforcer Adam Huxley (IR). Every team in the ECHL has to deal with being undermanned, and right now is that time for Idaho.

Idaho recently parted ways with defenseman Dustin Molle, an Anchorage native. With Idaho undermanned, the Steelheads have re-enlisted the services of Molle for tonight’s contest, giving coach Hardy Sauter another body on defense.

Idaho is just 1-4-1 in its last six games, and will be looking for a bounce-back win tonight before heading home for a pair against the red-hot Bakersfield Condors; winners of six consecutive games.

I’ll talk to you this evening!

The Idaho Steelheads will field a lineup of just nine forwards and four defensemen when they take to the (Olympic-sized) ice at Sullivan Arena against the Alaska Aces tonight. With the same ensemble, the Steelheads were able to prevail against the division-leading Utah Grizzlies on 12/22. Tonight’s game will be especially challenging, however, as Alaska has won four-straight, including a three-game sweep of the Stockton Thunder in Anchorage before Christmas. Alaska will have a full lineup tonight against an undermanned Idaho club, and I’ll have all the action beginning with the pre-game show shortly before 9:00 PM MST on ESPN Radio KTIK-AM 1350 “The Ticket”.

Tonight marks the first game this season between the two hottest teams in the Western Conference: the Idaho Steelheads and Las Vegas Wranglers. Only Las Vegas (8-1-1 in their last 10 games) is on a more torrid pace than the Steelheads (7-2-1 in last 10 games). Look for Junior Lessard to begin to find his stride for Idaho as he gets back into game action; he’s a former Hobey Baker Winner with NHL experience, and has the skills to be the most prolific goal scorer in the ECHL. Mike Zacharias and the Idaho defense will have a tough task against an offensively talented Vegas squad; listen for Wranglers forwards by the names of Bates, Bellissimo, Huddy, and Lukacevic, especially. And let’s not forget about Vegas goalie Michael Ouzas; he’s sporting a nifty goals-against average of 1.86 and a sparkling save percentage of .934 in nine games.

HEISMAN

Cam Newton, without a doubt, should win the Heisman trophy. Will it be taken away from him down the road if he wins? Of course. Should it? No, and neither should Reggie Bush’s Heisman have been revoked. Bush was the best college football player in the country during his Heisman campaign. This season, Auburn’s Newton was also the best player in the nation. Regardless of what has gone on around Newton, he has managed to put it all aside on Saturday afternoons and be one heck of an athlete. He’d be doing this with any team, and Auburn certainly wouldn’t be in the title game without him. If anything, the numbers he has posted on the field are even more impressive because of the fact that Newton has been residing in distraction city for the last couple months.

MIAMI’S VACANT COACHING POSITION

Due to the fact that the Syracuse football program has been lacking- to say the least- in recent years, I have continued to hold the University of Miami at the top of my football fandom list. As far as their coaching position is concerned, Miami needs to hold to the idea that their job is one of NCAA football’s true destination spots. The program has had a few down, yet bowl eligible years. When Miami makes a hire, they need to look for someone who considers Miami a destination job; not somebody who will look to bolt for inevitable NFL failure in three seasons. Too bad Butch Davis is spoken-for.

Tonight: The Idaho Steelheads are looking to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to the Alaska Aces last night. The Steelheads saw the Aces halt their five-game winning streak and six-game unbeaten streak. Mike Zacharias’ personal five-game winning streak in net came to a close, and Idaho was blanked for just the second time this season; the first was the team’s second game of the season, a 4-0 loss to Victoria at Qwest Arena on 10/16.

Well, nothing creates atmosphere in hockey like beginning a Saturday night game with Bay City Rollers’ song that uses the night as a namesake. And, let’s not forget, we’ll get a look at Jase Weslosky, a rookie goaltender making his first professional start for Idaho tonight.

Weslosky posted nice numbers at St. Cloud State, where he was a teammate of current Steelhead John Swanson and former Steelhead Matt Stephenson. Once upon a time, he was a draftee of the New York Islanders. He’ll give Mike Zacharias a night off in this series finale against Alaska; a game in which the top spot in the division is potentially on the line. Entering tonight, Utah and Idaho are tied atop the Mountain Division with 25 points, while Alaska is close-behind with 23 points. Therefore, the possibility also remains of ending the evening with three of the four teams in the division having 25 points; who says it’s too early to start breaking down playoff positioning?

GAGNON RECALLED

With the Dallas Stars experiencing some injury problems, former Steelhead Aaron Gagnon has been summoned by the big club to provide some help on the fourth line. It sounds like he’ll be playing a wing rather than his natural spot in the middle, but it’ll be nice to see Gagnon get a chance to prove himself after a productive preseason. Dallas hosts the Minnesota Wild tonight.

LISTEN LIVE

Remember to catch all of tonight’s action live over on ESPN Radio KTIK-AM 1350 “The Ticket”, or watch and listen at www.americaone.com as Idaho hosts Alaska tonight.

Also, every Idaho Steelheads home game will be rebroadcast the following night on Cable Channel 17 at 8PM.

‘Til we meet again…

Tonight marks the beginning of a three-games-in-three-nights series between the Idaho Steelheads and Alaska Aces at Qwest Arena. Before I get into the nuts and bolts of the next three nights and what it means for each team, just remember that you can get tickets by calling 331-TIXS, and that if you can’t be at the games, each one can be heard live with yours truly on the call on ESPN Radio KTIK 1350 “The Ticket”. And don’t forget Friday night’s game is live over on Cable Channel 17, too.

FOUR STRAIGHT WINS

That’s right; Hardy Sauter’s bunch is on a little bit of a tear. And kudos to rookie Kael Mouillierat for taking home ECHL Rookie of the Month honors after a 15-point November. Kael will need to continue his offensive prowess, and with Idaho at 9-4-5, they need to capitalize against a tired Aces bunch. Alaska is in the back half of an 18-day road trip that saw the team travel from Anchorage; to Elmira, NY; to Trenton, NJ; and now west to Boise. Idaho enters Thursday night two points behind rival Utah, who is currently holding down the Mountain Division’s top spot. In talking to Idaho forward John-Scott Dickson earlier today, he says Idaho’s key to success is keeping with much of the same; don’t try to be too pretty when it’s unnecessary, get pucks deep in the offensive zone, and capitalize on the chances.

WORLD CUP

Yes, even I need to talk about soccer today. I’m not a soccer fan, so I can honestly say this: thanks to everyone associated with the decision to not bring the World Cup back to the United States anytime soon. Russia and Qatar: enjoy! I like my summers to be occupied by baseball, NFL training camps, and hockey free agency news.

THE ENTERTAINMENT SECTION

Waiting for the game to come on? Looking for something else to do while you listen to the games? I must say I’m enjoying the new WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 game on my XBOX 360. Also, for your listening pleasure: I’m into some new tunes from Rochester, New York-based Such Gold. Google them. Now!

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME

I love an educated sports discourse. Feel free to email me anytime at dplagens@idahosteelheads.com if you have anything- and I mean anything- to say regarding something I post in a blog or say on the air.

‘Til we meet again…

The Steelheads are going for their fourth straight win tonight, and you can catch all the action live on www.americaone.com, at www.ktik.com, or live on 1350-AM KTIK beginning with the pregame show at 7:45 PM MST.

Four in a row, potentially! This will be a tough game though, as the Steelheads will have to persevere without key defenseman Mike Gabinet and Cody Lampl (Loaned to AHL Abbotsford today) and Weston Tardy (Placed on 3-Day IR). With Dustin Friesen already in the AHL, the Steelheads’ once-loaded blueline is a bit thin at the moment, but Hardy Sauter has plans in place. You can hear about those plans on the pregame show on KTIK!

KEYS TONIGHT

The Steelheads have done a great job keeping Victoria’s shots down and minimizing their space in the neutral zone, as Cody Lampl mentioned on Friday night’s pregame show. Victoria’s forwards are the most talented- on paper- in the entire ECHL; they can explode offensively at any time if they are given time.

FOOTBALL FIX

Bottom line after yesterday’s NCAA football action: National Championship-caliber teams find ways to win, and do not blow big halftime leads. The beauty of the NCAA football regular season is that it may be the last regular season in sports that means something; it means EVERYTHING. There is no room for error. Auburn rallied from a 24-point deficit against a popular preseason National Championship pick yesterday; Oregon adjusted at halftime and annhialated Arizona. We’re going to see a heck of a title game if all goes as planned, Auburn wins the SEC title game, and Oregon wins in Corvallis.

BEST CONFERENCE IN ANY SINGLE SPORT: BIG EAST HOOPS

There may not be a more entertaining league in all of sports than the Big East for hoops; yes, there are a lot of teams involved, but Syracuse, Villanova, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Connecticut… If you’ve never actively followed Big East hoops, try it. It’s very fun, especially when you’ve got a rooting interest.

Again, Thursday night saw the Idaho Steelheads involved in a one-goal game. And again, it was the Steelheads who did not earn the two points. What a series of games this has been with the Stockton Thunder, and it’s not done. After tonight, the Steelheads and Thunder still have seven dates scheduled, and all of them will be here in Stockton.

TONIGHT’S GAME
First of all, you can catch all of tonight’s action over on KTIK-AM 1350 “The Ticket” beginning with the pregame show around 8:10 PM MST. The puck drops around 8:30 PM MST. You can also watch and listen at www.americaone.com.

And now, onto the ice we go.

Stockton is off to a red-hot start, as the Thunder remains the only team in the ECHL with just one regulation loss on the season. They’re on an 11-game unbeaten streak (8-0-3), but if there has been any night on which the deck is stacked against Matt Thomas’ club, tonight is the night. Chris D’Alvise, Stockton’s premier offensive player (The guy who had a hat trick a week ago at Qwest Arena) has been loaned to AHL Springfield. Add that to the fact that Stockton’s using a third-string netminder, and still has two other every-night forwards suspended; they’re undermanned. The Steelheads can’t afford to allow any soft goals, and need to put together 60 solid minutes while minimizing the shots against Mike Zacharias. If that happens, the Steelheads should halt Stockton’s streak tonight.

And how about Kael Mouillierat? He has the longest goal-scoring streak in the ECHL entering tonight; he has a goal in five straight games (Seven total over the span). And they’re nice goals too; he’s showing some great patience, and is really adjusting to this pro hockey thing quite well. He posted some nice point totals at Minnesota State, and leads rookies in goal scoring- with eight- entering tonight’s game.

The Idaho Steelheads and Stockton Thunder have played back-to-back games that have needed shootouts to determine an outcome, and the way the two clubs are playing, tonight could be more of the same. The Steelheads and goaltender Mike Zacharias responded very well last night after Stockton took an early 1-0 lead, and persevered to earn a second point. Tonight’s the final home game of the month for the Steelheads, who head on the road for a pair in Stockton next Thursday and Saturday nights. By the end, this will feel like a playoff series.

Catch all of tonight’s action on KTIK-AM 1350 “The Ticket” beginning with the pregame show at 6:50 PM, or watch and listen at www.americaone.com.

COME ONE, COME ALL

Just a friendly reminder: your club or organization can catch any Idaho Steelheads home game together at a discounted rate, and get dinner with it! That’s right: a ticket, hot dog, Pepsi, and a bag of Tim’s Chips, all for one price. For $12 you can get the upper deck edition of the deal, and for $20 you can sit in the lower deck, and receive a FREE IDAHO STEELHEADS HAT! How cool is that?!

MOVING ON, AGAIN

Former Steelheads forward Derek Nesbitt- a key part of the 2006-07 Kelly Cup squad- has been recalled from the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators to the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen. This won’t be Nesbitt’s first run in the AHL, and he has earned the call-up with eight goals and ten assists in just 10 games this season.

NOTES

-I didn’t realize the Big 10′s hoops schedule kicked off. Way to go Badgers; anytime someone hangs 80, that’s awesome.

-It sounds like Jeff Carter will sign an 11-year extension with the Flyers. I never know what to think of these long-term deals in hockey, but I have a good feeling with Carter. Now they could have Carter and Mike Richards locked up for a decade.

-Don’t forget to catch all Idaho Steelheads action on KTIK, and on Cable Channel 17 as well. All the Friday night home games are live, and the non-Friday contests are shown the following night at 8:00 PM MST.

Tonight’s game marks the second of five consecutive games the Steelheads will play against the Stockton Thunder, perhaps their new arch rival. I know what you’re thinking: the Alaska Aces are the team Steelheads fans despise most, but think about it: 12 meetings last season, a conference final against each other, Adam Huxley jumped from Stockton to Idaho, and the mere fact that EVERY game these two teams play is entertaining… That all stands for something. From a broadcaster’s perspective, I even feel like I have a little extra jump when Stockton is the opposition.

KEYS TONIGHT

In talking to a few members of the Idaho Steelheads over the early part of the season, and Head Coach Hardy Sauter last night on the Bud Light Idaho Steelheads Show (KTIK 1350-AM; T-TH, 6:00 PM), a high-tempo first period is the key to a Steelheads win; especially against a talented, hard-hitting Stockton team. Catch all of tonight’s action live at Qwest Arena, or on KTIK or Live on Cable Channel 17 tonight if you can’t make it to the game.

THE QUESTIONABLE “ANSWER”

Basketball- not baseball- always throws me curveballs. Allen Iverson- one of the most talented players the current generation witnessed- was “Not ready” the other night; he was supposed to make his debut in the Turkish league. No offense to the fans of the Turkish hoops league, but Iverson is 17th on the NBA’s All-Time scoring list. Get out there, Allen! I’m sure you can handle it.

DON’T HURT THE NEW BALLPARK!

Justin Morneau and some of his Twins teammates want the fences moved in a the one-year old Target Field, and the team has announced a multi-million dollar renovation project. Why? I witnessed this years ago as a Detroit Tigers fan. Are pitchers tapping out to the “Year of the Pitcher” that quickly?

RUBBER MATCH: STEELHEADS @ SALMON KINGS

After falling 3-2 on Wednesday night and bouncing back with a convincing 5-2 win in Victoria last night, the Steelheads would love to earn a series victory on the road before heading home to begin a string of five consecutive games against the Stockton Thunder (Yes, you read that correctly). If you listen to tonight’s broadcast, you’ll hear captain Marty Flichel’s two cents on the series to this point; however, in talking to Marty, he stressed the importance of playing a complete 60 minutes.

The Steelheads have fallen short in some close games, and Marty mentioned the occasional slow start as a possible reason. One thing’s for sure: it’s certainly not a lack of offensive production from Flichel, who is off to a very nice start. The 15th year professional has nine points on four goals and five assists in nine games to this point; his nine points are second only to Mark Derlago, the Steelheads’ point leader from a season ago.

The Steelheads deflated the Salmon Kings last night with a pair of power play goals early in the third period, and enter this evening’s clash with the second-ranked power play in the ECHL. If the Steelheads continue to capitalize on power plays- Victoria is the third-most penalized team in the ECHL, and most penalized team in the Western Conference at the moment- they will have offensive success.

ODDS & ENDS

-Steelheads equipment manager Khris Bestel- my roommate on the road- decided that we couldn’t leave the hotel room this afternoon until we watched the Breeders’ Cup Race featuring the previously undefeated Zenyatta. Well, that came to a screeching halt, didn’t it. Credit is due to Zenyatta for not giving up, but after all the hype, I must say I was fine with Blame getting the victory. Zenyatta = 19-1. “The Beast” and I also discussed how humorous it would have been had a fan taken a sign into the event with just “19-1″ on it. Perhaps that’s the wrestling fan in me thinking of that.

-Tough day for me in NCAA Football; the red-hot (By Syracuse standards) Syracuse Orange fell at home today in a tough one, as Louisville prevailed at the Carrier Dome by a 28-20 score. They’ll still go to a bowl game- although just about everyone does- and I’ll chalk this season up as a huge improvement. If only my colleague Will Hoenike could say the same about his Washington State Cougars.

-Oregon looked very average in the first half against Washington, but eventually the Ducks ran away with that game. Auburn, as predicted, ran away from Chattanooga. The game that Boise State fans should be most threatened by: TCU’s 40-point pasting of fifth-ranked Utah in Salt Lake City. A win over a top-five team- regardless of which team it is- at this juncture of the season will solidify a presence atop the BCS standings.

-Enjoy the game tonight, folks. As always, get your emails out and I’ll read them in the second intermission: dplagens@idahosteelheads.com