(Las Vegas, NV)

Idaho (3-7-1) gained one point in the standings with the shootout and took five of eight possible points in the four-game stretch against the Pacific Division-leading Wranglers.

Neither team scored in a sloppy first period, but Idaho got two quick tallies early in the second. First, it was David Fredriksson on the power play with a wrist shot from the bottom of the right circle past Joe Fallon at 3:08 of the second to give Idaho a 1-0 lead. Kael Mouillierat and Matt Cowie assisted on Fredriksson’s second of the year as Fredriksson now has a six-game point streak for Idaho.

Just nineteen seconds later, Idaho struck again on a scramble off of a Wrangler turnover. This time, it was Derek LeBlanc notching his first goal as a Steelhead from the slot, giving Idaho a 2-0 lead.

Las Vegas cut into the lead late in the second on the power play as Adam Miller scored his sixth of the season and the Wranglers would tie the game with just under six minutes left in regulation time when Eric Lampe found a loose puck on his stick during a scramble around the Idaho cage. Lampe’s 13th tied the game and sent it to overtime.

Kuhn had to come up big in overtime, making a pair of tremendous saves in the final minute of the overtime session to keep the game tied. First, he stonewalled Peter MacArthur from point-blank range and then, moments later, he got a leg pad on a shot from the near circle to send the game to a shootout.

Francis scored first in the shootout and then Fallon turned aside all five Idaho shooters, allowing Las Vegas (6-4-2) to earn the second point for the victory.

Kuhn stopped 37 of 39 shots along with three out of four shooters in the shootout for Idaho. Fallon made 25 saves on 27 shots and stopped all five shooters in the shootout.

Idaho was 1-3 on the power play, while Las Vegas went 1-4 on the man advantage.

The Steelheads travel to Bakersfield on Thursday to face the Condors, the first of three games in three nights between the two teams. Games Thursday, Friday, and Saturday all begin at 8 PM (Mtn) and can be heard live on KTIK (1350 AM) in the Treasure Valley.

Idaho returns home Friday, November 18, to host the defending Kelly Cup champion Alaska Aces. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office (208.331.TIXS) or by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com.

ALLEN

Colton Yellow Horn scored 2 goals, the more dramatic of the two coming 55 seconds into overtime lifting the Americans to their 2nd win of the season, and the first in front of the home faithful since October 14th, a preseason 2-1 shootout win over the Texas Brahmas.

“We played a great game the night before and didn’t get the outcome we wanted,” said Yellow Horn. “Tonight we came together as a team. A team that isn’t going to give up easily.”

The Americans also get goals from Jarret Lukin, his first of the season, Jim McKenzie his 3rd goal and 5th point. Bruce Graham his 3rd, Keith Johnson his 2nd, respectively.

“It was nice to be rewarded for our hard work,” said Americans Head Coach and GM Dwight Mullins.

A wild third period saw eight goals scored, including the game tying goal by Arizona’s Kyle Hood with a minute to go in the third. Five lead changes overall, including the final one on Yellow Horn’s thrilling game winner in overtime.

Allen goalie Brian Mahoney-Wilson picked up his first win of the season and first as an American in his second straight start.

The victory moves Allen into a three- way tie for 3rd place in the Berry Conference with Arizona and Rio Grande. The Americans will meet the Killer Bees on Wednesday night, in Hidalgo, Texas.

(Boise, ID)

Idaho (3-7) still took four of the six points possible on the weekend set while Las Vegas (5-4-2) escapes town with three points in the standings.

The Steelheads got on the board first in the opening frame when David Fredriksson carried the puck up the right-hand side of the ice. From just outside the circle, he snapped a wrister that beat Las Vegas goaltender Joe Fallon. Fredriksson’s first North American professional goal was assisted by Ondrej Roman and gave Idaho a 1-0 lead at 12:25 of the first. Fredriksson now has points in each of Idaho’s past five contests.

Las Vegas would even the game less than 90 seconds later when Adam Huxley tipped a Ned Lukacevic shot past Jimmy Spratt to tie the score.

Idaho took the lead in the second period when Michael Neal carried the puck from the trapezoid behind the Las Vegas net toward the slot on the right-hand side of the ice. Neal then feathered a nice pass to Ian Lowe, who was uncovered on the back post for the easy, slam-dunk tally. Lowe’s fifth of the year gave the Steelheads a 2-1 lead that would hold deep into the second period.

That’s when Las Vegas did its damage. Judd Blackwater, Peter MacArthur, and Scott Campbell each found the back of the net in a span of 4:31, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead with a minute and a half left in the second frame.

Idaho was unable to cut into the Wrangler lead in the third, with Las Vegas adding an empty-net score with 14 seconds left to set the final margin of 5-2.

Fallon stopped 20 of 22 Idaho shots in the win for Las Vegas. Jimmy Spratt stopped 27 of 31 in net for Idaho. The Wranglers power play went 2-7 on the night, while Idaho was 0-2 on the man advantage.

Idaho and Las Vegas will play again on Tuesday night in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena.

The Steelheads return home November 18-19 to host the defending Kelly Cup champion Alaska Aces. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office (208.331.TIXS) or by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com.

COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME – David Fredriksson

AQUA FINA “3 STARS”
(1) Judd Blackwater (LV)
(2) David Fredriksson (ID)
(3) Scott Campbell (LV)

ALLEN

Sundogs forward Daymen Rycroft’s three point night led the charge for Arizona, which played their first road game of the season. Allen got on the board first tonight when Americans forward Joshua Hepditch found Nick Layton in front of the Arizona net to give the Americans a 1-0 lead. That score would hold up until 16:23 of the first when Tyler Butler’s wrist shot from the right wing boards was deflected in front of the Allen net by Daymen Rycroft. It was 1-1 after 20 minutes of play.

In the second period the Sundogs grab their first lead of the night. Jesse Perin on the power play from Daymen Rycroft and Craig McDonald at 8:35. Arizona on top 2-1 for the moment. The Americans would strike again at 19:10 of the second, when Brian McMillin would win a battle in the corner setting up the second Allen goal.. Nick Layton followed up a Brian McMillin shot to tie the score at 2 after 40 minutes of play.

In the third it was the Rycroft line doing the damage again, when Daymen Rycroft found Kyle Hood in front of the Allen net to give Arizona their second lead of the night. That 3-2 score would stand despite a late power play by Allen. The Sundogs hold on for a 3-2 win picking up their first road win of the year, and dropping the Americans to 1-2-2 on the season.

Note Americans forward Nick Layton scored the first two regular season goals of his professional career in the 3-2 Allen loss.

(Boise, ID)

Mouillierat’s fifth of the season, also assisted by Hubert Labrie, gave Idaho (3-6) the win on the first ACHD Commuteride “Rat Pack” Night at Boise’s CenturyLink Arena, a promotion named after Mouillierat.

The Steelheads found themselves down 2-0 midway through the second period after Eric Lampe and Adam Miller scored for Las Vegas. Then, at 12:27 of the second period, Idaho got a power-play goal when Ondrej Roman’s shot from the slot trickled through Fallon’s legs. Before he could cover it up, rookie Ian Lowe darted in to stuff home the loose puck, making it 2-1.

That score would hold into the third period. Just over seven minutes into the final frame, David Fredriksson fed the puck to rookie defenseman Hubert Labrie inside the blue line on the left-hand side of the ice. Labrie settled the puck down, paused to allow a shooting lane to open, and then blistered a shot past Fallon to tie the game at two. It was Labrie’s first professional goal.

Both Fallon and Idaho goaltender Jimmy Spratt made a couple of big saves as regulation wound down to send the game to overtime. But the biggest save of the night came in overtime from Spratt. With Las Vegas pressuring the Idaho zone, one of the Wrangler skaters found himself alone just inside the right-hand circle on the near side of the ice. The shot appeared to be headed for the back of the net, but Spratt lunged out to make a stunning glove save to keep the game tied.

Then, about a minute later, Labrie chased down a puck along the far wing and carried it into the Wrangler zone. He dished the puck to Klassen near the goal line and Klassen astutely found a streaking Mouillierat crashing the net. Klassen’s pass landed on Mouillierat’s tape and, on a night with a promotion named after him, Mouillierat beat Fallon for the OT winner at 2:39 of the extra session.

Spratt finished with 30 saves on 32 shots in the win. Fallon was the tough-luck loser despite stopping 41 of 44 Idaho shots. Idaho went 1-4 on the power play while Las Vegas was 0-4 with the extra attacker.

The same two teams meet again Saturday night at CenturyLink Arena in Boise. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office (208.331.TIXS) or by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com.

COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME – Hubert Labrie

AQUA FINA “3 STARS”
(1) Ian Lowe (ID)
(2) Hubert Labrie (ID)
(3) Kael Mouillierat (ID)

Rockford, IL

The Stars struck with the first goal of the evening at 5:43 of the first period. Texas center Ryan Garbutt ripped a shot from the right-wing circle in the Rockford zone, beating Hogs goalie Alec Richards for his first goal of the year. Garbutt’s goal was set up by Mathieu Tousignant and Tomas Vincour for the 1-0 Stars lead. Rockford answered back at 17:55 with a power-play goal by defenseman Shawn Lalonde, tying the game 1-1. Center Brandon Pirri and winger Kyle Beach each had an assist on the goal. Texas countered 39 seconds later at 18:26, regaining the lead at 2-1. Garbutt and Vincour cycled the puck in the Rockford zone, with Garbutt centering to the crease. Tousignant redirected the puck past Richards for his first goal of the year at 18:34.

Texas tallied a late goal in the second period to open up a two-goal lead. The Stars worked the puck around on their second power play of the night. Travis Morin found Matt Fraser for a one-timer in the right-wing circle, beating Richards for his team-leading fifth goal of the year. Defenseman Dan Spang also had an assist on the power-play tally at 19:22, as Texas carried a 3-1 lead into the intermission.

Rockford trimmed the Texas lead to 3-2 at 11:47 of the third period. Ben Smith put in a rebound for his first goal of the year. The Stars answered back with three straight tallies. Fraser scored his second power-play goal of the night at 14:52, pushing the Texas lead to 4-2. Left wing Luke Gazdic scored an unassisted goal at 16:04 to extend the lead to 5-2 Stars. Defenseman Philip Larsen finished off a power play at 18:36 for the 6-2 final in favor of Texas.

Texas continues a four-game road trip in Peoria on Thursday, October 27th at 7:05 P.M. The Stars will also make stops in Chicago and Milwaukee. Texas returns home on Thursday, November 3rd for a 7:30 P.M. faceoff against the Toronto Marlies. Thursday is a 3-2-1 night, featuring $3 domestic drafts, $2 sodas, and $1 hot dogs.

Allen, TX

The Americans next game will be tomorrow night October, 22nd in Wichita Kansas against the Thunder. puck drop is 7:05 pm

(Anchorage, AK)

Idaho falls to 1-3 on the season, while Alaska improves to 4-0.

For the second consecutive night, Alaska buzzed Idaho from the get-go with heavy offensive pressure. Goaltender Jimmy Spratt kept the Aces at bay for more than half the period before Dan Kissel finally snapped a bullet over his shoulder at 12:40 of the first period to make it 1-0 Aces. Alaska outshot Idaho, 15-3, in the first frame one night after outshooting Idaho 18-3 in the first period.

The Steelheads straightened things out in the second period and produced numerous scoring chances. A Kory Scoran blast from just inside the blue line pinged off the goalpost midway through the period just moments before Ian Lowe ripped a shot over Gerald Coleman’s shoulder – but also found iron instead of twine. The two posts kept Idaho down a goal going into the third period.

Idaho would hit a third post in the third period – again by Lowe – as the Steelheads tried to even the game up. However, with 8:35 left in regulation, Alaska caught another break when Idaho defenseman Steve Oleksy lost his stick in a battle for a loose puck in the right corner with Aces forward Nick Mazzolini. With Oleksy without a twig, Mazzolini gathered the puck, moved down the goal line, and slid the puck past the stickless Oleksy to Matt Ambroz. Ambroz was able to lift the puck over the shoulder of Spratt and into the net to make it 2-0.

The Steelheads finally got a fortunate bounce in the third period on the power play as Kael Mouillierat threaded the puck through traffic near the Alaska crease. The puck took a bounce and seemed headed out of harm’s way when Chad Klassen swooped in and slammed the puck past Coleman into the net, making it 2-1 Aces. Klassen’s first of the season extended his point streak to four games. Mouillierat, with the assist, also extended his point streak to four straight contests.

Alaska was able to fend off Idaho’s efforts to tie the game as Coleman came up with a couple nice saves. He finished the night with 25 saves on 26 shots. Idaho’s Jimmy Spratt was solid in defeat, turning aside 32 of 34 Alaska attempts.

Idaho’s power play went one for five on the night, while Alaska came up empty on two power-play chances.

Idaho wraps up it’s three-game set with the Aces on Saturday. Game time is 9:15 (Mtn) and can be heard on KTIK (1350 AM) in the Treasure Valley. The Steelheads don’t return home until November 2 against Las Vegas.

COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME – Chad Klassen

AQUA FINA “3 STARS”
(1) Matt Ambroz (AK)
(2) Dan Kissel(AK)
(3) Gerald Coleman (AK)

Texas started the scoring midway through the first period at 10:45. Right wing Tomas Vincour netted his first goal of the season and gave Texas a 1-0 lead. Defenseman Jordie Benn and right wing Colton Sceviour each assisted on the power-play goal. San Antonio tied the game 1-1 with a goal by center Scott Timmins 18 seconds later.

The Rampage took its first lead of the game 1:30 into the second period. Right wing Michal Repik rocketed the puck past Bachman for the 2-1 edge. Defenseman Tyson Strachan and center Angelo Esposito set up the power-play goal. San Antonio extended its lead at 4:36 with a power-play goal by center Greg Rallo. Repik and Esposito helped set up the play for the 3-1 tally.

Texas cut into San Antonio’s lead at 1:12 of the final frame. Vincour made it 3-2 with his second goal of the night. Defenseman Brad Lukowich had the lone assist in his 100th Texas appearance. Stars’ center Travis Morin re-directed the puck past Foster to score at 5:47. Defensemen Maxime Fortunus and Dan Spang each assisted on the game-tying goal and a 3-3 score. San Antonio center Scott Timmins scored the game-winning goal with 1:48 left in the third. Defenseman Colby Robak provided the assist to give San Antonio a 4-3 win.

The Stars will host “Pink in the Rink” on Saturday, October 22nd at 7:00 PM against the Peoria Rivermen. Fans may purchase the State Farm Family Four Pack (4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 sodas for $48) for Saturday night’s game. As the presenting sponsor of the event, the Cedar Park Regional Medical Center will hand out Pink in the Rink Texas Stars drawstring backpacks to the first 2,500 fans. The Texas Stars will don pink themed jerseys to promote breast cancer awareness. Throughout the game, the team will run a silent auction of the game-worn jerseys, with 50 percent of the proceeds donated to the Austin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Also, $2.00 of every individual and group ticket sold for the game will be donated to the organization.

Individual tickets for all games are on sale now. Tickets are available online at www.TexasStarsHockey.com or by calling 512.GO.STARS (467.8277).

2011-12 season seat packages are on sale now. For more information on Texas Stars season tickets call (512) GO-STARS (467-8277) or visit www.TexasStarsHockey.com. Anyone interested in purchasing season tickets, suites, group tickets or mini-plans may call the Texas Stars front office.

The game was played in front of 3,523 fans at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.

The game got off to a rough start for Idaho as Alaska tallied twice in the first 2:15 of action off of two defensive-zone turnovers. Idaho head coach Hardy Sauter pulled starting goaltender Steve Christie following the second goal, inserting Jimmy Spratt. Alaska connected again at 8:41 of the first, taking a 3-0 lead into the first intermission after a strong period of play.

Idaho started to even things out in the second period. Tristan King got Idaho (1-2) on the scoreboard at 5:17 of the second, picking up a loose puck near the blue line. The second-year pro made a nice move to evade an Aces defender and then beat Alaska goaltender Gerald Coleman with some nice stick work, dragging the backhand to his forehand for his first goal of the season. The unassisted tally got Idaho within two at 3-1.

The Steelheads inched closer in the third on a two-man advantage when Ian Lowe scored off a scramble in front of the net. His second of the season was assisted by Kael Mouillierat and Marty Flichel, giving each a point in each of Idaho’s three games so far this season.

Idaho appeared to tie the game with just under eight minutes left in regulation on a power-play blast by Matt Case, but referee TJ Luxmore disallowed the goal, saying Idaho forward David Fredriksson made contact with goaltender Gerald Coleman prior to the goal.

Alaska (3-0) got a big insurance goal just a couple of minutes later, when Dan Kissel snapped the puck over the glove of Spratt to make it 4-2 with less than five minutes to play.

Spratt made 33 saves on 35 shots in relief of Christie, but takes the tough-luck loss. Coleman turned aside 16 of 18 Idaho shots in the win. For the night, the Aces outshot Idaho, 39-18. Idaho’s power play was 1-3, while Alaska came up empty on six power-play chances.

Idaho has two more in Alaska on Friday and Saturday. Game time each night is 9:15 (Mtn) and can be heard on KTIK (1350 AM) in the Treasure Valley. The Steelheads don’t return home until November 2 against Las Vegas.

COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME – Tristan King

AQUA FINA “3 STARS”
(1) Tyler Ruegsegger (AK)
(2) Garry Nunn (AK)
(3) Jimmy Spratt (ID)