BY PETER STEVENSON The Star-News McCall hockey fans will get to see the NHL stars of tomorrow when the Idaho Junior Steelheads play 11 games in McCall this Fall and Winter. The newly formed Junior Steelheads will play 11 of their 22 home games at the Manchester Ice & Event Centre. The other 11 home games will be played at Idaho Ice World or Qwest Arena in Boise. The Idaho Junior Steelheads consist of 25 unpaid players ages 16 to 20 who are in the process of training to enter college-level hockey and, hopefully from there, the professional ranks.They will compete in Western States Hockey League, a developmental league for Junior "A" players. Coaching the Idaho Junior Steelheads will be John Olver, who coached the Idaho Steelheads of the East Coast Hockey League for five years starting in 2000. Olver led the Steelheads to the league championship and possession of the Kelly Cup after the 2003-04 season and won Coach of the Year honors in 2001-02.
The scheduling of games in
McCall by the Idaho Junior Steelheads will be a huge boon,
McCall Area Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Tim Cochrane
said. "The economic impact this will have is incredible,"
Cochrane said during an announcement ceremony Tuesday. "The room
rentals, the meals, the spinoff of all those people coming up
here. This is truly a mark in the book." Chamber President Amy
Koenig believes a strong community effort will be required to
make the Idaho Junior Steelheads a success in McCall. "It's
great news for everybody but if the community doesn't embrace
this, it will not succeed," Koenig said. "People can help us
either through the volunteer program or by participating in the
events." In order to attract local support, a variety of
programs, including reserved seating and small business
packages, will be offered, she said.
For more general
information about the Idaho Junior Steelheads, visit
them
online at
www.idahojuniorsteelheads.com.
--
Tom Grote, Editor
and Publisher
The Star-News
1000 First St. McCall, ID
83638
(208)
634-2123
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