Steelheads get top goaltender back just in time for season opener at Wichita

A few hours before their 2018-19 season opener, goaltender Philippe Desrosiers was reassigned to the Idaho Steelheads.

Even with Desrosiers back in goal, the Steelheads fell short in their season opener, losing 3-2 in a shootout against the Wichita Thunder on Friday at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas.

Desrosiers, who ranks No. 2 in franchise history with 43 wins, stopped 37 of the 39 shots he faced.

The Thunder got out to a 2-0 lead before Idaho’s Brad McClure and Brad Norrish each found the back of the net to knot the game at 2-2. Neither team scored in the third period or overtime.

Both sides went four rounds in the shootout, but Thunder forward Colin Jacobs scored the winner in the sudden-victory round.

The Steelheads play at the Tulsa Oilers on Saturday. Coverage begins at 5:50 p.m. MT on 1350 AM.

Idaho plays its first home game of the season Friday, Oct. 19, against the Utah Grizzlies. The puck drops at 7:10 p.m. in CenturyLink Arena.