IDAHO JUNIOR STEELHEADS

NORTHWEST DIVISION – WSHL

JUNIOR A ICE HOCKEY

August 17, 2016                                                                                           For Immediate Release

I.J.S. DEFENSEMAN PARKER LEWIS COMMITS TO UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

Parker Lewis of Riverton, Utah, a three-year veteran defenseman of 116 regular season and 27 playoff games for the WSHL Idaho Junior Steelheads, has committed to begin his college career at Utah State University in Logan.

In so doing, he is bringing a relationship which began when he was a young boy full circle.

Utah State Head Coach Jon Eccles has known the Lewis family for many years and, since he was five years old, Parker has been in and around the Aggies hockey program.  Now the 6’-0”, 176 lb. defenseman finally gets to utilize the skills he has developed as a youth for the benefit of that college program.

“Parker is a very solid defenseman, a defensive defenseman,” said Eccles.  “We were supposed to have him on board last season, but he decided to play one more year of juniors.”

That turned out to be a most productive 2015-2016 season for Lewis, who had his best year by far for the Junior Steelheads. In 48 games, he amassed five goals and 30 assists for 35 points, and he added six assists in nine playoff games to help the Junior Steelheads to their second consecutive Thorne Cup championship.

For his career with the Idaho team, Lewis notched nine goals and 50 assists, with just 42 minutes in penalties.  His 116 games played ranks ninth on the Junior Steelheads all-time list.

He actually had experience in the WSHL in his native state before joining the Junior Steelheads.  Lewis played 10 games for the original Park City Moose in the 2011-2012 season, then played U18 hockey for the Las Vegas Storm.

Coach Eccles noted that “Parker comes from a good family.  I have known his parents, James and Rachel, for a long time.

“Parker has a great personality,” Eccles added.  “He has a fine attitude about life which has helped him become the positive young man he is.”

Junior Steelheads Head Coach John Olver commented, “Parker Lewis has worked extremely hard over the last three seasons and has developed into an elite defenseman.  He has proven himself to be a leader and a champion, and he is going to have an outstanding college hockey career at Utah State.”

The Idaho Junior Steelheads wish Parker Lewis much success as he begins his college academic and hockey careers.  He joins a Utah State program which returned to their ACHA DII National Tournament  last season.

Submitted by Dick Dorfman  -  Jr. Steelheads Play-by-Play