Sauter to coach Idaho Steelheads

Hockey: Former Spokane Chiefs head coach Hardy Sauter (pictured) has been named the head coach and director of hockey operations for the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL.

Sauter, 39, spent the last three seasons with the Chiefs. He was an assistant coach in 2008 when the Chiefs won the Memorial Cup. He was the head coach the past two seasons, compiling a record of 91-45-8. His contract was not renewed after last season.

“I’m excited to coach here in Boise,” Sauter said. “I have not heard one bad thing about the city or the organization.”

The Steelheads finished the regular season 48-17-7, clinching the Brabham Cup for achieving the top record during the ECHL’s regular season. The team went on to hoist the Taylor Cup as National Conference champions before falling to Cincinnati in the Kelly Cup finals.

Sauter replaces Derek Laxdal, who accepted the head coaching position with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League.

Name change for growing Pac-10

College football: New Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott is determined to gain more attention for the league.

Scott brought all his football coaches and a few of his star quarterbacks – including Washington’s Jake Locker and Stanford’s Andrew Luck – to New York on Tuesday where he announced the league will change its name to the Pac-12 when Utah and Colorado are added in 2011.

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Spokane hits Trail on Saturday

Running: Riverside State Park will host the nation’s top trail runners this weekend at the USA 15-kilometer Trail Championship on Saturday.

The event includes a community 5K, 10K and 15K race. Racing starts at 9 a.m.

“We are expecting 100 top trail runners, plus as many as 100 community runners who want to enjoy a beautiful and challenging trail run in one of Spokane’s most naturally scenic locations,” said race director Marla Emde.

Competitors in the 15K Trail Championship will race for his or her share of a $5,000 total prize purse. Top Open athletes will race for $3,600 in prizes and Masters will race for $1,400.

For more information and a course map, visit spokanesports.org.