Rink Closing

Normally this time of year I’m working on my tan in an inner tube on the Madison. With the Stanley Cub Finals over, hockey takes a back seat to warmer things, but not this summer. As you may have heard, our home rink, the Valley Ice Garden has been sold and will be renovated to a beer distribution facility. This means big changes for hockey in Bozeman. Next season the Hellcats will be moving to the BAHA rink at the fairgrounds. The team is NOT folding and will be ready for it’s 9th season in September. Preliminary planning for a proposed second rink in connection with the current Fairgrounds rink has begun. However, it is my opinion that it won’t be operable for at least a year, meaning there will be only one ice sheet to share for this season. This is unfortunate for everyone, but we are all in the same boat and I think we’ll actually come out of this stronger once the two youth programs come together.

I’m planning tryouts for September 1-2 at the Ice Garden before it closes. This is Labor Day weekend, make your plans accordingly.

The R.I.P. V.I.G. Tournament will be held Sept. 8-10 at the Ice Garden. There will be an A & B division. Cost is $350 per team, and $300 in you register prior to Aug. 1st. Every penny will go towards the construction of the second rink at the Fairgrounds. Get your team together and help us say goodbye.