Seven years ago, walking into the Valley Ice Garden on an Icedogs game night was like walking into a rock concert. The place pulsed with music while the screaming crowd packed the bleachers and pounded the glass with dog bones of all sizes. The hockey was fast, furious, and physical. Rex the Wonderdog was there handing out high fives and kissing babies as local companies clamored to give away their wares during period breaks. The team brought home the Borne Cup for the second time during the 2005-2006 season. Then, in 2006, Cardinal Distributing bought the Ice Garden and converted it to a cold storage warehouse. The league fizzled, the Icedogs skated quietly over to Haynes Pavilion at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds, and everything changed.

“Everything fell apart when the Ice Garden closed,” according to Geno Plyler, the Icedogs announcer best known for his black and red face paint. The team has yet to make the playoffs since moving to Haynes Pavilion. Last year, the team lost 47 games and claimed only one victory. Companies stopped sponsoring promotions during the game. Crowds dwindled to the point that former hockey fans often asked Plyler if the Icedogs were still playing hockey.

Things really couldn’t get any worse for the Icedogs, so a small group has decided to work hard to make things better. After all, you can’t keep a good dog down. The Nisbets, a local family whose son plays on the team, recently purchased the Icedogs. They have hired a new head coach, Mark Vichorek, who has played professional hockey and coached for a number of years. He has spent his summer recruiting tough, hard-hitting players. “I have recruited a veteran team this year and brought in some very good rookies,” Vichorek said.

This year’s team captain will be Chase Engdahl, a third-year player from South Dakota. Several other experienced players will be helping lead the team, including Austin Nottke, Ryan Erickson, and A.J. Mussfeldt. Returning Icedogs Jake Nicks, Steven Nisbet, and Garret Bryan are expected to anchor the team while rookies like Gunnar Mogck, Kegan Couture, and Jason Demczak tear up the ice. The team has been practicing in Helena while waiting for the ice to freeze in Haynes Pavilion. “These guys know how important it is to get a good start this year to show the (America West Hockey) League we are not going to be whipping boys this season. We have worked very hard in our ice times to make sure they understand it is a new year and nothing can be done about the past,” Vichorek said.

While Vichorek spent his summer recruiting, Plyler spent his summer working as marketing director and drumming up as much local support as he could. Plyler has been talking to local businesses, working to reinstate the local-product promotions that were so popular at the Ice Garden. The team plans to give away free pizza and a free trip to Denver to see the Colorado Avalanche play. More giveaways are in the works, and Plyler plans to give away lots of tickets to Icedogs games. Rex the Wonder Dog will be back to entertain the crowd. Plyler is also planning tailgate parties before home games, and has invited Montana State University’s club hockey team to play broomball during some period intermissions. He wants to get the entire community involved and wants Icedogs games to be something the entire family gets excited to see. “We want to make it a family event and have fun stuff for the kids,” he said.

Plyler wants to garner as much support for Vichorek’s “good, hard-hitting guys” as he can. In turn, he wants the team to return to the emphasis on community it used to embrace. Icedogs players used to spend a lot of their time meeting kids and volunteering for local organizations. Plyer wants to help the players reconnect with their fans by getting them out in the community, and Vichorek agrees. “We will be in the community a lot, and if any of you out there want us to be part of your efforts to help out, please contact us and let us know,” he said.

In a way, the Icedogs are like a big family that loves to welcome the entire community into their house. Work is underway to renovate that house with the addition of a new, indoor ice rink adjacent to Haynes Pavilion. The players on this year’s team bonded quickly, and take care of each other on and off the ice. “One of the best things I have seen about this team so far is the closeness and friendships that have materialized in a short period of time,” Vichorek said. Many of the players board with local families and quickly feel at home in Bozeman.
Everyone in the Icedogs organization is hopeful that this season will be the season that turns the team around.

The players are bigger, faster, and tougher. “We’ve got guys who like to fight,” Plyler said. “We’ve got good hockey out here.” The Icedogs’ first home game is on October 10. The team’s schedule and roster can be found at www.bozemanicedogs.com. The team plans to put on a great, family show, but they need their fan base to get out to Haynes Pavilion and show some support. According to Vichorek, “The Icedogs are back and meaner than ever and cannot wait to see you at the rink.”

Sarah Cairoli has to admit she has always been an Icedogs fan, and she looks forward to watching the team reconnect with its roots. She can be reached at scairoli30@hotmail.com