Hockey in Bozeman has seen better days. Days when piles of fans would make the short trip down Huffine Lane and congregate inside the Bozeman Ice Garden. Days when hockey flowed through the veins of people throughout the community, and a sellout crowd of 3,500 fans routinely cheered on their hometown favorites: the Bozeman Ice Dogs.

Bozeman once had the nicest stadium in the league and fans and players felt the intensity of each game. I am sad when I remember how much enthusiasm has been lost. The last hockey game I went to at the fairgrounds had some wimpy support, but overall was quite pathetic compared to how the games used to be.

The Ice Dogs have dropped down a league and have lost most their fan base. They play in the Haynes Pavillion at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds, a rink that has become lost in the shadow of the once glorious Ice Garden. The Ice Dogs are now struggling  with, as of presstime, a 9-18 record, and are second from last in their league.

The current lack of support for hockey in Bozeman comes as no surprise, and it seems like many have simply forgotten that the high-contact, exhilarating sport is even still played in Bozeman. Gone are the days of fans donning Ice Dog jerseys and pins on game day. There are many teams that play at Haynes Pavillion, including three high school aged Ice Dogs teams, and five different levels of adult league play. The level of support needs to change.
High school player Spencer Hallin said,“It would really make a difference if we had some more support at our games.”

The depressing scene at Haynes Pavillion can easily be fixed. Grabbing a couple friends and taking a an hour or so out of your day to enjoy a game of hockey is well worth the effort. The Ice Dogs are well into their season and could use some support for the final stretch. The experience would be better for fans and players if more people would attend the games.

It is difficult to forget the entire experience of the games at the Ice Garden, so don’t. Instead, recall the enthusiasm that the crowd and players put into the game and help bring it back to Bozeman. The experience may not be what it used to be at the Ice Garden, but the sport and excitement still remain.

Remy Georgeton was born in Bozeman MT. He loves the outdoors, athletics, and playing music. Remy has a passion for competitive sports and enjoys the competition.