Story Published:
Nov 7, 2009 at 12:09 AM CDT
Story Updated:
Nov 7, 2009 at 12:09 AM CDT
>Now nine years into their operation, the Missouri St. Ice Bears continue to draw big crowds and put together good games despite being a non-scholarship club sport at the school. The hockey program is not an intercollegiate sport at MSU, so no schoarships are available.
But with 24 of their 25 players coming from the hockey-crazy St. Louis area (the other player is from Colorado), the Ice Bears have a strong squad and draw many St. Louis area fans who are glad to have hockey of any kind to follow in southwest Missouri.
On Friday night, for instance, the Ice Bears crushed Northern Illinois, scoring 6 goals in the first period alone on their way to a 15-1 victory, improving their record to 7-8.
The game drew a crowd of almost a thousand, and Ice Bear Director Stan Melton says that's about average.
"We draw about 900 per game," Melton said. "And we continue to grow. The key is getting people out to see it live. Once they do see it, they keep coming back."
It's amazing to watch the MSU Bears grow their program," adds Mediacom Ice Park Director Al Valdivia. "And as they've grown, our youth programs have grown as well. We have a table set up at every Bears game and the players come and work with our young players during our clinics."
For more information on the youth programs or the Ice Bears, you can call the Ice Park at 866-7444, extension 234.
