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Dog Pound Weekly

January 27, 2004 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bozeman Icedogs News Release


The 'DOGS return from a LONG road trip this weekend to take on the Ghostriders on Saturday night at 7:05 pm. The game is brought to you by Montana Furniture Galleries. Come early for Happy Hour from 6-7, get a FREE golf swing analysis compliments of Gallatin Valley Golf, and have a chance to win "Miracle" movie tickets, posters, and merchandise from Gallatin Valley Cinemas. We will also have a host of groups in attendance from Simms Fishing Products, Bozeman Ford, and Cub and Boy Scouts from across the area. Kelly Greer will be performing the National Anthem and intermissions will be Ice Soccer and Shopping Cart Broomball.

Don't forget to catch the ICEDOGS on 95.1-FM this Thursday night when they make their final major road trip of the regular season to take on Fernie! A number of fans signed up for the Dog Pound Weekly last week, and three of them have been randomly selected for two tickets to Saturday's big game. If your e-mail includes "sknmel" "mhan" or "crossb" reply to this e- mail for instructions on getting your tickets.

Team Update

Last weekend, the 'DOGS continued to try to improve, loosing close games against the Blizzard, Jets, and Bobcats. Although they were able to get plenty of shots on goal, finding the net continued to be a struggle. ICEDOGS Head Coach John LaFontaine is pleased with the effort of his players, but feels going into the third period behind is their biggest challenge. Consistently playing from behind is far more physically demanding, and changes everything the team does.

Every game from here on out is a must win for the ICEDOGS. Fortunately, having a favorable schedule and supportive fans will help them as they try to get a win streak going.

Season Tickets Preview

We have made some great improvements to our 2004- 05 Season ticket packages, which go on sale Monday! Although the schedule will not be released for a few months, next year's schedule will include 32 home games. Here is a "sneak peak" of what we are going to be offering our fans. Center Ice Club-$750, Prime/Select-$375, Net/O- Zones/Season 32-$275 adult, $150 student, and $125 child. You can also earn a $50 credit or refund for each person you persuade to purchase season tickets for next season. They must be a new season ticket holder and indicate at the time of purchase you referred them.

The Bozeman ICEDOGS will be offering the following benefits: FREE Playoff Tickets, Unused Ticket Exchange, Two FREE Child Tickets On Game Day, Invitations to Exclusive Season Ticket Holder Events, and Personal Ticket Service! In addition, our sponsors will be providing a one-time discount on their products:

Air Controls (10% discount on residential furnace tune- up OR $50 credit on residential Air Conditioning installation) / Avalanche Auto Repair (10% discount on parts bill on any vehicle service) / Bar 3 BBQ (buy one meal get one free-$7 value) / Bennigan's Grill & Tavern (free appetizer with meal purchase-up to $7 value) BigLook (15% discount on a first-time promotional product order) / Bozeman MRI ($100 credit on MRI) Carpet Mill Outlet ($100 credit on any purchase of $750 or more) / Days Inn (25% discount on a room-$19 value) / Dick Walter Auto Center (10% discount on any vehicle service) / Executive Services ($25 off labor on a 1,000-5,000 piece mailing or $50 on a 5,000+ piece mailing) / Hands On (free one-screen charge on silk screen T-shirt design) / Harrington Pepsi ($1 off any Pepsi product, FREE Pepsi mug) / Montana Furniture Galleries (free painting with sofa purchase-up to $150 value) / Moonlight Basin (two-for-one lift ticket-- $19.50 value) / PhD Skis (20% discount on any regular- priced product or service) / Stanley Steemer (20% discount on any commercial or residential carpet cleaning) / Top Shelf Hockey (10% discount on any regular-priced product) / Trisha Easton-Keller Williams Real Estate (free Comparative Market Analysis for sellers OR commission-free service for buyers) / Wallace Theater (Entry to win 52 FREE movie passes -- $390 value) Yellowstone Harley-Davidson (20% discount on a motorcycle rental--$29 value AND/OR 10% discount on Rider Training Course to obtain motorcycle endorsement--$12 value-Total Value: $41)

ICEDOGS Sponsor Wins Major Community Award

The ICEDOGS would like to congratulate Dick Walter, President of Dick Walter Auto Group, who was recently presented with the Guy Sperry Award. Individuals who are chosen for the Guy Sperry Award have been identified with the criteria and tradition of "always being there" in "giving more than is asked" in support of their community, state, and nation. Guy served for 20 years as the Chamber executive as he shared, and at times imposed, his enthusiasm for following his motto: "Build a Better Bozeman." He earnestly wanted everyone who benefited from living in our beautiful valley to join hands in the community efforts to further enhance opportunities for everyone. His oft-repeated admonition was that "those of us who enjoy the benefits should not just pick up the apples, but should help to shake the trees!" That meant chamber of commerce membership and active participation. Guy Sperry led by example!

Guy Sperry was a flamboyant individual who was a Western type of personality. He was a history buff of sorts with a special love for the ill-fated 7th Cavalry and he organized and led a replication of these troops in parades with authentic uniforms and regalia as he assumed the role and appearance of George Custer. Had Sperry been in charge, the Custer Battle may have enjoyed a different conclusion!

As our friend Guy would say with a twinkle in his eye..."Happy Days!" ***Information about this award came directly from the Guy Sperry Selection Committee.

Reminders

We still have raffle tickets remaining for a 2003 Harley- Davidson V-Rod motorcycle. Tickets are $50 and the winner will be drawn at our game on March 13th. With only 500 tickets being sold, your odds are pretty good! Any proceeds raised benefit the Gallatin Valley Hockey Club. Share the Dog Pound Weekly! Tell your friends, family, and co-workers about our newsletter! They can sign up on our website, www.bozemanicedogs.com.

Watch for Cliff the Zamboni man as he makes his return to the ice at an upcoming game! Cliff has been out with knee surgery for quite some time, but is slowly making his way back to the rink! Unfortunately, Cliff had to retire from swinging due to his knee...but it will be great just to have him back at the games!

Do you know someone who wants to come to ICEDOGS games for FREE? We are currently looking for some game night assistants to work from 5:00 until the game is over for $7/hr. Contact Rex at 585-1415 if you or anyone you know is interested.

Spotlight on Garrett Gruenke

Garrett is the first in the family to play hockey, not starting until the age of 7. He got signed up because the neighbor kids all played and convinced his mom it was the thing to do. He played Forward until Pee Wee, then switched to Defense. In Minnesota, young hockey players are not allowed to fight, so Garrett did not learn to fight until coming to Bozeman. At the age of 10, his team won the District Championship in Squirt A, the biggest honor at that level of hockey. They beat Brooklyn Park 3-1.

Garrett finished High School and started trying out for various teams in the former AWHL and USHL, but ICEDOGS Head Coach John LaFontaine was the only coach who gave him a fair shot to make his roster. Fortunately, he was still available for the 'DOGS tryout, because it was the last tryout he planned to attend. He wasn't nervous, as it was the 7th tryout he went to...and he is really glad to have the motivation of being passed up by other teams and to be in Bozeman.

Garrett's favorite part of being an ICEDOG is practices, the fans, and the scenery. "It's like Minnesota with mountains" he commented. Right now, the team is feeling some pressure because they know they are underachieving...but are optimistic with so many home games the next couple of months. When pressed for a humorous story about the team, he taught me about team meals. The team has a little thing called a "shoe check" while having a meal. All through the meal, everyone is aware that someone is going to deliver a condiment to the top of someone else's shoe with the help of others as distractors. After committing the act, the player doing so taps a glass and everyone checks their shoes. This past road trip, Nick Ghidina was the victim--with new shoes--but ended up taking the prank in stride. This is Garrett's last year of Junior A hockey, and he is evaluating his plans for next year.



North American Hockey League Stories from January 27, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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