Dog Pound Weekly

Published on December 1, 2004 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bozeman Icedogs News Release


As of last Saturday's 4-1 win over the Bismarck Bobcats, the Bozeman ICEDOGS are no longer at the bottom of the western conference standings. After losing six of seven games following the NAHL showcase in October, Bozeman took to the road on a five game trip and came away with seven points. They returned home on Saturday where they put together a convincing win against Bismarck to put them at .500.

By looking at the record, terms like "turnaround" and "a different team" might come to mind, but to hear head coach John LaFontaine explain the change, it's simply a matter of a team that has it's confidence back.

"After that first loss to Bismarck (on November 18th) we went back to the locker room, and all everyone was talking about was winning the next game," LaFontaine said. "We all felt like we were getting over the hump. When we were losing, we were still playing well, but the results weren't there."

Even during the losing streak, LaFontaine was steadfast about keeping the same formula, knowing that change had to come sooner or later. "Most of the games we lost were by one goal - the difference is that now we're a lot more aggressive around the net instead of taking shots from the perimeter. Other then that we haven't made any big changes," he said.

Considering the competition in the western conference, the wins couldn't have come at a better time. Now at 10-10-3 with 23 points, the ICEDOGS are in position to close in on Minnesota and Billings, who are in a tie for third place in the conference with 28 points. The ICEDOGS face the Blizzard on Friday and The Bulls on Saturday. Both games are at home.

Should the ICEDOGS win both games this weekend, they could be a point away from third place in the conference - something that seemed unfathomable just two weeks ago. "I'd like to see us creep into third place," says LaFontaine. "Winning is a habit and if nothing else we need to know how to win, especially at home."

This is it...sellout and win weekend for a FREE lift ticket to Moonlight Basin Resort this winter! Friday night, the 'DOGS take on the Minnesota Blizzard as they make their first appearance of the season at the Valley Ice Garden. Friday is also DiGiorno pizza night where fans can get an entire DiGiorno Thin Crispy Crust Pizza for only $5!!!

Saturday night, the Bulls come to town for the second annual Moonlight Basin sellout promotion sponsored by Century 21! Get your tickets now to avoid lines. Also, bring a Teddy Bear to toss onto the ice following the ICEDOGS first goal or during the second intermission (whichever occurs first). These Teddy Bears will then be donated to children in Gallatin Valley for Christmas.

It's another weekend of fun and excitement at the Valley Ice Garden. Call for your tickets today before someone else takes YOUR seat! Also, the 'DOGS have just released their new A to Z fan guide! Click on the link at left to check it out.

Spotlight on Josh Heidinger #22

Josh is in his second season of ICEDOGS Hockey, and is having a great year. After an early season injury kept him out of the lineup for a few games, he has steadily climbed the team points standings and is one of the team leaders. Josh is a very hard worker, who quietly leads his team by example both on and off the ice.

What skills do you bring to the ICEDOGS? I really just try and help the team win by doing whatever it takes rather than what I can do individually. What skills do you want to improve? My defense has been a major focus. What sports do you play other than hockey? I like to play golf, basketball, and ping pong. (editors note: watching Josh Kassel and Josh Heidinger battle it out on the golf course is pretty incredible. Both are single digit handicappers and exceptional golfers) What are your favorite teams? My favorite teams are the Buffalo Sabres, Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Indians, and Buffalo Bills. My favorite professional athletes are Aron Miller, Jason Williams, Roger Clemens, and Zack Thomas. Why Did You Start Playing Hockey? My brother was good at hockey, so he started me out on our kitchen floor. What do you want to be remembered for by ICEDOGS' fans? My hard work. What is your pre-game routine? I go to the team skate / stretch, eat breakfast, sleep, eat chicken pattieds, and go to the rink at 4:00 pm.

If you received $100 cash as a gift, what would you do with it? Fill my truck up with gas and go to lunch. If you were granted any three wishes, what would you request? 100 more wishes.

What are five words people would use to describe you? I can only think of three...Honest, Dedicated, and Fun. Have you ever been a part of a championship team in another sport, if so what sport and when? Yes, floor hockey in 1999. What do like most about Bozeman? The great team and playing in front of awesome fans.

A Little Hockey Humor

A man named Fred had tickets to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, right at center ice. As Fred sat down, a man came and asked him if anyone was going to occupy the seat next to him.

"No," said Fred, "sit right down. The seat will be empty." "That's incredible!" said the man. "Who in their right mind would reserve a seat like this for the Stanley Cup and then not use it?" Fred said, "Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Stanley Cup we haven't been to together since we got married nearly 50 years ago."

"Oh... I'm sorry to hear that. That's terrible. But couldn't you find someone else - a friend or relative, or even a neighbor - to take her seat?" Fred shook his head sadly. "No. They're all at the funeral."

Evan Stoflet Finding Success At University of Vermont

Evan Stoflet spent his first hockey season away from home, as a junior in high school, in Bozeman. He credits the time spent under then first-year Head Coach John LaFontaine with much of the credit for his success today at the University of Vermont. Following that first season, he decided to play in the USHL for the DeMoines Buccaneers. One of the crowning accomplishments from his years in DeMoines was the team award he won for his dedication to the community and youth hockey. "I really enjoyed working with kids in DeMoines, and teaching them to play. That has been one of the highlights of my career to this point."

What else does he remember from his time as an ICEDOG? "I loved throwing free stuff to fans during the intermissions. They got so wild. I remember how welcoming the fans are, and in particular Grandma Dog's homemade cookies. My Billet family (John & Norma Murdoch) was great also. They made the transition from living at home to being on my own a lot easier," he said. He was sorry to hear that Cliff the Cowboy Zamboni man is no longer swinging due to a knee injury and that players are not throwing freebies so they can be in the locker room to focus on the next period.

Evan is in his Sophomore season at Vermont. "Last year we had a new coach, and we had a pretty up and down season. This year we are doing very well...even beating the #1 team (Minnesota) in their barn. Our fans here in Vermont love the hockey team and we get tremendous support," he said.

The transition back to college after playing juniors and being away from school has been a challenge. "After taking a year off, taking classes and studying plus playing hockey is like having two full-time jobs. We are required to maintain a 2.5 GPA, so academics are a huge focus of student athletes here. The biggest difference on the ice is the skill, speed, and size of players. Players have to go all out every shift. In juniors, we could take it easy if tired...but here that will lead to being removed from the lineup. In college, we are held accountable and must be productive," he added.

Like most students, Evan spends his mornings in classes. In the afternoon, he heads to the rink for practice, meetings, studying video tapes, and weight lifting. He estimated about 3-4 hours per day spent at the rink. In the evening, he spends time on his studies in Business. After leaving school, he wants to play professionally and then start a business when he has to hang up the skates.

7th Annual Holiday Ice Show Scheduled

The Bozeman Figure Skating Club will be presenting the 7th annual holiday ice show entitled "On Broadway" on Saturday, December 11th at 7:00 pm and Sunday, December 12th at 1:00 pm.

This show will feature Elvis Stojko, three-time world champion, two-time Olympic silver medalist, and seven time Canadian champion. There will also be special performances by the Bozeman Figure Skating Club and other regional skaters.

Ticket pricing is as follows: Reserved Seats (with backs): $15, General (bench): Adult $10, Children 12 & under: $6, and Children 4 & under: FREE. Tickets may be purchased at the Valley Ice Garden, Smiths, Town & Country, Safeway, and Lee & Dads IGA in Belgrade. These shows are very popular, so get your tickets early!

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North American Hockey League Stories from December 1, 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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