Dog Pound Weekly

Published on December 15, 2004 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bozeman Icedogs News Release


It's becoming more and more apparent to the Bozeman ICEDOGS that nothing will come easy for them this season.

Fighting to work their way out of the conference basement, the team headed into last week anticipating three wins that would help them notch a couple of points-and once again fell short of expectations. On Wednesday, the ICEDOGS marched into Billings and built up a 4-2 lead after two periods, only to surrender five goals to the Bulls in the third for a 7-4 loss. The team then boarded a plane for Fairbanks, Alaska for two games against the Fairbanks IceDogs, where they won 5-2 on Friday followed by a 3-1 loss on Saturday.

"It's all mental," said ICEDOGS Head Coach John LaFontaine. "We let that first goal in, and we begin to question if we can do it. We start gripping our sticks a little tight and we get too nervous." Nonetheless, LaFontaine sees a team that is relentless in its pursuit to improve their record. "As a team we had a little meeting after the weekend, and the talk is still all positive," LaFontaine said. "The things we need to work on are handling the puck on the boards and breakout passes."

Those elements will be vital this weekend when the team faces the conference-leading Helena Bighorns. Helena is 4-2 against the ICEDOGS this year, and has out shot the ICEDOGS 256-189 in head to head play. However, the weekend match up is the last before the Christmas break, and LaFontaine's team is hoping to catch the Bighorns in a giving mood. "The break will be positive for us," LaFontaine said, "but by no means are we looking towards the future right now. The focus is on the present."

This is a big weekend for the ICEDOGS, taking on Helena at home on Friday and again in Helena on Saturday. These two teams seem to win more games when on the road against each other, and both will be trying to reverse that trend. Friday's game is a Pepsi Family night where fans can get 4 tickets, 4 Pepsis, and a bucket of popcorn for $25. Fans are also invited to stick around after the game for a FREE post-game skate with the ICEDOGS.

Also this Friday, pick up a FREE Bozeman ICEDOGS Chant Guide at the Will Call Window or Ticket Office. This new Chant Guide will have some new Cheers and Chants that Geno is going to be leading during our games. We want the Valley Ice Garden to be an intimidating place for teams to visit, and having more fan participation is the key to achieving this goal. Thanks to Speedy Print who is kindly printing these guides for our fans for FREE!

The ICEDOGS would like to ask our fans to support our sponsors during this holiday season. Sponsors play a vital role in keeping ICEDOGS hockey alive, and visiting these establishments when doing your holiday shopping will be greatly appreciated. If you can't seem to find the right gift, browse our list of sponsors (link on the left) and it is likely your imagination will find a solution.

Spotlight on Graham McManamin #5

Graham is in his first season of ICEDOGS Hockey, and one of the team's toughest defenders. In 27 games, he has 3 goals and 8 assists for 11 points. He has spent 64 minutes in the Penalty Box. Graham started playing hockey as a youngster because he wanted to follow the footsteps of his older brother.

What skills do you bring to the ICEDOGS? I try to play smart, solid defense. What skills do you want to improve? I want to improve my speed and offensive abilities. What sports do you play other than hockey? I like to play soccer and lacrosse. What are your favorite teams? My favorite teams are the Detroit Red Wings, New Orleans Hornets, and San Francisco 49ers. My favorite players are Nick Lidstrom (NHL-has poise, makes smart plays), Jason Kidd (NBA-works hard), and Ray Lewis (NFL-he is a dominate force on defense). Why Did You Start Playing Hockey? In Alaska there was not too much else to do. My brother and I just picked up the game and taught ourselves how to play. What do you want to be remembered for by ICEDOGS' fans? Being an impact player that wins games for our team. What is your pre-game routine? I try and eat right all day, and drink only water. About an hour before the game I stretch.

What is your funniest childhood memory? I was riding my bike down a path one day with a wooden wall on one side. All of a sudden, my mind told me to run directly into the wall, so I did. If you received $100 cash as a gift, what would you do with it? The answer I should say is save it...but really it would get spent pretty fast. If you were granted any three wishes, what would you request? To be very successful at everything I want to do, have all of my family and friends receive great health, and world peace.

What are five words people would use to describe you? Funny, Unique, Relaxed, Determined. Have you ever been a part of a championship team in another sport, if so what sport and when? Yes, I won a championship while playing soccer. What do like most about Bozeman? I look forward to another great year of hockey, and not having to worry about school.

A Little Hockey Humor

Do you have a good hockey joke? If so, e-mail to us at insider@bozemanicedogs.com. Until we can find more hockey jokes appropriate for The Dog Pound Weekly, we will find some that are related to sports in general.

Pat Williams was lured away from the Philadelphia 76ers by a group of investors trying to get an NBA franchise in Orlando in the mid 1980's. He spearheded the drive, which was ultimately approved by the NBA Expansion Board and has been with the Magic since that time.

Here is an undated quote we found quite humorous: "We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. As general manager, I just can't figure out where else to play."

Brady Lundblad Succeeding at St. John's University

Brady recently added his name to our alumni list on bozemanicedogs.com who are currently playing in college or a professional league. He was really excited about the invitation to provide this update to our fans:

Since I left Bozeman, I have played the last three seasons at St. John's University. I am very pleased with the decision I made to come to this university. I get to play for a very quality hockey team and am challenged every day in the classroom as well.

The last three years have been a success on the rink. Our team has won the MIAC two years in a row and been to the National Division 3 Tournement once. We have also won the MIAC final five once and lost last season in the title game to St. Thomas in overtime. I am currently a senior and second in the team in scoring at this point so far this season.

I am looking into some options for after graduation work. These could include Finance, Banking, and Financial Advising. My major at St. John's is Management with a focus in Finance.

I could never begin to explain how much my junior experience meant to me. The fans and people of Bozeman will never be forgotten. The love and passion that the Dog Pound has for Bozeman hockey is very commendable. I really miss the junior experience and the great fans. I wish I could go back and do it all over. I would also like to thank the coaches who have helped me get to where I am today. I would like to personally thank John LaFontaine for giving me the opportunity to compete as a Bozeman Icedog during the 2000-01 season. Bar none, he is the best coach I have ever had in my lifetime, no question. I would also like to thank my billet parents, and I will never forget them. They will be a part of my life that will stay with me forever.

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North American Hockey League Stories from December 15, 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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