Dog Pound Weekly

Published on January 18, 2006 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bozeman Icedogs News Release


Two more games, two more wins. Anyone at the game last Friday night came away with a smile as the 'DOGS beat the Bulls in front of a huge crowd cheering on their hometown Huskies. This weekend the ICEDOGS welcome the Wichita Falls Wildcats for games on Friday and Saturday.

Friday's game is a Pepsi Night sponsored by First Horizon Financial, where $25 will buy any four bench tickets (in any combination of adult, student, or child), four Pepsis, and a bucket of popcorn. Be sure and stick around for the post-game skate with the team!

The Blackhawks are on the road for games in Butte tonight and TriCities Friday and Saturday. The Blackhawks are coming off a two-win weekend as well and are closing the gap with the first-place Cutthroats.

ICEDOGS Sweep Bulls, Raise $2200 For Charity On Jersey Auction

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When the Bozeman ICEDOGS and the Billings Bulls met this past weekend, one may have thought it was a college hockey game. The ICEDOGS and the Bulls teamed up with the University of Montana and Montana State University to hold a Cat-Griz jersey auction. The "Boys from Bozeman" dawned the blue and gold of MSU while the Bulls wore replica Griz jerseys. Each jersey honored a Bobcat or Grizzly football legend, with their name and number on the back, and the jerseys were auctioned off after the game for a good cause. The Bozeman ICEDOGS raised nearly $2,500 to be split between the Montana State University Spirit Squad and the Gallatin Valley Youth Hockey Association.

In addition to a successful fundraiser for the two great organizations, the ICEDOGS kept their winning streak alive, sweeping the Bulls during the home and home set. Friday night, the ICEDOGS hosted the Bulls in front of 2,800 fans. The noise was deafening as the ICEDOGS jumped out to the lead in the first three minutes. Luke Bennett scored 2:41 into the game with Kyle Bailey and Quinn Ellingson adding assists.

A scoreless second period quieted the near sellout crowd at the Valley Ice Garden, but the hundreds of Cheer Stix passed out during the second intermission brought the noise level back up, and the ICEDOGS responded. Feeding off the energy of the home crowd, Bozeman scored two goals in a minute and half to give them the 3-0 lead.

Josh Heidinger, who left the game in the second period with a cut above his right eye, returned in the third and started the scoring at the 4:17 mark. Graham McManamin took a shot from the point and Heidinger picked up the rebound and jammed it home for the ‘DOGS second goal. Moments later, at the 5:45 mark, Mike Schumacher and Pete Fylling connected with Fylling giving the ICEDOGS the 3-0 lead.

A defensive breakdown cost Matt Dalton the shutout as Billings erased the goose egg with a goal with under ten minutes to play, but that was the only mistake made by the ICEDOGS. In the final minute, Bozeman took a penalty and Billings had the 6-on-4 advantage, but couldn't score. Josh Heidinger blocked a shot from the point, and corralled the puck, finding Mike Schumacher for the empty net, shorthanded goal. For Bozeman, it was their league leading 16th shorthanded goal on the season. Matt Dalton earned his 20th victory of the season in the 4- 1 win.

After a day off on Saturday, the ICEDOGS headed to Billings for a Sunday afternoon contest. For the second game in a row, the ICEDOGS scored in the opening three minutes with Ryan Bunger finding the back of the net with Bozeman on the power play, but the Bulls quickly stopped the bleeding. Mitch Kerns scored for Billings in the first period to tie the game after one.

In the second, the ICEDOGS struck quickly as Brett Nylander took a great pass from the Adam Krefski for his ninth goal on the season. As time wound down in the period, Bozeman struck again. This time it was Quinn Ellingson hammering a rebound home past Ian Wilson and the ICEDOGS enjoyed a two goal lead heading to the third. Another quick attack opened the third period, when Adam Krefski beat Wilson with a wrap around shot, and the ‘DOGS looked to be in control, but Billings had a different plan. The special teams for the Bulls mounted a charge and by the ten-minute mark, the game was tied at four. A shorthanded goal by Matt Becker and two power play goals from Mitch Kerns sent the game to overtime.

In the extra period, the ICEDOGS and Bulls exchanged chances, but in the end it was veteran Brian Moore who answered the call. Moore, who recently committed to Bowling Green State University, went end to end and attempted a centering pass from behind the net. The pass got blocked but Moore grabbed the loose puck and wrapped in around the side of the net and past Wilson to set off the celebration as the ICEDOGS swept the Bulls with the 5-4 victory.

Spotlight On #20 Brett Barta

Q: Tell us a little about your playing background. A: All the kids in the neighborhood played roller hockey so I got a pair of skates and decided to give it a try at around age seven. I loved the game and started playing ice hockey when I was a squirt. I played in the recreational leagues until I was a PeeWee, when I made my first A team. I played the next few years in the Moorhead Youth Hockey program. I made the Varsity Hockey team for the Moorhead Spuds as a sophomore. I played three seasons along side Brian Lee and Chris Vander Velde, both NHL draft picks last season. My team made the Minnesota High School State Tournament all three years, and we were in the Class AA Championship twice-but lost both games. Last season I was recruited by Bozeman, Fargo-Moorhead and Bismarck, but chose to come to Bozeman and play for Coach LaFontaine and the ICEDOGS.

Q: What is your favorite playing career memory so far? A: Playing in the Minnesota High School State Tournament is insane. Last season, at the Championship game, there were 20,000 people in the Excel Energy Center to watch us play. It was an awesome event and an experience that will be hard to top.

Q: How do you prepare for a game? A: I take a shower after I get up because it helps me wake up. For breakfast, I drink a protein shake and then head to the pre-game skate. After the skate, I head home to play the NHL 2006 video game, check my email, and watch a movie to relax. Around four in the afternoon I eat a meal, usually steak or chicken, drink some Gatorade and head to the rink. When I get there, I like to work on my stick handling before the team stretches. I tape my stick, stickhandle, and then re-tape it before the team stretch. After we stretch and Coach talks to us, I sit in my stall and get dressed, thinking about different situations that I may be faced with during the game.

Q: What are your plans after you are done playing Juniors? A: I am up in the air about next season, but someday I want to play NCAA Division I hockey. It's a dream of mine to play for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. I have talked to some schools this season, but can't make a decision yet. I may return to Bozeman next season to see what other offers come up after another year.

Q: What do you like best about Bozeman? A: The people in Bozeman are great. Everyone is so nice and friendly and my billets are the best. They spoil me and my billet Dad has taken me out to experience the Montana wildlife. I have gone fishing down the Yellowstone, and duck hunting with Mark Columbus. I also have had the chance to go skiing, which was cool. It is just a town full of new experiences and opportunities.

Miscellaneous News, Notes, and Happenings

The ICEDOGS will be participating in the City of Bozeman's SnowFest 2006 ice skating lessons on Sunday February 12th. They will be a part of the "Winter Carnival." Other events such as snow sculpture contests and snow games will be going on at the same time. Free hot chocolate will also be served. It will be on Sunday, February 12th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Beall Park on North Black and Villard Street. Lessons will be offered to the public free of charge at the following times: 1:00p.m., 1:30p.m., 2:00p.m., and 2:30p.m.

Congratulations to Phyllis Johnson and Sarah Munkers who won tickets to the game this weekend. They were randomly selected among those submitting an online survey since the last game. Click here to take the ICEDOGS survey and enter to win tickets!

Do you want to get inside the mind of the ICEDOGS' top scorer? If so, visit the team website and click on the "Ask Heidz" icon. You can send an e- mail asking Josh anything you want whether about hockey, love, money, or anything you would like advice about--and then see his reply online.

The ICEDOGS will be teaming up with the For One Another Cancer Family Network in their annual Tip-A- Dog event from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on February 8th at Old Chicago. The players will be helping wait tables and other restaurant tasks and donating their tips to the Cancer Family Network. This year the ICEDOGS hope to beat the Bulls and Bighorns for the first time in raising money!

The ICEDOGS have released their ticket pricing for 2006-07 season, with modest increases on both walk- up and season rates. This will be the first time since 2001 that regular game tickets have been increased, when they went to $10 from their 1997-2001 price of $9.50 . Season tickets have not increased since 1999 when they went to $275 from their 1997-1999 rate of $260 . Click here to see the new 2006- 07 rates! The Flex 32 and Flex 18 packs have been discontinued, and a Flex 6 pack will be available beginning in October.

Hockey Trivia, Sponsored By Murdochs Ranch & Home Supply

How tall is Theo Fleury?

Did you know that Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply at 2275 North 7th Avenue has a huge selection of DeWalt power tools? The distinctive bright yellow color of DeWalt says you're not here to change a light bulb, but to do some serious work, so stand back! Murdoch's has a complete line of DeWalt saws, drills, nail guns, and more. Swing by Murdoch's just north of the I-90 interchange and check out what's new with DeWalt!

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



North American Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2006


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.

OurSports Central