Whitefish closes in on hockey team
WHITEFISH -Things are moving right along for a proposal that would begin a new Northern Pacific Hockey League team in Whitefish.
The Glacier Nationals received unanimous approval in early October from the Whitefish Parks and Recreation board.
The Nationals received a contract from NORPAC in July and the Stumptown Ice Den rink advisory board gave its nod in late August.
Owner/founder Butch Kowalka expects to conduct tryouts at the end of August 2011 and put the first team on the ice at Stumptown Ice Den in late September 2011.
The NORPAC is a junior hockey league featuring players 16-20 years old.
The season would likely last from September through early March at the latest and would include a 48-game schedule.
"NORPAC has been trying to get a team here. The market here is perfect. I feel very confident that this is going to happen," Kowalka said.
The Nationals, as well as a new Great Falls team, will join NORPAC's Pacific Division.
Other Montana teams - the Billings Bulls, Bozeman Ice Dogs, Butte Roughriders, Helena Bighorns, Missoula Maulers and Yellowstone Quake - play in the America West division.
Most games would be at the Ice Den, but Kowalka said the team hopes to practice in Kalispell as well.
"That would be good for the people in the community to come down to see the boys play," he said.
There is still plenty of work to do - and it will take plenty of money.
For starters, the team will have to bring the Ice Den lockerrooms up to code for American Junior Hockey. That includes adding three new lockerrooms.
"It will be a major upgrade for (the Ice Den)," Kowalka said.
Kowalka is looking for private donations to get that done.
He also has to work on sponsors, funding the team, startup costs, etc, he said.
Kowalka estimates it will cost $50,000 just to get the team off the ground and $100,000 to get it going.
Some of the money to run the team will come from the boys themselves. Each member will pay a fee.
Ticket sales will also generate income - Kowalka estimates gate ticket prices at $10, $8 pre-purchased and $6 for students, seniors and veterans.
Kowalka also has numerous other thoughts on promotions, including contests for logo design and to be named No. 1 fan. Those can be found on the Nationals website - www.glaciernationals.com
The young men who could become the Glacier Nationals are aged 16-20 (most are 18-19) and will come from all over the U.S. Kowalka hopes to have a local look as soon as possible.
"Our goal is to get as many local players as possible up to speed to play on the team," Kowalka said.
He does admit to a bit of a personal agenda in that area - he hopes his own children will one day play for the Nationals.
Right now, there are three or four local boys who are ready to play. But initially many team members will be coming from outside the area. They would lodge with local families and some would likely attend one of the local high schools or Flathead Valley Community College, he said.
"What we hope to have is kids staying all over the valley. We'll try to keep them in the Whitefish, Glacier, Flathead High School realm," he said.
"We really are a skill development team - it's moving kids on to the next level," he said.
"The whole reason is to get the kids ready to play college hockey."