Eisinger pitches in for newer Zamboni for rink

Eisinger Automotive Groups recently donated $25,000 to the Flathead Valley Hockey Association to buy a newer Zamboni, the vehicle required to smooth the ice between each game and public skating event.

Eisinger also provided the money for the Zamboni that the association has been using for the past seven years.  

In August 2013 the Flathead Valley Hockey Association board set the goal of raising $50,000 this season to purchase a used but newer Zamboni to maintain the rink at Woodland Ice Center.

The community ice skating rink is run entirely by the volunteers of the Flathead Valley Hockey Association at the former Bruckhauser Pool in Kalispell’s Woodland Park .

The organization runs athletic programs for youths ages 4-19, a women’s hockey league, ice-skating lessons and public skating events.  It also hosts 11 tournaments each winter bringing 60 teams to stay in Kalispell for one, two or three nights.

“This donation will provide just the kick-start FVHA needs,” association president Kim Morisaki said. “The Eisingers’ amazing generosity combined with the income from the Craft Brewer’s Cup Hockey Tournament and Brewfest taking place this weekend will get us very close to our goal of being able to purchase a new Zam early this spring.”

The annual tournament and brewfest this weekend includes eight teams, 120 players, seven former NHL players and 25 microbrewery beers.

All money raised from the event will go to the Zamboni fund. Spectators will be able to watch players from three winning Stanley Cup teams and their friends from Montana and Canada play for free tonight and all day Saturday. The Brewfest will be Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m.