Bozeman Icedogs Lose Opponent Next Year

This is a huge blow to the hockey community and for those who love supporting this young team.

405 MT Sports is reporting that the Missoula Jr. Bruins hockey team, an opponent and rival of the Bozeman Icedogs, will be leaving after this season. One of the co-owners of the team has been sold and will possibly move to a new location next season.

The reasons behind the decision was apparently some issues with the rink management, ongoing challenges and Missoula Area Youth Hockey Association board refusing to negotiate a new contract. With all these factors after June 30th the Jr. Bruins will be no more in Missoula and Montana loses one of their junior pro teams.

The Missoula Junior Bruins were one of the five Montana teams in the Frontier Conference in the North American 3 Hockey League. Those other teams include the Helena Bighorns, the Butte Cobras, the Great Falls Americans and the Bozeman Icedogs. The battles between Missoula and Bozeman were always huge games in recent years whether for bragging rights or playoff implications. The Bozeman Icedogs certainly lose a huge rival.

The thing is though, could we see the Missoula Junior Bruins pop up somewhere else in the state possibly? If they wanted to put that franchise in a place in Montana that would make sense and also bring excitement to a city or town, then they could easily relocate to Billings, which is the largest city in Montana and would be logical, or Whitefish/Kalispell, which has a huge hockey population.

Either way, we will see what happens but as for right now the Missoula Junior Bruins will be missed after this season.

For more details, check out 406 MT Sports.