*This article has been substantially revised*
Idaho Vandal Men’s Ice Hockey Club is the oldest and one of the most popular clubs at the University of Idaho. Fans pack the Palouse Ice Rink whenever they play.
This season however, the club has run into issues with sub-par facilities, funding and a lack of exposure.
Senior Logan Warren, current president of Idaho Hockey, has detailed his concerns with the state of the hockey team and the difficulties he has had running the team this season.
According to Warren, the Palouse Ice Rink is not a full ice rink and the current facilities push people away.
“When we go to Gonzaga and Seattle, we play on a completely different sheet of ice,” Warren said. “The game is completely different. (In Moscow), it’s four on four so everybody that comes to the game only experiences an arcade-style, where it’s fast and physical. You take it over to a bigger sheet of ice which is 50 feet wider and 75 feet longer than (the Palouse Ice Rink), it completely changes the game.”
With Washington State’s hockey team practicing at the Palouse Ice Rink, options for Vandal hockey players in the community are slim, according to Warren.
Both teams have to pay for time on the ice and share their time with the community. Captain of the team, Cole Kubic, said that many students on campus do not know the school has a hockey team.
With not enough exposure from UI and many fans from Pullman coming to crowd the Palouse Ice Rink, not many Idaho fans get the chance to witness games.
Attendance for hockey events has gone down from the previous year with the venue limiting attendance from 700 to 400 people. Many fans have been turned away after purchasing tickets.
The future of hockey in Moscow could depend on building a full-sized ice rink.
“If we had a nice sized facility, I don’t think we would be a club team,” Warren said. “I think that’s a big issue for the University as well but, they like putting their money into other sports as well.”
Warren and teammates, juniors Wyatt Tatakis and Kubic, joined the hockey team as an outlet to participate in a fun program while being able to meet lifetime friends.
Warren had become a member before Tatakis and Kubic. He joined five years ago after attending a meeting and getting to know the members of the team at the time.
Warren shared one of his numerous memories from his career at Idaho.
“Beating Boise State after seven years of constantly losing to them,” Warren said. “It was the most memorable moment of my life and it brings me a smile just talking about it.”
In terms of funding, Palouse Ice Rink is helping raise money for a venue to host various events including hockey games, community events and tournaments. Their goal is to raise $5 million. They have already raised $2.4 million along with a $1 million bank loan, said Christina Randal the person in charge of the fundraiser.
According to Warren and Kubic, they do not see UI building around the club, since UI was not willing to put an ice rink underneath the new Idaho Central Credit Union Arena.
“I don’t see them funding something that’s not even on University property, that they can’t make money off of,” Warren said.
Kubic along with Assistant Captain Tatakis are preparing for the next game of their season. However, with Palouse Ice Rink being overbooked, that may not be possible.
Warren has tried to schedule some away games and even plan a senior night, but his efforts might be in vain. Openings in the ice rink are delayed until April or spring break which could be very troubling scheduling games.
“Due to common issues, I don’t know,” Warren said. “It’s a bummer for me because I don’t know if I’ll get to play on this rink again.”
The Vandal hockey team went from eight on the roster to 18. This increase came over the span of five years. It looks as if Idaho hockey will reach a turning point for next season.
“For anyone that doesn’t play at a junior level and isn’t trying to play to get paid, this is the least amount of money you will spend to have a good time and create tight bonds,” Tatakis said. “Whoever loves the sport of hockey should come and play for the University,” Kubic said.
The men and woman of the hockey team look toward the future with the hopes of a potential refresh to next season.
“(Palouse Ice Rink) is literally the one thing holding this team back,” Warren said.
An earlier version of this article misstated information on program closure within Vandal Athletics.
An earlier version of this article provided incorrect information about Palouse Ice Rink funding. The Palouse Ice Rink Foundation has raised $2.4 million for a community ice rink.
Armin Mesinovic can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @arminmesinovic
Chad Hasche
I played on the very first Vandal team and had a blast! I still remember the games against Gonzaga WSU UW and all the fun we had - hope it continues on and they get a full size rink!
Stephen T Conklin
I do not think Idaho had a hockey team when I attended the University of Idaho from 1981-1985. I know and seen we had a rodeo club team at the school. I travel a lot these days as a trucker, and I have been to a college ice hockey game at Robert Morris U in Corapolis, PA. The home rink for the school was a part of fitness center, and the school took over. The seating capacity was real small, but still it was a great competitive atmosphere to witness two college teams going at it. Sorry, Idaho not a big time athletic program, were the school cannot invest in a hockey rink. The school would have to May be open the rink up to students and public between team practices and games. It a shame the Big Sky Conference does not try to expand a sport like hockey in the Nothwest part of the nation? Hockey should take in many Big Sky Schools like Montana, Montana State, Idaho State, Northern Arizona and Idaho should be great schools to foster hockey programs.