In case you haven’t noticed, the 2008-09 hockey season has begun. With no national television coverage to speak of (outside of the Versus network) many casual sports fans may not even know that the NHL season is in full swing. Well, it is, and Austin’s own hockey squad, the Ice Bats, gets their 12th campaign under way this evening at the Bat Cave (Chaparral Ice Arena) at 7:35pm vs. the Texas Brahmas. Free magnetic schedules to boot. They’ll host the New Mexico Scorpions next Thursday and Friday (Oct.25-26) at 7:35pm.
There’s been alot happening with Bats during the offseason. They are now under the new ownership of CS&J Management, which is run by Randy Sanders. Sanders has been the majority investor for several years and decided to buy out the other investors in September.
They debuted a new fancy-pants website for this season. Check it out here.
As typical of minor-league hockey, the Bats have plenty of new faces on their roster but there will be several recognizable names returning from last year’s team: Henry Kuster, John Ronan, Jordan Weibel, Aaron Wilson, and Miguel Beaudry. Hotshot goalie Miroslav Kopriva spent some time with the AHL’s Houston Aeros and should frustrate his CHL-level opponents when he gets the nod at goalie. The Ice Bats retain their affiliations with the CHL’s Houston Aeros and the NHL’s Minnesota Wild.
The intimate setting of the Chaparral Ice Arena puts fans right on top of the action and there’s sure to be plenty of cold beer flowing and players’ fists a’flyin’. And some awesome hockey action as well. There’s no excuse not to make the short trip to the Bat Cave to support a local professional sports franchise and have some serious fun.
This article appears in October 19 • 2007.