From Idaho Mountain Express
By Eric Bean
Players on the Idaho State University Bengals club men’s hockey team have had the unique situation of, in some cases, carpooling to the team’s games from Pocatello as the Bengals are calling Hailey’s Campion Ice House home, at least for this season.
“Most of these kids have to get out of class early to carpool out here,” said Bengals coach Mitch Craven. “It’s a little different than walking across the street on campus and playing in your home barn. At least for this season, we have a home. It’s been great.”
For Bengals freshman Gavin Langham, who hails from Kenai, Alaska, about two and a half hours south of Anchorage, he has enjoyed hanging out with his teammates both on and off the ice.
“It’s a lot of sacrifice and commitment for people to come out and play, which creates a brotherhood,” Langham said. “Everyone’s sacrificing to make this thing work, which is cool to see, but it’s one of the big challenges we have.”
The team has struggled thus far this season as it sits at 1-15, dropping two contests to the University of Nevada, 6-4 on Friday and 8-4 on Saturday, at Campion Ice House. Still, Craven is focused on selling the product of competing in the American Collegiate Hockey Association and the Mountain West Conference.
“We have a unique brand we can offer these kids,” he said. “Even though we’re struggling as far as the win-loss columns, the fact we’re competitive at this level and able to play in one of the toughest conferences in all the nation, we have no business being where we’re at.”
The team is in its second season of competition. Craven said the university has been “amazing” in providing support to the team.
“I’ve been around the ACHA with different teams and schools that have all been supportive, but the support ISU has given is incredible,” he said. “Even though we’re a club team, we’re able to offer tuition assistance and scholarships, which is very rare in this league. Outside of that, the community outreach we’ve had is nice. We’re able to pick up amazing talent throughout the nation.”
Langham added that the team is “fortunate” to have the opportunity to play in Hailey. He said the team has been “limited” in arena availability in eastern Idaho and praised Hailey Ice and its executive director, Sarah Benson.
“A shout-out to the Hailey community for giving us a place to play,” he said. “If not, I’m not sure what would have happened.
“If we get our home rink figured out [by] next season, which we’re working hard so we can play closer to home, our goal and conversations have been that we want to continue to [play] a few games out here and continue to show our thanks.”
The team has played 10 games thus far at the Campion Ice House, and is scheduled to host the University of New Mexico on Nov. 22-23.
(Originally published at https://www.mtexpress.com/sports/local/idaho-state-club-hockey-making-most-of-playing-opportunities-in-hailey/article_5298bbde-a13d-11ef-b08c-4f31ccd3de60.html)
