Marshall, MN- The Fairbanks Ice Dogs will skate out of the tunnel as the home team at the Red Baron Arena & Expo against the Austin Bruins on Jan 21. Through an agreement with the City of Marshall and the Marshall Amateur Hockey Association, the Ice Dogs are scheduled to play 10 regular season home games in the Red Baron Arena prior to their home opener on March 12 in Fairbanks. Friday’s game against the Bruins will kick off a 6-game “home” stand in Marshall.
“I can’t thank the community of Marshall enough for all they’ve done to help get us to this point,” said Ice Dogs GM Rob Proffitt. “Playing in Marshall is allowing our organization a chance to survive through this pandemic, and I will be forever grateful for that.”
Due to COVID guidelines, 150 tickets will be sold for each game held in Marshall. Masks and social distancing will be required. Doors will open one hour prior to game time, and anyone not cooperating with COVID guidelines will be asked to leave the arena without a ticket refund.
Tickets are available now for January games at: marshall.sportngin.com/register/form/950968836. Fans can also attend the games in spirit through the fan cutout special, where you can send a photo to be printed and placed in the “MARSH PIT” section of the arena.
The Dogs have amassed a 5-6 record through the first 11 games of the season, which saw the NAHL Midwest Division go idle through most of November and December due to COVID restrictions in the state of Minnesota. The Dogs are 5-2 since retuning to play, a stretch that included a 3-game sweep of Janesville and 2-game splits with the Magicians and Bismarck Bobcats.
“The players came back from the paused season with a sense of optimism,” said Ice Dogs’ Head Coach Trevor Stewart. “We have played in three straight weekends against very good competition, and the guys seem very excited to play in Marshall this coming weekend.”
Janesville leads the Midwest Division with 16 points, while the Kenai River Brown Bears hold down second with 12 points. The Dogs and Minnesota Magicians are tied for third place, two points back of Kenai. Bret Link leads the Ice Dogs with 8 points off 4 goals and 4 assists this season. Rookies Tyler Herzberg and Brendan Miles are tied for second on the team’s scoresheet, each with 7 points.
“Our rookies have taken a step in the right direction, while the veterans are starting to reestablish themselves,” Stewart said. “Our goaltending has been solid and giving us a chance every night.”
Following Thursday’s game agains the Bruins, the Dogs host the Aberdeen Wings Jan. 22-23. Other games in the “home stand” include a 2-game series against Bismarck, with a single game against the Bruins to close it out.
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