The Missouri State Ice Bears kick off the seventh exciting season at Jordan Valley Ice Park home after winning their first Mid-America Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) league championship tournament and setting a season home-attendance record in 2006-07.

The Ice Bears are proud to represent Missouri State University in the growing sport of collegiate hockey as the club continues to build a solid reputation as a top-quality ACHA college hockey program on and off the ice.

The Ice Bears skated to season record of 20 wins, 15 losses and 1 tie for 2006-07 and qualifi ed for the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division 2 Central Region playoff tournament for a second straight season.

The Varsity team won the MACHA “Gold” Division tournament championship in its fourth season of MACHA competition. After founding as an ACHA Division 3 level team in 2001-02, the Ice Bears moved up to ACHA Division 2 in their third season.

In 2004, the program grew to the point where the Club added a Jr. Varsity team. In its third season last year, the team played to a season record of 10 wins; 11 losses; and 2 ties in the 2006-07 season. The Jr. Varsity team will play 28 games this season, competing for the fi rst time in the MACHA “Silver” Division.

The continuous growth of the program is credited largely to strong and consistent Club leadership that provides the management and coaching experience and guidance needed to produce successful results. Head Coach Benjamin Alexander, General Manager Stan Melton, Assistant General Manager Curt Bussen and Faculty Advisor Paul Durham have worked with the club since the first season. Many other volunteer staff members are Club veterans, while new staff members, coaches and interns bring fresh talent every season. The coaches and off-ice staff work in concert with the Ice Bears Player Board, which plays a key role in the Club’s leadership each season.

As a Club sport, the Ice Bears couldn’t function without the support of sponsors and advertisers who contribute financial support and in-kind services critical to the Club’s operation. Those valuable contributors are noted later in the program and their support is greatly appreciated throughout the year.

The fan base continues to grow with record numbers; all it takes is attending a game or two to get hooked on the high energy, enthusiasm and speed that the game experience brings. In 2006-07, the average game attendance hit a record level of more than 800 per game for some 13,000 over the full home season. With arena capacity of 1,100 at Jordan Valley Ice Park, the Ice Bears hope to break the 1,000 per game mark during this season’s 18 home games.

Some of our biggest fans – who often double as advertisers, supporters and volunteers – are the players’ parents. Their dedication is remarkable; second only to that of the players themselves. The Varsity and Jr. Varsity teams number more than 50 players this season. As members of a Club sport team, the players and their families make a major financial commitment to be on the team. Maintaining their balance on the ice may be second nature, but the players also commit to balancing academics, family, games, practices, travel and community service.

While many elements change with each new season, the Missouri State Hockey Club remains proudly committed to its mission of producing a level of achievement on and off the ice to create a top-quality collegiate hockey program for Missouri State University and the Springfi eld-area community.