Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Ironwood Lumberjacks draw enthusiastic fans
THE IRONWOOD Lumberjacks stand in formation on Saturday night when they played against Dryden GM Ice Dogs at the Pat O'Donnell Civic Center in Ironwood. For more coverage, see pages 7 and 18.
By BRENDA MOSELEY
Ironwood — The Ironwood Lumberjacks may have lost to the high-ranked Dryden Ice Dogs on Friday and Saturday nights, but the Tier II Junior A hockey team surely has won the support of its new town.
On Jan. 10 and 11, the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center in Ironwood was filled with fans, with many wearing sweatshirts or hats bearing the Lumberjack logo.
Announcer Trey Luce wore a suit and tie featuring wood rounds.
Hoping for a chance to talk with the team or receive broken hockey sticks, boys hung over the chainlink fence that separated players from bleachers.
In addition, billet families sat in the audience, cheering for their “hockey sons.” Such families help support players by providing them with a home while they are here.
Scouts for the Lumberjacks, who just began playing here last fall, recruit team members from across the United States and Canada.
Players train hard and play hard, hoping to receive ice hockey scholarships or to one day play in professional leagues.
Meanwhile, they help Ironwood by bringing new excitement to the town and inspiring young players on the Polar Bear Hockey team.
