Black Hills State Hockey

[Yote 53]

I have come across some readings lately about Spearfish building a hockey arena and Black Hills State possibly starting up a D1 hockey team that would eventually play in the WCHA, the league Minnesota State is a part of. Anybody out in West River heard anything about it?

I know BHSU went D2 a few years ago and is now in the RMAC. Seems starting a D1 hockey program is the next step in elevating the status of their athletics program. Interesting that they could beat both of the D1 schools in the state, USD and SDSU, to the D1 hockey punch. I know the popularity of the game has grown out in the Rapid City area in recent years.


Arena Development

[Yotes]

I would guess that hockey is more popular in the hills. I was very surprised last time I was out there and hearing about the Rush playoff campaign. I never hear about the Stampede here in Vermillion. BHSU would certainly be able get a spotlight if they were the only hockey school in SD, I know I would have a passing interest in watching if Midco had their games.

[Coyote Fan]

I don't think there is a popularity problem with the Stampede in eastern South Dakota. They just set a single season attendance record for the history of the USHL. They also came close to drawing the most fans to attend an indoor sporting event in South Dakota twice drawing crowds of 10,678. They are the first team in USHL history to win back to back organization of the year awards. They won their league championship and had good attendance during the playoffs which is traditionally a time where it is difficult to draw fans. For their championship game they gave all the fans in the lower bowl free blue t-shirts to create a blue out effect in the arena during their championship clinching game, and by the way they play in the best indoor facility for sports in the state. The Stampede averaged an incredible 6,300 fans per game over the course of the regular season. All in all the Stampede just came off their most successful season in their history both on and off the ice. The Rush draw an impressive average of about 4,500 per game in a smaller area than Sioux Falls so give them credit for that but I wouldn't call the Rush the hotter commodity nor would I call Rapid City a bigger hockey hotbed than Eastern South Dakota. The Stampede are probably not covered by the media as they should be but the fans show up in droves. USD and/or SDSU draw maybe half as many fans to their basketball games but get twice the coverage at least and neither program has the upside to draw over 10,000 fans to a basketball game like the Stampede can draw for hockey. In fairness to USD and SDSU the Stampede have the big advantage of being located in Sioux Falls and not having to share the hockey market with anyone. High school basketball no doubt takes away the fans from USD and SDSU events. I am fairly certain that if either SDSU or USD started a hockey program that it would outdraw what Black Hills State would draw. More power to them though if they start D1 hockey. It wouldn't be a bad move at all.

More info on why Sioux Falls won organization of the year.

www.sfstampede.com/news_article/show/537824?referrer_id=627591

[Yote 53]

All true about the Stampede. You guys have derided me for years but what do you think it would be like if USD fielded a D1 team and played some games in Sioux Falls? You think the Stampede have support? D1 college hockey would crush that.

[Yotes]

Aug 9, 2015 9:34:19 GMT -6 Yote 53 said:

All true about the Stampede. You guys have derided me for years but what do you think it would be like if USD fielded a D1 team and played some games in Sioux Falls? You think the Stampede have support? D1 college hockey would crush that.

Someone get Herbster on the phone and make a pitch. Apparently there is a ton of hockey fans in Sioux Falls and USD having a hockey team would be a sure way to put the Yotes in the spotlight in our state's biggest city.