×

Steel set to play games in Mankato

NEW ULM — This Saturday, the New Ulm Steel will host Coulee Region in an NA3HL game at 7:10 at the New Ulm Civic Center.

For fans of the Steel, this game will be the last time you can see the Steel play at home until December 27 and 28 when they host Alexandria and Granite City.

The December 13 home game against Breezy Point will be played in Mankato at All-Season’s Arena.

“Tickets that fans here in New Ulm have are valid there,” Steel General Manager Bryant Black said.

Black said that the game in Mankato was set up because of the availability of playoff ice at the New Ulm Civic Center due to dry floor shows at the Civic Center during playoff time.

“It is no secret that we have not been allowed to have playoffs at the Civic Center since we have been here,” Black said. “This year we do because of the scheduling of youth hockey (a dual state tournament in New Ulm) which takes precedent over the Steel, we could potentially have one round of playoffs here in New Ulm if it works in the schedule.

“But it is still not a guarantee that there will be ice in but if youth hockey takes up all of the ice, we still may not have the ice availability,” Black said. “So with an Olympic sheet of ice here in New Ulm and a regulation sheet of ice at All-Season’s, we are just testing having a game there because we potentially could have playoff games there.”

Black said that the Steel did meet with the City of New Ulm on this, “they encouraged us to have a game over there.”

“It is ice availability — that is what it is,” Black said. “If the City allowed us to have playoff ice here, we would not consider going to Mankato. But when you play 22 home games here on an Olympic sheet, which is a huge advantage to us because we are the only team in the league that plays on one. So we need to adjust to that smaller rink. Ice reacts different on different sheet of ice and the boards are different.”

Black said that there is nothing else more into it than ice availability.

Black said that there is a possibility that a game could be played next year again in Mankato “until we are allowed to have ice in New Ulm until March, we have to prepare and explore other options for playoffs. Playoff ice is important and we have to have a place to play and Mankato makes the most sense.”

Again Black added that there is no hidden agenda behind potential playoff games in Mankato.

MIKE’S COLLISION NIGHT: Saturday night is also “Mike’s Collision Night” at the New Ulm Civic Center. Oil change coupons will be given away.

SKATE WITH SANTA ON SUNDAY: You can skate with Santa and members of the New Ulm Steel hockey team this Sunday at the New Ulm Civic Center for free from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted for the New Ulm Area Food Shelf.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today