MONROE - The Icebreakers have run aground.
Monroe's Junior A semi-pro hockey team that was supposed to start its season last weekend at SLICE folded Oct. 6 before it even began.
SLICE President Dan Moats said he met with Wisconsin Junior Hockey League (WJHL) franchise director Scott Schwendeman to determine the team's future in Monroe.
"Things looked grim for the 2008-2009 season," Moats said. "There were so many loose ends that Scott made the decision to drop the Monroe team and focus on the rest of the league."
Schwendeman did not return calls from the Times.
The team was to feature about 20 players ranging from 15 to 20 years old, many with aspirations of playing collegially or professionally. The season was to be 60 games, with half played at home.
The league features teams in Stoughton, Rhinelander, Pleasant Prairie, Stevens Point and Eau Claire.
Adam King, who lives in Spring Valley, Ill., contacted the WJHL about working as a sales rep. He would have worked in Monroe.
"I was excited to see something like that come to Monroe," King said. "I thought this would have been something that would get people more excited about hockey in the city and make them want to be a part of it."
Moats said the relationship between SLICE and the WJHL is in good standing.
"If the league survives its inaugural season, it's possible that talks will resume in the spring regarding a future Monroe team," Moats said.
Moats said SLICE's board of directors handled the situation well. He said there was no expense to the facility; only efforts were lost.
"I think we all learned a lot here and hopefully that knowledge will better prepare us for future endeavors," Moats said. "We had contracts in place and chose to use them as a backbone to build a solid relationship with this league.
"Unfortunately, the league just didn't have enough time and the right tools to make it work."
Monroe's Junior A semi-pro hockey team that was supposed to start its season last weekend at SLICE folded Oct. 6 before it even began.
SLICE President Dan Moats said he met with Wisconsin Junior Hockey League (WJHL) franchise director Scott Schwendeman to determine the team's future in Monroe.
"Things looked grim for the 2008-2009 season," Moats said. "There were so many loose ends that Scott made the decision to drop the Monroe team and focus on the rest of the league."
Schwendeman did not return calls from the Times.
The team was to feature about 20 players ranging from 15 to 20 years old, many with aspirations of playing collegially or professionally. The season was to be 60 games, with half played at home.
The league features teams in Stoughton, Rhinelander, Pleasant Prairie, Stevens Point and Eau Claire.
Adam King, who lives in Spring Valley, Ill., contacted the WJHL about working as a sales rep. He would have worked in Monroe.
"I was excited to see something like that come to Monroe," King said. "I thought this would have been something that would get people more excited about hockey in the city and make them want to be a part of it."
Moats said the relationship between SLICE and the WJHL is in good standing.
"If the league survives its inaugural season, it's possible that talks will resume in the spring regarding a future Monroe team," Moats said.
Moats said SLICE's board of directors handled the situation well. He said there was no expense to the facility; only efforts were lost.
"I think we all learned a lot here and hopefully that knowledge will better prepare us for future endeavors," Moats said. "We had contracts in place and chose to use them as a backbone to build a solid relationship with this league.
"Unfortunately, the league just didn't have enough time and the right tools to make it work."