MONROE - The semi pro Madison Blues hockey team is moving to Monroe to play all of its home games at SLICE. The team is being renamed the Monroe Blues for this season.
The Monroe Blues are a men's full-contact hockey team, playing in the Great Lakes Hockey League that features nine teams in North and South divisions. The teams are based in Wisconsin and Michigan's upper peninsula.
"We have played the past few seasons with little to no fan base out of Capital Ice Arena, in Middleton," Blues player Ryan Roeming said in a news release. "We are hoping for this to be a new addition into the Monroe sports community. We finally believe we have a new home and a place we can create a fan base in the community."
Gottlieb Brandli Jr., director of the Monroe Youth Hockey Association board, and Brian Wyss will take over ownership of the team down the road. Brandli and Wyss are working with the current owners to get the team launched in Monroe.
Several players attended Cheese Days and appeared in the parade and worked in the beer tent Sunday and Saturday. The Blues, with several players who are Monroe alumni, played a game in Monroe last year. It left an impression on the team.
"The first game we played in Monroe was a big success last year," Roeming said.
The roster for the Blues includes five Monroe graduates including Drew Nafzger, Brandon Mortimer, Gottlieb Brandli III, Matt Bush and Derrick Lewis.
Roeming said the Blues have about 12 returning players and will have tryouts in early October where six to eight more players will be added.
The Monroe Blues will open the season at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 when they host the Fond du Lac Bears.
The Monroe Blues are a men's full-contact hockey team, playing in the Great Lakes Hockey League that features nine teams in North and South divisions. The teams are based in Wisconsin and Michigan's upper peninsula.
"We have played the past few seasons with little to no fan base out of Capital Ice Arena, in Middleton," Blues player Ryan Roeming said in a news release. "We are hoping for this to be a new addition into the Monroe sports community. We finally believe we have a new home and a place we can create a fan base in the community."
Gottlieb Brandli Jr., director of the Monroe Youth Hockey Association board, and Brian Wyss will take over ownership of the team down the road. Brandli and Wyss are working with the current owners to get the team launched in Monroe.
Several players attended Cheese Days and appeared in the parade and worked in the beer tent Sunday and Saturday. The Blues, with several players who are Monroe alumni, played a game in Monroe last year. It left an impression on the team.
"The first game we played in Monroe was a big success last year," Roeming said.
The roster for the Blues includes five Monroe graduates including Drew Nafzger, Brandon Mortimer, Gottlieb Brandli III, Matt Bush and Derrick Lewis.
Roeming said the Blues have about 12 returning players and will have tryouts in early October where six to eight more players will be added.
The Monroe Blues will open the season at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 when they host the Fond du Lac Bears.
