MONROE - Semi-pro hockey will kick off its inaugural season in Monroe Saturday.
The Monroe Blues, a hockey team in the Great Lakes Hockey League, will play its season opener at 8 p.m. Saturday against Fond du Lac at the Stateline Ice and Community Expo. The team has played as the Madison Blues for nine years, but switched its name to the Monroe Blues and moved to Monroe to kick off this season.
Gottlieb Brandli Jr., president of the Monroe Avalanche Blueline Club, and vice president Brian Wyss will take over ownership of the Monroe Blues in the 2015-16 season. They are shadowing current owners Peter and Susie Goeser, of Fond du Lac. The Goesers are planning on retiring and they have run into financial problems with the team playing at the Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton. Since Brandli Jr. has a son, Gottlieb Brandli III, who plays on the team, he didn't want to see the team disband.
"They (players) were wondering what they would do to get their hockey fix," Brandli Jr. said. "We are going to use it as a fundraiser for the high school and youth hockey teams. They (Goesers) didn't have the extra money to put into the team. They didn't make any money the last couple of years."
There is a strong local connection to Monroe with the Blues. There are 10 Monroe graduates playing for the team, including many college players and Lance Altmann, 44, of Monroe.
Brandli is planning on catering Monroe Blues hockey games as a family event. Monroe youth hockey players will get in for free if they wear their jerseys. Youth players will be invited on the ice for the National Anthem with players, and the Monroe High School boys hockey co-op will have 50-50 raffles and chuck-a-puck fundraisers in between periods, Brandli said.
"We want to do this every game so they feel like part of the team and can be out there on the ice with guys on the team," Brandli said. "A lot of kids don't get to experience that until they are older."
Brandli and Wyss will have a concession stand available for games and they will sell beer.
The Blueline Club is similar to the Monroe Booster Club at the high school. It's a nonprofit group that raises money for the high school and youth hockey teams. Brandli wants to develop awareness of high school, youth and semi-pro hockey in Monroe.
"There are still people in town that don't know we have a hockey rink," he said. "It's going on for its 15th year. Bringing something big like this will get the word out that we have high school and youth hockey. It will help get hockey into people's doors in the winter when the only thing on their mind in this town is basketball."
Admission is $5 and 5- to 12-year-olds are $3. Admission for children 4 and younger is free. Brandli said the team invites mentors and children in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program to attend one game this season for free.
The other Monroe alumni playing include Brandon Mortimer, Drew Nafzger, Jordan Steurer, Jason Johnson, Alex Landen, Mike Kohn, Jordan Graber and Derek Lewis. Paul Morris, a Monroe city department employee, also plays on the team, as does Brayden Fritch, a Brodhead graduate who played youth hockey for Monroe.
The team plays in a full-contact hockey league. Players try out for the team, but are not paid. Brandli said the Blueline Club and owners will try to cover traveling expenses when the team has to play at Eagle River.
The biggest challenge is getting sponsorships, Brandli said.
Brandli said reserving ice time is $275 per game and getting referees is $350 per game.
"That puts us in a hole $600 per game," he said. "We want to get as many sponsorships as we can to offset that cost."
Fond du Lac is the defending champions in the Great Lakes Hockey League. Christian Blick, a goalie for Fond du Lac last year, has joined the Monroe Blues.
"There are a lot of times these guys get beat up on the boards pretty good," Brandli said. "Fond du Lac is a blue collar town that likes its hockey rough and tough. It's kind of like a Bears-Packers rivalry between these two teams. Now that we picked up one of their goalies it will only add fuel to the fire."
The Monroe Blues, a hockey team in the Great Lakes Hockey League, will play its season opener at 8 p.m. Saturday against Fond du Lac at the Stateline Ice and Community Expo. The team has played as the Madison Blues for nine years, but switched its name to the Monroe Blues and moved to Monroe to kick off this season.
Gottlieb Brandli Jr., president of the Monroe Avalanche Blueline Club, and vice president Brian Wyss will take over ownership of the Monroe Blues in the 2015-16 season. They are shadowing current owners Peter and Susie Goeser, of Fond du Lac. The Goesers are planning on retiring and they have run into financial problems with the team playing at the Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton. Since Brandli Jr. has a son, Gottlieb Brandli III, who plays on the team, he didn't want to see the team disband.
"They (players) were wondering what they would do to get their hockey fix," Brandli Jr. said. "We are going to use it as a fundraiser for the high school and youth hockey teams. They (Goesers) didn't have the extra money to put into the team. They didn't make any money the last couple of years."
There is a strong local connection to Monroe with the Blues. There are 10 Monroe graduates playing for the team, including many college players and Lance Altmann, 44, of Monroe.
Brandli is planning on catering Monroe Blues hockey games as a family event. Monroe youth hockey players will get in for free if they wear their jerseys. Youth players will be invited on the ice for the National Anthem with players, and the Monroe High School boys hockey co-op will have 50-50 raffles and chuck-a-puck fundraisers in between periods, Brandli said.
"We want to do this every game so they feel like part of the team and can be out there on the ice with guys on the team," Brandli said. "A lot of kids don't get to experience that until they are older."
Brandli and Wyss will have a concession stand available for games and they will sell beer.
The Blueline Club is similar to the Monroe Booster Club at the high school. It's a nonprofit group that raises money for the high school and youth hockey teams. Brandli wants to develop awareness of high school, youth and semi-pro hockey in Monroe.
"There are still people in town that don't know we have a hockey rink," he said. "It's going on for its 15th year. Bringing something big like this will get the word out that we have high school and youth hockey. It will help get hockey into people's doors in the winter when the only thing on their mind in this town is basketball."
Admission is $5 and 5- to 12-year-olds are $3. Admission for children 4 and younger is free. Brandli said the team invites mentors and children in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program to attend one game this season for free.
The other Monroe alumni playing include Brandon Mortimer, Drew Nafzger, Jordan Steurer, Jason Johnson, Alex Landen, Mike Kohn, Jordan Graber and Derek Lewis. Paul Morris, a Monroe city department employee, also plays on the team, as does Brayden Fritch, a Brodhead graduate who played youth hockey for Monroe.
The team plays in a full-contact hockey league. Players try out for the team, but are not paid. Brandli said the Blueline Club and owners will try to cover traveling expenses when the team has to play at Eagle River.
The biggest challenge is getting sponsorships, Brandli said.
Brandli said reserving ice time is $275 per game and getting referees is $350 per game.
"That puts us in a hole $600 per game," he said. "We want to get as many sponsorships as we can to offset that cost."
Fond du Lac is the defending champions in the Great Lakes Hockey League. Christian Blick, a goalie for Fond du Lac last year, has joined the Monroe Blues.
"There are a lot of times these guys get beat up on the boards pretty good," Brandli said. "Fond du Lac is a blue collar town that likes its hockey rough and tough. It's kind of like a Bears-Packers rivalry between these two teams. Now that we picked up one of their goalies it will only add fuel to the fire."
