Bozeman Icedogs The Bozeman Icedogs are a junior ice hockey team located in Bozeman , Montana . The team is a member of the North American 3 Hockey League ( NA3HL ) . The Icedogs play home games at the Haynes Pavilion located at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds . History . Founded in 1996 by a Michigan - based investment group , the Icedogs played in the Tier II Junior A American Frontier Hockey League ( AFHL ) from 1996 to 1998 . The organizations first draft pick was goaltender Casey Osting from Brother Rice High School ( MI ) The Icedogs were forced to play their entire first season on the road when the ownership team ’ s funding fell short with their rink only half - built . Despite the circumstances , which left them practicing at times outdoors and playing all ‘ home ’ games in Helena , Montana , the Icedogs , coached by David “ Smoke ” Cole and captained by Brad Michalski , earned a . 500 record and a position in the AFHL playoffs . Forward Kevin Wesolek set a league record for single - season scoring as he captured 1996 – 97 Rookie of the Year honors . In the fall of 1997 , the Icedogs moved into the brand new Valley Ice Garden , a state - of - the - art , 3 , 500 - seat arena outside Bozeman . Bill Martel , owner of the Bozeman construction firm that had been building the facility , took over ownership of both the team and the arena , providing the Gallatin Valley with its first indoor ice skating facility . The rink opened to the public with an open house on September 14 , 1997 . The Icedogs played their first game at the Valley Ice Garden on September 30 , 1997 , a 6 - 4 victory over the Butte Irish in front of a sellout crowd with Wesolek scoring the team ’ s first goal . The Icedogs went on to record sixteen - and seven - game unbeaten streaks while selling out nearly every game en route to a second - place finish in the AFHL . Bozeman fell to in - state rival Billings Bulls in six games in the Borne Cup Finals , but earned a berth in the Gold Cup National Championship Tournament , where they were eliminated in the first round of round robin play . Wesolek finished second in the AFHL in scoring and set a league record for career scoring , with 198 points over two seasons . In 1998 , the AFHL changed its name to the America West Hockey League ( AWHL ) . The 1998 – 99 season brought less success for the Icedogs , who struggled throughout , and finished in last place in the AWHL , missing the playoffs for the first time . Forward Jimmy Sokol finished second in the league in scoring while linemate Jason Deitsch led the league in points - per - game . During the 1999 – 2000 season , Cole was fired and replaced with assistant coach Dale “ Duner ” Hladun . The team failed to improve under Hladun , who was forced to leave the team due to visa issues and replaced by assistant coach Darren Blue . The Icedogs missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season . In March 2000 , the Bozeman Icedogs hired John LaFontaine , brother of National Hockey League great Pat LaFontaine , as head coach and director of hockey operations . LaFontaine immediately turned the program around , leading the Icedogs to a . 500 record and playoff appearance in his first season as coach . In 2003 , the America West Hockey League merged with the North American Hockey League ( NAHL ) and the Icedogs began playing in the Tier II NAHL . In the 2005 – 06 season , goaltender Matt Dalton led the NAHL in saves percentage , setting NAHL records for goals against average and saves percentage . Forward Josh Heidinger led the league in scoring was voted the NAHL ’ s top forward . After defeating the Fairbanks ( Alaska ) Ice Dogs for their second Borne Cup title , the Icedogs fell to the Texas Tornado in the final game of the national championship Robertson Cup tournament in May 2006 . Later in May 2006 , the Helena Bighorns and Billings Bulls joined the Northern Pacific Hockey League ( NorPac ) . The Valley Ice Garden was sold to a beer distributor and the Tier II Icedogs were dissolved . However , the Icedogs would also join the Tier III Junior B NorPac when the Bozeman Blackhawks took on the Icedogs moniker and began play in Bozeman ’ s Haynes Pavilion . In 2007 , the NorPac was promoted from Tier III Junior B to Junior A . In 2011 , the Icedogs joined the other eastern teams of NorPac and created a new American West Hockey League made up of teams in Montana and Wyoming . In March 2014 , the new AWHL joined the North American 3 Hockey League ( NA3HL ) as the Frontier Division the 2014 – 15 season . Notable Icedogs alumni . The Icedogs have had a number of alumni move on to NCAA Division I , Division III , and higher levels of junior ice hockey , and professional ice hockey , including :