By Katie Copple– You can hear the scratching of sharp blades against the cold surface. The roar of the crowd that surrounds the rink is unmistakable, chanting and singing to the music playing over the sound system. The smell of nachos, popcorn, hotdogs and beer fill the air. It’s time for hockey.
The Sioux City Musketeers are the local USHL (United States Hockey League) team that host their season games at the Tyson Events Center. The Muskies, as they are more notably called, play teams from around the Midwest including Chicago, Sioux Falls, Omaha and Des Moines, just to name a few. With tickets starting as low as $15, it’s a great way to spend a Friday or Saturday night without spending a lot of money.
There are lots of great things to do during the game like the hockey puck toss, Zamboni rides, and even free t-shirts that are thrown out during each intermission. With great battles on the ice, the Muskies know how to put on a great show for the crowd that will leave you talking about it for the rest of the night.
The Muskies are a junior hockey league team that feeds into college and professional hockey. Teenagers from all over the world come to the USHL to play and advance their skills and game. Since the Muskies began in 1972, the team has had eighteen players move on to play in the National Hockey League (NHL) and a handful that even went on to make Olympic appearances.
With 45 games already played this season, the Muskies are ranked third in the western division of the USHL behind Omaha and Waterloo. Currently on a seven-game winning streak, the Muskies are on a hot streak as they hit their final stretch of the season.
There are eight home games left for the Sioux City Musketeers with the next matchup coming on Friday, February 28th against Cedar Rapids.
Leave a Reply