Tim Fletcher: Shreveport Is A Hockey Town Again

Shreveport is a hockey town again, and Hirsch Coliseum will be rocking next Fall with the Mudbugs.

Tommy Scott, the managing partner of a consortium that includes five groups and three local investors according to the Shreveport Times, announced the return of Mudbugs hockey to a gathering of fans and media Thursday morning at the Encompass Sports office on Linwood Avenue.  It's been four years since the original Mudbugs team played--that edition skated in the CenturyLink Center and won four championships in the Western Professional Hockey League and Central Hockey League.

The 2016 version of Mudbugs will play in the North American Hockey League starting next September. The NAHL is the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier II Junior League, with players ranging in age from 16-20.  Last year, the league sent over 200 young men off to NCAA Division I hockey and another seven players were drafted by the NHL this past summer.

The Mudbugs have a 12-year lease with the State Fair of Louisiana to use Hirsch Coliseum with a five-year option. To get the venerable arena ready for hockey over $1.5 million of privately funded upgrades and construction will take place.

While hockey is still nearly a year away, the plan is to make Hirsch Coliseum available for public ice skating during the second week of the State Fair. Public skating, junior leagues, figure skating, curling leagues, private parties, etc. will all be available to the public daily until the end of March.

-Tim Fletcher