Page 54 - Flathead Beacon // 1.8.13

54 | JANUARY 8, 2014
FLATHEADBEACON.COM

OUTDOORS

U-19 girls hockey players sit
on the ledge between the team
benches and the ice before
practice at Woodland Ice Center.
BEACON FILE PHOTO
LACE UP THE SKATES

Opportunities abound for hockey enthusiasts in the Flathead

By DILLON TABISH of the Beacon
ing, it’s time again to lace up the skates
Land cleanse the palate. The third edition
ocal hockey enthusiasts have more of the increasingly popular Craft Brewers
opportunities than ever to experi- Cup and Brewfest is Jan. 24-25 at Wood-
ence the sport they love, whether
land Park, in the heart of Kalispell.
it’s at one of the local rinks or on the vast The event will feature a competitive,

sheets of natural ice that shine across two-day tournament atop the open-air
the valley.
ice rink and a robust beer festival featur-
For those interested in the action, ing Montana microbreweries, including
there is an array of organized options Tamarack, Great Northern, Blackfoot
for all ages and abilities, including learn- River and Big Sky. The brewfest begins at
to-skate programs and youth and adult 2 p.m., Saturday. The $15 entry fee comes
leagues in Kalispell or Whiteish. For with a drink glass and includes the cost of
more information about activities and your irst three samples.

a schedule of ice time at Stumptown The puck drops Friday night with the
Ice Den in Whiteish, visit www.stump- initial games and continues Saturday
towniceden.com. For information about throughout the day. Proceeds from the
the Woodland Ice Rink in Kalispell, visit event support the Flathead Valley Hock-
www.latheadlames.org.
ey Association, which organizes youth
There’s also the pond at Woodland programs, and its efort to buy an updat-
Park and other frozen bodies of water, ed Zamboni machine for maintaining the

like Spencer Lake, that ofer natural ice ice. This year’s event will feature a few fa-
under the stars for fun pick-up games miliar celebrities on ice, including Lanny
among friends.
McDonald, a hall of famer who captained
Here are a few speciic options to sat- the Calgary Flames to a Stanley Cup vic-
isfy hockey enthusiasts in the Flathead.
tory in 1989; and Colin Patterson, another
standout member and teammate of Mc-
CRAFT BREWERS CUP Donald’s on the champion Flames team
HOCKEY TOURNA- who played for 10 seasons in the NHL.

MENT AND BREWFEST
Lane Darrow controls the puck during the Flathead Fusion high school hockey team practice at Team rosters must be turned in by
As organizers are say-
Woodland Park Ice Rink. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
Jan. 21 along with team pledge commit-