By Brent Bosker

Ice Wolves a howling success story

Apr 14, 2011 | 6:30 AM

La Ronge is hockey town, north, right now.

Hockey fever has swept over the northern town thanks to the success of its Junior-A hockey team.

The Ice Wolves defeated the Yorkton Terriers 3-1 Tuesday to win their second Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) championship in two years.

“People were energetic, positive and it was just a great symbol of town pride,” said La Ronge Mayor Thomas Sierzycki, who took in Tuesday’s thrilling game seven at a sold out Mel Hegland Arena.

The excitement has spilled into the community, Sierzycki said.

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“There are tons of signs and car flags everywhere supporting the Ice Wolves. People are really impressed and proud to be from La Ronge.”

“They’ve been great ambassadors for the community throughout the last two years. They’ve turned up their hockey game, but they’ve also turned up their community involvement.”

It’s good for the entire community, said Sierzycki.

“It definitely puts La Ronge on the map. We’re always trying to enhance the positive image of the north and this is a feel-good story.”

It’s great for the minor hockey program and it helps solidify the future of the team in La Ronge, he said.

Part of that future may include a new hockey rink down the road.

“It is a smaller rink and we all know it’s slowly becoming time to replace it.”

It’s something we’re serious about, Sierzycki said.

The town is slowly putting away infrastructure funds to put together a development plan, said Sierzycki, but he added the proposed project is still in its infancy stage and there is no timeline.

The Ice Wolves, meantime, take on the Portage Terriers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League on Friday in game one of the Anavet Cup. The winner will play in the RBC Cup for a national championship.

bbosker@panow.com