Missouri State University Ice Bears

The Missouri State Ice Bears men's program (Formerly Southwest Missouri State) are an ACHA Division II college hockey team at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. The Missouri State Ice Bears that play in the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA). The team plays at the Mediacom Ice Park.
Current Season/2008-2009 Season
* ACHA DII Central Rank= 3rd
* Conference Rank= 2nd
* Record= 13-10-1
* HomeRecord= 8-5-2
* RoadRecord= 5-5-0
* NeutralRecord= 1-0-0
History
The team skated their inaugural season in 2001 under the Head Coach Benjamin Alexander, and led by Seniors Andy Marquart and Mike Bohnert. General Manager Stan Melton was a founder of the Missouri State Hockey Club as well as a founder of the Springfield Citizens Committee that advocated the construction of a recreational ice facility before Mediacom Ice Park opened in 2001.
The Varsity team won the MACHA “Gold” Division tournament championship in its fourth season of MACHA competition. After founding as an ACHA Division 3 level team in 2001-02, the Ice Bears moved up to ACHA Division 2 in their third season.
The Ice Bears skated to season record of 20 wins, 15 losses and 1 tie for 2006-07 and qualified for the American Collegiate Hockey Association ACHA Division 2 Central Region playoff tournament for a second straight season.
JV Team
In 2004, the program grew to the point where the Club added a Jr. Varsity team. In its third season last year, the team played to a season record of 10 wins; 11 losses; and 2 ties in the 2006-07 season. The Jr. Varsity team will play 28 games this season, competing for the first time in the MACHA “Silver” Division.
Ice Arena
In 2006-07, the average game attendance hit a record level of more than 800 per game for some 13,000 over the full home season. With arena capacity of 1,500 at Mediacom Ice Park, the Ice Bears hope to break the 1,000 per game mark during this season’s 18 home games.
The Varsity and Jr. Varsity teams number more than 50 players this season. As members of a Club sport team, the players and their families make a major financial commitment to be on the team. Maintaining their balance on the ice may be second nature, but the players also commit to balancing academics, family, games, practices, travel and community service.

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