by Lorie Lewis Ham

As a hockey fan I received a distressing press release in KRL’s inbox this week–there is a very strong chance that this will be the last season of Fresno Monsters Hockey. This would be a very sad thing for hockey fans.

We are blessed in Fresno to have a good team to go out and see without having to drive all the way to Los Angeles or San Francisco. Tickets for the Monsters are reasonable (unlike LA and SF) and you get great hockey. It’s a night that the entire family can enjoy. Let’s not allow this to be lost! Go out and support our team for its final two weekends of home games and keep an eye on this new Facebook page to see what else you can do to help keep hockey in Fresno!

More info on this and the final home games of the season can be found in the following press release from the Monsters. Hope to see you at the game:

Gateway Ice Center has informed the Fresno Monsters that the rink will be closing its doors on May 1, 2013. The Fresno Monsters’ existence is directly tied to Gateway Ice Center. The rink has served as the Western States Hockey League and North American Hockey League Monsters’ teams’ practice facility as well as occasional game ice since the organization’s inaugural season in 2009.

The Fresno Monsters have been working feverishly with Gateway Ice Center to try to keep the rink open, but no progress has been made to this point. As it stands, this could be the last weekends of games for the WSHL Monsters’ team at Selland Arena. The NAHL Monsters’ last two series at Selland Arena are this weekend and then on March 29 and 30 against the Wenatchee Wild.

The Monsters play on Friday and Saturday at Selland Arena. The WSHL Monsters take on the Valencia Flyers at 4p.m. followed by the NAHL Monsters’ game at 7:35 p.m. against the Wenatchee Wild. This weekend is Military & Public Safety Weekend. The NAHL Fresno Monsters will be wearing special camouflage jerseys to be live auctioned during the intermissions on Friday and Saturday with proceeds to benefit Pat’s Champs. Saturday will also feature a pre-game Public Safety Fair in the parking lot beginning at 5:45 p.m.

Selland Arena is located at 700 M Street. Tickets start at just $8 per person. Tickets are still available at the Selland Arena box office and online at Ticketmaster.com. For more information about the Fresno Monsters or to purchase season tickets, visit our office at 7571 N. Remington Ave., Suite 101, Fresno, CA 93711, call the front office at (559) 549-4TIX (4849) or visit our website at www.fresnomonsters.com.