Big Sky's 13th Annual Marty Pavelich Hockey Game: A Tradition of Passion and Community
The Marty Pavelich Game has become one of Montana's most anticipated hockey traditions.
This year's game in February marked the 13th annual Pavelich Game, and it has humble beginnings. The game began as a neighborhood gathering of Big Sky hockey enthusiasts and has grown just as Big Sky's love for hockey has grown.
Each season, the Marty Pavelich game is played on a rink named after the famed former Detroit Red Wings player. Pavelich played as a forward for the Detroit Red Wings from 1947 to 1955, winning several Stanley Cup championships.
Initially, it took a group of dedicated volunteers to make the rink happen. The early rink started with wood boards and flooding the grass, with improvements being made each year for everyone to enjoy with help from the generosity of this community, both financially or by donating time or expertise in improving the rink each year.
The rink has always strived to provide programming with a strong focus on the youth hockey program, which has grown from a learn-to-skate/play hockey program to a more formal youth program with travel games and tournaments.
The Marty Pavelich game is played each year as a thank you to all who have helped grow the game in Big Sky. This year's teams had a mix of high school players and older players, some reaching over fifty. The players on each team wore home and away Detroit Red Wings jerseys as a homage to Pavelich.
"The game drew a good-sized crowd of parents, players of the Montana 64's youth program, and tourists looking to spend the night watching hockey," said Joseph McFadden, a spokesperson and program organizer in Big Sky.
The game ended in a 5-5 tie in regulation. White Jersey's Goalie Kammon was a wall, stopping most of the shots faced, and that made McFadden at the other end have to do the same. After a shootout, the game was still tied and would end that way.
In years past, after dropping the puck during the ceremonial faceoff, Pavelich has enjoyed the game with his family. According to McFadden, Pavelich always cheers for the team in the Red sweaters. (However, this year, Pavelich was not there.)
"We hope to get ice early next year by turning the chiller on in October and flooding when the weather makes it right! Endless possibilities for the rink we call home, Marty Pavelich," said McFadden.
Players in the 2024 Pavelich game with their Red Wings Jersey (Submitted Photo)
The rink hopes to continue to grow and develop its programs. The Big Sky community hopes to host the Bozeman Sr. A/Semi-Pro Stingers in a game next year and some Junior and College Hockey games next year.
More info on Big Sky Hockey
For more info on Big Sky Hockey, check out their social media channels.
Instagram:
u19_montana64s
