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Steve Loos, confirmed rumors that were spread earlier today, that he has decided to return to the Ice Bats after his spokesperson threatened earlier in the summer that he was leaving the Bats "for a better team or more money."


Broomball sources report that Steve Loos did not find the market for his services that he expected after his missing all of last season and remaining injury concerns.

But the Ice Bats could not afford to have a repeat of last years loosing season and under media pressure brought him back into the fold.

2006 Fall Blatz Open

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it was almost all no shows at the Ice Bat's June Swoon held at Spring Street Bar and Grill last Friday.

There was mixed reaction to the assignment of Whitey Wolfram to be the Bat's SuperCoach some players questioned if was the kind of "nuturing" coach they've always wanted.

new Ice Bat Podcast available through ITunes

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Mike Shepard appeared in the 60th Annual White Bear Lake Lions Club Show "The Beast and a Beauty A Lion's Tale" over the weekend.

The promise of some high-living on the company tab brought even the reclusive Hall of Famer Brainerd Bud Baakkonen and other current and former Bats and wanaBats out to Spring Street Bar and Grill on a Friday night. Along with the opportunity of seeing the Ice Bat 2006 DVD "Mission Unaccomplished".




Ice Bat Photos

It was the best of seasons, it was the worst of seasons.

Ice Bat Nation showed the way at the beginning of the season believing the Bats could beat the Firemen and they did. But a few weeks later the Bats were left only the residue of their most embarrassing loss ever when they forfeited the first game in their history.

In the end the Bats did not reach the target goals of three on ice wins in a season. And next year the bar will be set higher.

But three Ice Bat Players of the Year did rise above.

Goalie of the Year Ross Hedin - played every minute of the four game season with a admirable 2.5 goals per game average. Preserving the 4 to 4 tie with Colliers and keeping the loss to 22nd loss close. Will he be back for the 2007 season?

Redliner of the Year "The New Patrick" Pfermoyle - who turned his potential into excellent display of offensive defensive play in the 2006 season. "The New Patrick" was the sparkplug in the victory over the Firemen. The future Bobby Orr of the Ice Bats?

Blueliner of the Year Brad Nielsen - for the second year in the row. Brad scored in every game this season and was able to make everyone else look good with his playmaking ability. Will Ice Bats listen to his suggestions on how to fix the broken machine in 2007?

The Off-Ice Bat of the year is the Bat's Senior Head Executive General Managing Chief Operating Officer Director of Comestible and Potable Marketing and Distribution - Laura X.

Under Laura's leadership for the first two games of the season the Bats were flying high but after she started her long term inter-continental leave of absence the Bats couldn't win a game.

This posting of course refers to the NOS Ice Bats. For information on official Ice Bat staff check here.

special edition Ice Bat podcast at IB podcast page (not available in Itunes)



The Ice Bats suffered the most embarrassing loss in their history on Wednesday February 15th 2006 without even knowing they were supposed to play.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board had rescheduled the season opener with the Da Moose for that night and informed the Ice Bats of the schedule change by mail. However Ice Bat mailroom attendant and 22nd Ave fan-boy David Antila did not process that piece of mail until two days after the game.

So the Ice Bats forfeited the game and ended their season with their second loss and third non-win in a row. A disappointing record after starting the season with two wins.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board confirmed it does not matter whether the other team shows up or not. If any team does not field seven players by game time it forfeits the game and takes a loss. And if both teams fail to show they both take a forfeit loss which is only fair to the teams that are actually competing for a winning season record.

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game four photos

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The Ice Bats were given a surprise second chance to earn a honest winning season but team efforts were undermined by cracks in team unity.

The Ice Bats overcame the early possession dominance of the 22nd Ave team by exposing the shakiness of 22nd Ave's goal tending with a the initial score by Corey. After 22nd Ave knotted the score back up team scoring leader Boom Nielsen put the Bats back up by a goal at the half.

But seeds of dissension were sown as Ice Bat negative humorist Whitey Wolfram who had boasted after last week's game "would just have to wait till our next game to win three games" that would be needed for a winning season indulged in some in nasty finger pointing. Whitey was still chafing that frequent criticism of his play by former Ice Bats Dave Hanson and Dave Antila this season had become public knowledge made bizarre and incoherent attacks on his teammates. And after the game Whitey claimed that Duane "Killer" Koshiol had "exaggerated" his report of his being injured in a previous game.

22nd Ave completely controlled the second half even when they were short handed. Ross Hedin played valiantly in goal for the Bats aided most noticeably by the efforts of "New" Patrick Pfermoyle. But Ice Bat's ran out of heart during the last few minutes and were scored on twice to go from winners to losers.

The loss sparked a joyous celebration by former Ice Bat David Antila.

The Ice Bats ended the season with two wins and three non-wins including the non-contest with the Da Moose.

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former Ice Bat has to eat more than his words after boasting "we'll win"

game 3 photos

The short handed Bats apparently started out strong dominating possession for the first eight minutes of the game. But the younger and better conditioned Colliers team was just playing rope-a-dope and did not allow the Ice Bats to score. For the rest of the game Colliers, equally short handed, controlled the tempo of the game. The Bats like a tired prize fighter just hoped to go the distance.

Colliers scored first and led two to one at the half. Boom Boom Nielsen briefly gave the Bats a 3 - 2 lead with his two goals on the night. But Colliers struck back with two goals to once again take the lead.

John Harris with a diving deflection evened up the game once again at four goal a piece. Ross Hedin in goal was able turn back the Collier scoring opportunities allowing the Bats avoid the loss.

The Ice Bats challenged that one of Colliers goal was set-up by a hand pass but replays showed that the Collier's player touched the ball with his stick after playing the ball with his hand. And the referee had correctly allowed the score to stand.

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game 2 photos

Whitey Wolfram was disappointed by a mere seven to zero ice bat victory over the love pimps. a win over a team which for Wolfram brought to mind the cast of hr puffnstuff.

Ice Bat Nation on the other hand takes a positive view of the "New Patrick" Turmoil Pfermoyle who has this season turned his potential into being the leading candidate for Red Line Player of the year. The "New Patrick" consistently lead the Ice Bat attack up ice and scored for the second game in a row.

Also a big positive the return of Mike Blommel strong two way play who also scored in the game which helped make up for the still missing Steve "El Fuego" Loos. There play along with Brad "Boom Boom" Nielsen allowed the other Bats to trail behind and feed on the remains. As the Spring Street waitress observed "it always happens on the second bounce."