Bolstered by their fans, Spud Kings ready to make playoff run

IDAHO FALLS — Anthony Bohn had already spent years successful lucky coaching circles earlier he visited nan Spud Kings past season.

But nary of that clip prepared him nan ambiance astatine Mountain America Center.

“You tin watch nan videos and spot nan pictures … but nan first clip I stepped successful present for a crippled and saw nan fans and their adoration for nan franchise, I retrieve turning to (General Manager of Hockey Operations Erik Hudson) and saying this isn’t for illustration everyplace else,” Bohn said. “This is unique.”

The Spud Kings caput coach came to study what fans person figured retired since nan team’s inaugural play 3 years ago.

If location were immoderate questions whether nan Idaho Falls organization would support a inferior lucky team, nan reply is simply a resounding yes.

“It’s huge,” guardant Liam Filip said of nan game-night ambiance astatine nan Mountain America Center. “If we get a extremity early nan fans get into it.”

The caller Spud Kings programme and nan opening of nan Mountain America Center 3 years agone proved a cleanable large wind for nan community, and that committedness hasn’t wavered arsenic location games capable to 4,000 capacity and tickets tin beryllium difficult to travel by.

The caller play starts Friday erstwhile nan Spud Kings caput to Ogden. The location opener is Saturday astatine 7:05 p.m.

Bohn, who coached successful Chicago, said he had nary thought astir nan Spud Kings aliases had moreover heard of Idaho Falls earlier visiting past March arsenic Hudson was trying to solidify nan coaching staff.

After making a playoff tally past twelvemonth successful conscionable their 2nd season, Bohn said expectations are higher this play pursuing a very competitory training campy that whittled down prospects to nan champion 26 players.

A deeper and much talented lineup, positive nan acquisition of coming disconnected a playoff tally a twelvemonth ago, has created plentifulness of buzz heading into nan 2024-25 season.

“There’s unit everywhere,” Bohn said. “There’s ever pressure. We look astatine that arsenic a positive. It’s an opportunity and a privilege to play successful this city, for this franchise, successful beforehand of these fans each azygous night. They salary their hard-earned money to watch america and they merit nan champion merchandise possible.

“If we’re doing that, we’re doing our occupation and nan wins will return attraction of themselves.”

Lucas Karlsson, a 19-year aged defenseman primitively from Sweden, noted past year’s success, positive nan summation of caller players should make for different impactful season.

“I deliberation we person a bully group this year,” he said. “We’re a squad that plays difficult for each other. A beingness team. A accelerated team.”

Karlsson besides said astir nan power successful nan Mountain America Center.

“It’s awesome playing successful beforehand of those fans each night,” he said. “It gets america fired up.”

It besides has nan intended effect connected visiting teams. Karlsson noted that, successful 1 crippled past year, he could show nan opposing goalie was rattled aft nan Spud Kings took an early lead and nan arena resembled a stone concert.

Local fans person embraced nan Spud Kings, but it’s what happens connected nan crystal that should support them coming back, Bohn noted.

The squad has 8 returning players and added 2 players who competed pinch Rock Springs and Provo past season. The remainder of nan roster is comprised of players looking to make their people and yet beforehand successful nan athletics aliases play successful college.

“The hockey, nan accomplishment level, and talent is simply a batch better,” Filip said of this year’s team. “Better shots, amended skaters and conscionable amended overall.”

When discussing nan squad and nan upcoming season, nan speech usually returns to nan fans and nan game-night ambiance astatine nan Mountain America Center.

“It’s truthful bully to person nan organization travel retired each crippled and show their support,” Filip said. “Our main anticipation is to win. Win nan league, make it to nan playoffs and person a bully tally and make judge this building is packed. … That’s immense for america and it’s an grant to play successful beforehand of them.”