Minor League Hockey in Dayton, Ohio

The Dayton Bombers are rolling into year number 15, and still calling the Nutter Center home for this season. This is the second year under their new ownership, and the Bombers are getting ready to hit the ice hard and hopefully win their way into the Kelly Cup Playoffs this year.

The Bombers are the ECHL (Eastern Conference Hockey League) affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets (National Hockey League) and Syracuse Crunch (American Hockey League). Their in-state rival is the Toledo Storm, and when they host Toledo, fans can be sure of as much excitement in the stands, as there is on the ice. Likewise, many Bombers fans will road trip as a group to Toledo when the team plays there.

Many people think of hockey as a violent sport, with plenty of fights, and players slamming one another into the glass. While that is a small part of the sport, the entire game doesn’t revolve around that, and the Bombers do encourage kids to attend the games–touting a family-friendly environment. The games have plenty of things involving the kids–from getting to help clean up chuck-a-pucks during intermission, to Sunday game special events including clowns making balloon animals, games, and free table hockey.

The games are a fairly cheap form of live entertainment for visitors and residents of the Dayton area. They range in price from $7 (kids, students, seniors, military) to $15 (gold seats). Packages are also available for the season, part of the season, and a special 9-game pass.

Kids and adults can win a ride on the zamboni during any of the home games. Entry forms can be found at area Wright Patterson Credit Unions, and there are 3 riders per game… one before the game, and one at each intermission.

During the game, there are two intermissions–the first is a fun event and the second is Chuck-A-Puck. Some of the past intermission events include midget hockey, relay races, dress like a hockey player relay, puck shooting contests, singing contests, and musical chairs. Chuck-A-Puck is a fun game for all hockey fans. Visitors can buy a foam puck for a dollar at several stands around the arena, then, during the second intermission, toss the pucks over the glass and onto the ice. The person with the puck closest to the center of the ice wins a prize!

Proceeds from the Chuck-A-Puck sales and from the 50/50 raffle go to the Dayton Bombers Foundation, as do the funds raised from a jersey auction at the end of the season.

The hockey season starts in late October and ends in early April.

For more information on the Dayton Bombers, visit www.daytonbombers.com.