Heading into the second half of their debut season, the Bloomington Bison have put themselves in position for a potential playoff berth.
Yet general manager and head coach Phillip Barski summed up the pro hockey team’s first 37 games in the ECHL with one word: “Challenging.”
“There’s so many moving parts in your inaugural season of trying to get the right players here, and working through getting to know both of our affiliates and how they operate,” Barski said in an interview with WGLT prior to Friday night’s game against the Indy Fuel at Grossinger Motors Arena.
The Bison announced on social media shortly after the scheduled 7 p.m. start the game would be rescheduled due to ice conditions. No makeup date was announced.
“For ... most of the first half, we had upwards of nine forwards either injured or called up. And when that happens, I’ve got to really rely on [assistant GM] Dan Larmer and [assistant coach] Jesse Messier to find players that we think can fill voids that were obviously unexpected.”
Bloomington entered the weekend fourth in the ECHL Western Conference’s Central Division with 37 standings points — 17 wins, 17 regulation losses, one overtime loss, and two shootout losses. The Bison and the Fuel, who share the same ownership group, are tied for the last playoff spot.
Eddie Matsushima is the top scorer [15 goals, 16 assists], while goalie Mark Sinclair was named to the midseason All-Star Team with nine wins and a 2.16 goals-against average.
“I think when you're in the middle of a race, really just every day, every minute, every second of every day, you're trying to find ways to get better and teach better, coach better, lead better,” said Barski. “That's kind of how I've really focused my energy.”
Apart from the challenges inside the rink, the Bison also are trying to establish their fan base as a first-year franchise in a market that went five years without a team of its own since the junior-level Central Illinois Flying Aces ceased operations in 2019.
Barski thinks Bloomington has shown it is a hockey town.
“When you look up in the stands, you see a lot of people wearing Bloomington Bison apparel,” he said. “It's like we've been here for five years, but really we've only been here for five minutes. To see that like commitment and willing to spend and support us, and get connected with our group, it's been really great to see over the last three months.”
Through 20 home dates, the Bison have an average attendance of 2,645 fans — only higher than two of the ECHL’s 29 franchises. That does exceed the 2,200 average attendance in the team’s arena lease with the city.
The ECHL’s league-wide average attendance is 4,805, with some teams located in large cities with top-level pro sports franchises like Indianapolis [NFL, NBA], Jacksonville [NFL], Cincinnati [NFL, MLB], Kansas City [NFL, MLB], and Orlando [NBA].
Barski said the Bison are working to deliver a brand of hockey that appeals to Bloomington fans and pushes attendance figures higher.
“We brought in some players that I think bring that excitement level that gets the fans out of their seat,” said Barski. “I think our front office staff also deserves a ton of credit. I think they've done a great job, with the off-ice programming and the little things that they do to make that the fan experience really great.”
The team said fans could have their tickets honored at the rescheduled date from Friday's postponement or at another game if they are unable to attend.
The next scheduled home game for the Bison is Saturday, Feb. 15 vs. the Cincinnati Cyclones.
