By Carroll College students helped fuel the Helena Bighorns hockey team to a 7-0 blowout win against the Yellowstone Quakes on Friday, Jan. 17.
“Carroll College Night” is an annual event hosted by Steed Arena, the home ice for the Helena Bighorns, where Carroll College students get free admission. Jed Snyder, the co-owner of the Helena Bighorns who purchased the team in April 2021, said he enjoys having students attend the games.
“We have the best fans in hockey; I want to make sure I say that. But to have a new set of eyeballs to come in to rejuvenate everybody in the building including the players, that is just huge,” Snyder said. “We play a 60-game season, so at this time of the year when it is a grind and we have seven home games, to be able to have that extra boost of energy is huge, not only for our season ticket holders and the fans that are diehards and are here all the time, but then again for the players as well.”
One of those die-hard fans is Cody Johnson, a season ticket holder for the past three years.
“It is very much a different energy. I have talked to a lot of the Carroll guys tonight and told them, ‘We are playing the same team tomorrow. You guys need to come back in,’” Johnson said. “When the Carroll guys come, it’s kind of a whole new dynamic in the stadium because we have got all the way down from section A to section I fans that are cheering for the Bighorns. We very much appreciate when the Carroll students come in.”
Carroll students were full of anticipation for the event. Jackson Cossairt, a from Westmont, Illinois, majoring in Secondary Math Education, said he was “super excited” to be at the game.
“I love hockey, so I love these games,” Cossairt said. “I’m expecting this place to be completely full by 6:15. The line is already out the door and a good 75% of them are Carroll students.
“I think it will be energetic, it will be loud, and it will be a great time.”
Carroll College students, in tandem with the Bighorn faithful, made Steed Arena electric. Standout goalie Branson Appelman recorded a shutout, and with each save, he amped up the Carroll fans sitting behind him more and more.
‘Carroll College Night’ at the Helena Bighorns Steed Arena was one to remember, bringing together the spirit of the community and the excitement of a dominating win.
