City Council Acknowledge New Hockey Team

Conlan Moe
September 06, 2023
The sports season is ramping up in Greely in addition to the UNC Bears volleyball and soccer
team who have been in play for a couple weeks now, and the football team who kicked off their
season last week in a Thursday night matchup in Texas against Abilene Christian. There is a
new squad in town that is about to start their season this week on friday and they were a topic of
discussion during the City Council meeting on Tuesday. That would be the newest team in the
North American Hockey League (NAHL), the Colorado Grit.

For anyone unaware of who the Colorado Grit are or what the NAHL is, it is an organization like
the National Hockey League (NHL). Instead of grown men, the teams are made up of kids from
the age of 16 to 20 years old. Many of the players on these teams have earned an opportunity
to play at the collegiate level and even have a chance to play in the big leagues. The Colorado
Grit are what many would call an “expansion team” to the NAHL, and every team consists of the
best hockey players from across their respective states.

Mayor John Gates recognized the organization on Tuesday at the start of the city council
meeting. He introduced Grit owner and CEO Bob Bowden, Head of Hockey Operations David
Clarkson, Director of Operations Mary Bow, Head Coach and Colorado Eagles alumni Steve
Haddon, assistant coach Levi Webber, and goalie Max LeCoix. After explaining to those in
attendance who the Grit are and how they will be helping the Greeley community, he declared
that September 8th, which is the start of the NAHL season, will be known as Colorado Grit Day.

Coach Haddon took the podium for a few seconds to acknowledge his squad by saying, “...to
have a team like this of this caliber is amazing for the state…”. If you have been following the
hockey scene throughout the state of Colorado the past couple of years, then you may recall
how in 2022 Colorado brought home three different hockey championships. The Avalanche won
the Stanley Cup, the DU Pioneers won the NCAA National Championship, and Denver East
High School won the high school national championship.

The Grit are entering the hockey scene at a time where the state is considered one of the very
best. The team will play their first three games during opening weekend against the El Paso
Rhinos on September 8th, 9th and 10th.

The Grit were brought up again as Diana Frick who is a Department Director of Culture Park
and Recreation, presented the council members with a 4th Supplemental Appropriation Request
regarding the Ice Haus. The request shows planned improvements to the facility that would give
players a better locker room and easier access to the showers, but also give fans a better
experience when watching events.

The plans don’t just account for the Grit and the UNC club team, but for the Greeley community
as well. With the right expansion rooms, the Ice Haus could hold other events that could be a
new revenue source to the city. An expectation with the improvements to the arena is that
visiting teams will have a better experience and local hotels housing those teams could have an
increase in revenue. The Council members unanimously voted 5-0 to approve the request
(Council members Dale Hall and Brett Payton were not present for the meeting). After the
approval, Mayor Gates took time to acknowledge those who helped bring the Grit to Greeley by
saying, “I know that it hasn’t been easy. I think this will be huge for our city and I thank you all
very much.”

Other Items discussed and voted on during the meeting.

● Recognitions on Suicide Awareness Month and the 50th anniversaries of Sunrise
Community Health and Assistance League of Greeley
● Residents spoke about the state of the city and that they are seeing improvements.
● 5-0 vote in favor of annexing territory located north of 10th Street and West 83rd
Avenue.
● 5-0 vote in favor in changing Title 8 of the Greeley Municipal Code relating to shared
micro mobility
● Council members voiced opinions on micro mobility and making sure everyone
understood the safety measures when riding

City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at City Center, 1001 11th Ave.

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