The Dells Ducks will kick off its 10^th season of play in a big way this weekend at the Lake Delton Ice Arena.

Ducks fans will get a chance to reminisce about the team’s past triumphs while seeing a Dells Ducks 2.0 rebirth under the leadership of the team’s original coach.

Many of the team’s greatest players will be in town for the weekend with a few events planned, [including alumni contests preceding the 2020-21 team’s first two regular season contests.

The new Ducks will open the season with a pair of home games against the Chicago Cougars and the opponent couldn’t be better for a night like this.

Behind the bench for the Ducks will be the original Head Coach, Shaun Falzone – now back as the team’s Head Coach/General Manager and Co-Owner. Beside him will be another original – Anthony Rohde, a member of the original Dells Ducks (2011-12) crew and now the team’s Assistant Coach.  Brian Guevara, the team’s Goaltending Coach is also expected to be in town for the opening matches.

On the opposite bench, the Chicago Cougars will have Josh Dallman as its Head Coach. Dallman of course, was the Ducks Head Coach for the 2019-20 season and scouted for the team before that. Along with Dallman will be Johnny Schwarz, another of the Dells Ducks original team members. Schwarz went on to play 125 games over three seasons with the Ducks.

Game time for both contests will once again be 7 p.m.

On both Friday and Saturday, a pair of Alumni teams will hit the ice for some fun contests starting at 5 p.m. Many of the fans favorites from the past decade will be in town for these contests. While most of our players have found success at the College level and beyond in the business world, there are a pair of players that have garnered legit ‘celebrity’ status heading into the weekend.

Colin Cross, 26, was one of the best penalty killers and defensive players through the first 10 seasons, playing for the Ducks in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. Cross pretty much wrapped up his hockey career with the Ducks and has taken the next step in his life, as a recording artist living in the capital of County Western music, Nashville, Tennessee. ‘Crosser’ is scheduled to perform after the Ducks-Cougars first game on Friday night just down Progressive Drive at Bobber’s. Cross, who will also perform the national anthem for the 7 p.m. game, hits the stage at Bobbers at 10 p.m.

Also Alex Radcliffe will be playing. Radcliffe, a member of the 2015-16 National Championship team, is also part of the crew on the reality television show Below Deck Mediterranean.

The games will include five former team captains: Kevin Salinas (Saturday); Tyler Jacobson; Jake Stima; Ian Wood and Chris Vella.

 

Team 1: Forwards – Brian Holappa; Cory Schwarz; Tyler Forest; Kristian Casella; Anthony Rohde; John Recek; Matt Raimondi; Chris Vella; Kevin Salinas.

Defense – Alex Radcliffe; Dylan Parshall; Alex Gunnar; Josh Krueger (only Wisconsin Dells resident to play for the Ducks, actually played a forward with the junior team).

Goaltenders – Dan O’Leary

Team 2: Forwards – Ian Wood; Joey Bower; Colin Cross; Brady Hefner; Layne Martin; Brett Johnson.

Defense – Johnny Schwarz; Tyler Jacobson; Chuck Marcoe; Jake Stima; Bradley Hefner; Connell Totten; Danny Roe and Mike Sullivan.

Goaltenders – Robbie Meadows and Jared Young.

Along with the two games and the music at Bobber’s there is a plan in the works for a golf outing, likely on Saturday.

Honorary Coaches for the Friday night game will be Ducks’ superfans Chris Pelisek and Bill Pettit. Coaches for the second game Kaden and Kamron Morris will be behind the bench.

Another throwback will see the team’ original play-by-play guy, Matt Panure stepping back behind the microphone.

In keeping with the way the world is operating now, the Ducks will ask fans to wear masks and practice social distancing as much as possible. A couple masks featuring the new Dells Ducks logo ill be available for sale at the game as well.

 

Admission is $6 for Adults and $3 for seniors, children, students and Military/Vets.