The Idaho Falls Spud Kings, members of the USPHL Premier’s Mountain Division – and soon to be NCDC members in 2023-24, had a memorable and jam-packed home opener at the Mountain America Center on Friday night, Dec. 2. They played in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 4,000 fans and expected similar sold-out crowds to their games on Saturday and Sunday.
The opening game did not yield the result the Spud Kings were looking for, as the Utah Outliers won 6-1, but it certainly proved that USPHL hockey is a powerful attraction that can draw thousands of fans excited its brand of fast, physical and highly-skilled hockey.
For the opening week of the Mountain America Center there will have been 18,000+ people in the facility for concerts and hockey.
The Spud Kings will join their fellow current USPHL Premier Mountain Division teams in becoming the NCDC’s new western division next year and the on-ice product will be even more appealing to the fantastic fans in Idaho Falls and beyond.