Crested Butte town league hockey opens Sunday

“We’ll skate until we no longer have ice”

By Than Acuff

Crested Butte town league hockey, a decades-long tradition rife with local lore, brings families and friends together throughout the winter season building community and camaraderie that lasts a lifetime.

Thanks, ChatGPT, I’ll take it from here.

It’s that time of the year again, town league hockey season. And given the current snow situation, this year may just be more important than ever for everybody’s health and well-being. Sure, it rained on Christmas Day, but that was unique right? Or the new normal.

That said, it could be worse. Could be Telluride.

But we’re not. The resort is open, the lifts spinning and the ski patrol and their legions of packers are packing in the hopes that someday, we will end up in the storm track and get our due.

According to the Internet from July 1, 1976 to June 30, 1977 we received 60.7 inches of snow in Crested Butte. Right now, our year-to-date snowfall in town (again starting on July 1, 2025) is 23.3 inches so we’re almost halfway there. And my glass is almost half full.

Until then, we got town league hockey, and the season opens for the C/B league at 6 p.m. on Sunday, January 4 with the A/B league starting on Monday, January 5 at 6:45 p.m. at Big Mine Ice Arena.

This year now marks the third season of two leagues in the Crested Butte adult coed town hockey program. Some thought the commissioner Bill Frame was crazy when he started it in just his first year as the executive director of the West Elk Hockey Association (WEHA).

Others thought it was about time.

I think it was a genius move, and the numbers prove it as local participation in town league hockey saw a significant jump between the first and second year of the two-league system and is holding steady going into the third year of its existence.

“We’re looking on target,” says Frame. “We’ve got enough for six teams in each league.”

And it’s not just numbers, it’s the people that are playing that have really brought the energy of town league hockey back to life the past two years. With two leagues split by ability, there’s room for hotshots to show their stuff without fear of being chastised, and there’s room for never-evers to actually touch the puck rather than either spin like a top in the neutral zone while players skate by them or stand in front of the net hoping to deflect a shot into the goal.

But there are a few issues that need addressing.

First, the league needs officials. Despite the concerted efforts of Frame and WEHA the past several years to get officials, the plea has fallen on deaf ears. But let’s give some credit where credit is due as two local women did their due diligence this past year to get registered with USA Hockey as officials.

But of the other four officials, Frame is one and he wishes he weren’t as he has plenty more to do for local hockey already. Did I mention he has coached the mini-mites for close to 30 years?

Then there’s the scorekeepers. The league needs scorekeepers and my hat is off to the previous scorekeepers as their stats have been true and complete.

“We’re looking for scorekeepers,” says Frame. “It’s the warmest place to be at the rink.”

And last, but certainly not least, goalies. Last year they started with nine goalies and were down to five by season’s end. This year they’re starting with five goalies due to some preseason injuries. Fear not though, as goalies are a strange bunch and will stand between the pipes as long as there’s ice to stand on.

Speaking of the ice, we just had a cold snap between the warm spells which certainly must have helped and the Crested Butte parks and rec “icetros” will continue to work their magic in an effort to get a full season, and postseason, in.

“We’ll skate until we no longer have ice,” says Frame.

The C/B league plays Sundays at 6 and 7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 6:45 and 8:15 p.m. The A/B league plays Mondays and Thursdays at 6:45 and 8:15 p.m.

See you at the rink.