Louisiana Ice Gators Suspend 2016-17 Season

Hockey fans won't get to hear "GEEEAUX GATORS" thunder through the Cajundome this year, but they don't have to worry about their team skipping town.

The Louisiana Ice Gators announced they would suspend the 2016-17 season due to some changes to the Cajundome. The calendar simply wouldn't allow them to get the games in.

“Arena renovations will begin at the end of this month at the Cajundome and will run through the end of November,” stated GM Louis Dumont. “Available dates during the month of December are also limited. With the Southern Professional Hockey League’s 2016-2017 season beginning in October a feasible schedule is simply not available at this time.”

Hockey fans are loyal, and they're die-hards. Dumont wanted to assure all the Ice Gators fans that every option possible was exhausted before choosing to shut things down for the year.

“Countless hours have been spent between myself, the owners, IceGators staff and Cajundome management looking at different scenarios on how we can make this season happen," Dumont stated.  "At this time suspending operations for this season is the best route to take.”

Head Coach Drew Omicioli brought an exciting brand of hockey into the Cajundome (with plenty of fights for the fans), so this isn't a sad story about the team closing doors. They simply couldn't get their schedule to mesh up with the renovations at the arena, which is a logistical bummer, to put it plainly.

After a season off, Gator fans will be itching to get back to the ice. The players will be ready too, but we all know waiting is the hardest part. Sorry hockey fans, you're just going to have to wait a year.