The Owensboro Rampage will play on their home ice as they try to secure their 6th state championship this weekend.
The 2024 Kentucky High School Hockey League State Tournament is being held at the Edge Ice Center on March 1-3. The event is being hosted by the City of Owensboro along with the Owensboro Youth Hockey Association.
The first puck drop will be at 2 p.m. on Friday when No. 4 seed Owensboro takes on No. 5 seed Lexington.
“We have worked really hard this season and are excited to play at home, at the Edge Ice Center, for the state championship,” Head Coach Chad Barber said.
Other teams in the double-elimination tournament include No. 1 Charleston, No. 2 Saint X, No. 3 Northern KY, No. 6 Louisville, and No. 7 Trinity.
The championship game will be played at 12 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the event is $10 for one game or $25 for a weekend wristband. Live coverage can be watched through the Owensboro Youth Hockey website, OwensboroHockey.com.
City officials estimate an economic impact of $174,513 for the 3-day event. Kerry Bodenheimer, Recreation Superintendent for the Parks & Recreation Department, said staff and volunteers from Owensboro Youth Hockey are busy ensuring the facility is ready for the event.
“This is one of our favorite events to host,” she said. “The Edge Ice Center and Owensboro Hockey have developed an outstanding program over the years by coaching players in all aspects of the sport, which is highlighted by Owensboro Rampage being the only team in Kentucky to have won 5 state championship titles. We certainly want the community to take this opportunity to come out and support the local team.”
The Owensboro Rampage team consists of 5 players who have previously played on a championship-winning team, including Sam Holder, Gabe Dougans, Eli Howard, Hayden Hill, and Nate Crang. They will be joined on the ice by Mac Barber, Brody Bocianoski, Trever Coomes, Dominic Corino, William Dugans, Brandon Gardner, Nicholas Gentile, Luke Gerhardt, Hudson Lanham, Ethan McPherson, Colin Miller, Payne Pence, Aiden Sheward, Cole Stranathan, Gavin Wolfe, and Connor Worth. Head Coach Chad Barber is assisted by Kurt Stranathan and Brad Sheward.
