Is it too early to start talking about playoff hockey on the Mississippi Gulf Coast? No way, according to Mississippi Sea Wolves player-coach Joe Pace.
Halfway through the 2023-24 campaign, the Sea Wolves are middle of the pack and working to break away to ensure the team’s first playoff appearance since returning to the Coast two years ago. Over the weekend, Pace announced that he had reached a deal with the Mississippi Coast Coliseum to keep ice on the rink if the team reaches the postseason, meaning playoff games could be played in Biloxi.
“Breaking news. This is breaking news,” Pace said on Jan. 19. “It’s so exciting. I’ve been telling the players we’d be on the road for the playoffs, but I just got word from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and the boss, executive director Matt McDonald, that if we win (and get into the playoffs), the ice will stay in.”
Why is this exciting?
Home games and home ice – it’s a home run for hockey fans. Not only does it show a rejuvenated commitment from the coliseum, but it also proves that the Sea Wolves came to Biloxi to win. The team currently has almost as many wins as all last year, and there’s still 25 regular season games to play.
The energy of the crowd has also been a huge factor in the Sea Wolves’ success so far, and Pace said they need fans to show out for the remainder of the year as a playoff run is so close they can feel it.
“If we win, the ice has to stay in. Let’s go, Wolf Pack,” Pace continued. “Let’s make a good push and get the Sea Wolves to the playoffs. Let’s make 2024 a year to remember.”
Tickets for the Mississippi Sea Wolves can be purchased here or in-person at the coliseum box office.
