Sioux Falls Youth Hockey Association wanted to do something in South Dakota to promote youth hockey.  The objective was to plan a statewide event to create more awareness about our youth program and stir community support to build additional facilities for our kids.  On November 12 and 13, 1999, the first annual SENIOR ICE BOWL was held at the Sioux Falls Arena.  All high school seniors from the local associations of South Dakota Amateur Hockey Association were invited to Sioux Falls to compete in a skills competition in which their individual skills of skating, stick handling, and shooting were measured and trophies awarded.   The players and their families were then invited to a reception following the Sioux Falls Stampede hockey game in which the Guest of Honor was the 1980 Gold Medal "Miracle on Ice" Coach Herb Brooks.  Also in attendance was Coach Bob Motzko and several Stampede players.  On Saturday morning, all 58 seniors and thier families were our guests at a breakfast in which Coach Herb Brooks was the guest speaker.  Following the breakfast, the Senior Ice Bowl main event began at teh Sioux Flalls Arena with three teams made up of players from throughout the State competing in a Round Robin Tournament.  Each player was given his Ice Bowl jersey with a specially designed logo to keep.

Other past speakers have included  Stampede Coach Bob Motzko, USHL Commissioner Mr. Gasparini, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Brian Hansen, by demand for two years – Coach Troy Jutting of Minnesota State University at Mankato, Stampede Strength Trainer, Kevin Zielger, Robin Larson, former Minnesota Gopher coach, Colin Steen, General Manager for Sioux Falls Storm and Kevin Hartzell, Head Coach and General Manager of the Sioux Falls Stampede.  Senior Ice Bowl participants are also guests of Sioux Falls Youth Hockey Association at a Stampede game.  The Senior Ice Bowl main events are the teams of senior boys and senior girls from across the state competing in games.  Each of the teams includes representation from each local association with the goal of splitting the teams as evenly as possible by skill level.  
 

Sioux Falls hosted this event for 10 years and then decided that it was time to turn it over to another association.  Brookings offered to become the next host and held their first "Senior Showcase" in November, 2009 with the structure being very similar to the original Senior Ice Bowl.  Brookings will once again be host to this event which will be held on November 19-20, 2010 and we invite anyone that is able to attend.