At an end-of-season party for the Craig Youth Hockey Association, President Jessica Binder shared some exciting news about the future of hockey in Craig.

Binder announced a new partnership with Colorado Extreme, the group recently approved for a lease at the county’s Loudy-Simpson Ice Arena. The partnership promises to provide more opportunities for skating and overall improvements in the sport for local athletes.

Binder recalled Craig’s hockey team facing off against the Colorado Extreme team during the Tis The Season hockey tournament back in December.

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While previous matchups between the two teams were closely contested, the Craig squad suffered a significant loss against Colorado Extreme in the most recent game. The experience sparked a conversation between Craig hockey coaches and officials, and their counterparts at Colorado Extreme.

Binder said the Colorado Extreme coaches attributed the improvement in their team to more ice time, more coaches and more practice — three things the Craig team has been sorely lacking.

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“We know that to get better, we need more ice time, more coaching and more young players interested in hockey,” Binder said. “So we said, ‘If we can’t beat them, let’s join them.'”

The architects of the partnership hope it will bring many benefits to the Craig community.

Colorado Extreme owner Sheldon Wolitski introduced himself at the party, sharing his background and vision for the collaboration. Coming from a small western Canadian town, which he compared favorably to Craig, Wolitski emphasized that his early interest in hockey not only kept him out of trouble, but “completely changed the trajectory” of his life.

“I was able to get a scholarship to the U.S., I started my company, and fortunately my company is successful,” Wolitski said. “Now I can give back to the game that’s given me so much, and that’s why I’m here.”

Wolitski expressed admiration for the Craig board and its members’ efforts to improve and expand access to the sport in the community.

“They wanted to raise the level of hockey in Craig, and we’re going to do that.”

One significant aspect of Wolitski’s plan is to invest $250,000 into the Craig hockey program. He plans to hire both a full-time hockey director and rink manager. And his announcement that the arena will be open year-round was met with cheers and applause from the players and families.

Wolitski said another of his priorities is lowering program fees.

“It’s a big mission for us to make hockey affordable.”

He shared his intention of offering free hockey for younger players ages 4 to 8 or 9.

“We just want no barriers to entry,” Wolitski said. “Any kids that come in, we provide the equipment, we provide the coaching, we provide everything you want and it’s all free.”

Additionally, each team will have a minimum of 40 games per season, including inter-squad competitions with teams from Craig, Rifle and Carbondale. In addition to providing extra games for the Craig teams, Wolitski and Binder hope the inter-squad competitions will help create a regional hockey community.

Another major announcement came when Wolitski revealed that the Colorado Fighting Elk, an elite junior hockey program, will make Craig its new home starting next season.

Team owner Donovan Gault joined in on the celebration via video, hailing Craig as “the perfect fit” for his team.

Moffat County commissioner Tony Bohrer was likewise enthusiastic about the news, calling the partnership with the Colorado Extreme and the introduction of the junior team a “win-win” for the community.

“It’s going to be a big deal for Moffat County,” Bohrer said. “Good things are happening.”