hockey

Hockey, Prague style

/ Greg / Leave a comment

On a spectacular late August afternoon, in one of the world’s truly beautiful cities, I found myself among 1,000 crazy hockey fans taking in a HC Sparta pre-season match against JYP Jyväskylä from Finland.   Although I’ve given up as a diehard fan of NHL hockey (losing your team will do that to you), the enjoyment of the sport itself is deep in my Canadian DNA.  An opportunity to see my first game on the larger ice surface in another hockey-mad country was just too good a chance to pass up.

What do diehard Czech hockey fans look like?  Probably something like these good folk waiting to head into the arena:

HC Sparta diehard fans

Not only were there passionate HC Sparta fans, but a group of people traveled from Jyväskylä, Finland to watch their team, JYP play…. and they did that for a pre-season game.  They even shelled out for a private box for the game.  Looks like they had a good time:

JYP Jyväskylä fans Continue reading →

Hockey night in Pittsburgh

/ Greg / 1 Comment

I normally try to extend my business trips by a day on one side or the other to do a bit of exploring or to take in a unique event.  When the (very delayed) NHL schedule was released, I realized an extra night in Pittsburgh would give me a chance to see a Penguins game.  When tickets went on sale, I snagged a customary nosebleed seat for the Penguins – Senators game.

Having perfected the art of “sneaking down” into the good seats, I gave the slip to an usher and made my way down to the lower level to take in some of the warm-up.  Here’s my view a few minutes after getting inside the rink:

Consol Energy Center Continue reading →

Broad Street Bullies

/ Greg / Leave a comment

October 20 – I’m excited to get to the Flyers-Capitals game tonight.   This is a great bit of scheduling karma as business has me in town at the same time as an early season game between rivals.   I snag a pretty good seat (chosen so I’d be at the end of the ice Ovechkin shoots toward twice… never been accused of not being a detailed trip planner).  The game is fast paced and competitive for about 45 minutes until Washington scores three quick goals in the 3rd to pull ahead for a 5-2 win.   I enjoyed myself immensely.  Here are some pics from the evening.

Second cheesesteak of the trip (this one from Campos at the rink, it was ok, but doesn’t really compare to the one from Jim’s Steaks two days earlier):

Flyers take the ice before the game:

Here’s a link to a video of the singing of the Star Spangled Banner by Lauren Hart, one of the better anthem singers in the NHL.  I’m a bit of a connoisseur of anthem singers – her God Bless America in the playoffs is outstanding, so hearing her sing was a treat. 

Opening faceoff:

Capitals working on the power play with Ovechkin setting the screen in the slot:

Flyers score to go up 1-0.  Fans celebrating the goal:

Shot from the point with the Capitals goalie trying to look around the screen in front:

Shot of the crowd in the 3rd before the Caps score three quick goals sending most of the fans to the exits early:

Final score 5-2 Caps.  Last pic before the orange line subway ride back to the hotel: