MINI Hockey Night in Vermont: Saturday, January 20th 2007

[MGB Boy]

Gee, Ricardo never starts threads, what could it possibly be all about?

Yeah yeah yeah, of course, it's hockey. Go figure. Someone's gotta do it. Anyhow, I've mentioned the idea of people coming up here for a UVM hockey game to a few folks, and for a few different reasons;

One, because it's hockey, which in and of itself ought to be reason enough (okay, maybe that's just me).

Two, because in my not entirely humble opinion, Division 1 college hockey is in many ways as good as hockey gets (outside the Olympics), combining hyper-enthusiastic collegiate fans and skilled skaters playing with a level of passion and urgency generally lacking in the NHL regular season (and in a context where they play less than half the number of games as an NHL squad, meaning each game counts more). So if you already like hockey but you haven't been to an NCAA D1 game, you're missing out.

Three, because it seems like most of you folks rarely make it this far north. Aside from the small handful who come up for the British Invasion, Vermont seems to be poorly represented in MINI events. I blame Jason, but that's neither here nor there.

So if any folks want to pick a game, I'd be willing to play host to something, make arrangements for tickets etc. Winter may seem like a long ways away, but (sadly) it will be here sooner than you think. Individual game tickets will be going on sale shortly before the season begins in October, and advance planning is necessary because every game will sell out (although there are always scalpers, so that's an option). Come wintertime, UVM hockey is the hottest ticket in the state (you have to do something after the sun goes down and you can't ski), the season ticket waiting list is currently clocking in at roughly 20 years (you wouldn't believe the kinds of offers I've gotten for my tickets...).

UVM announced the 2006-07 schedule today, the home games are listed below. Take a look, if you're interested, check your calendar and see what works. And if a sufficient critical mass of people aren't interested or can't agree on a date, but you still want to go to a game, let me know, I'll be going anyhow and I'm always happy to show off my team to new people. UVM tickets cost $17 each ($12 for "walkway seats" where spectators will be passing directly in front of you for half the game)

And yes, Gavin, I mean ICE hockey. Smart ass.

-Ricardo



Vermont Men's Hockey Home Schedule 2006-07

October
Sat 10/14 - Northeastern - 7:00pm
Fri 10/20 - Michigan Tech - 7:00pm
Sat 10/21 - Michigan Tech - 7:00pm (same day as Come to MAMA IV)

November
Sun 11/5 - University of Ottawa (exhibition) - 4:00pm
Tue 11/14 - Boston University - 7:00pm
Sat 11/18 - Merrimack - 7:00pm
Sat 11/25 - Maine - 2:00pm

December
Sat 12/9 - USA U-18 National Team (exhibition) - 7:00pm
Fri 12/29 - Rensselaer - 7:00pm
Sat 12/30 - Union or St. Cloud State - Time TBA

January
Fri 1/5 - New Hampshire - 7:00pm
Sat 1/6 - New Hampshire - 7:00pm
Fri 1/19 - Boston College - 7:00pm
Sat 1/20 - Boston College - 7:00pm

February
Fri 2/2 - Providence - 7:00pm
Sat 2/3 - Providence - 7:00pm
Fri 2/16 - Massachusetts - 7:00pm
Sat 2/17 - Massachusetts - 7:00pm

March
Fri 3/2 - UMass-Lowell - 7:00pm
Sat 3/3 - UMass-Lowell - 7:00pm

[bethandlouis]

Count us in! Not sure when though. It's too hot to think about ice. I know, I know Vermont has ice 12 months a year, yadda yadda yadda.

[jcsinnh]

Why don't we do a UNH game? Keep it in the fambly. I'll throw the fish.
Then, as we're driving up there, yelling over the Motorolas at Rico for screwing up some part of the arrangements (no doubt), we can stop at Middlebury and see some perrenial championship level collegiate hockey.

[NoNo]

Hey there! Don't forget Rensselaer, Alma Mater of Brother NoNo. Why would I drive all the way to Burlington when I can drive 20 minutes to watch the Wolf Pack play? I think New Haven might even have some kind of team, too.

[jcsinnh]

New Haven = 3rd tier

[MGB Boy]

Middlebury = 3rd tier

[MGB Boy]

Quote: Originally Posted by NoNo

Why would I drive all the way to Burlington when I can drive 20 minutes to watch the Wolf Pack play?

I dunno, maybe for the same reason that you came up to a Vermont Lake Monsters single A game when there are three major league teams and about fourteen minor league teams that are closer to where you live?

Quote: Originally Posted by NoNo

I think New Haven might even have some kind of team, too.

Every team New Haven has had (Nighthawks, Sens, Beast, Knights, etc.) has fled because the New Haven Coliseum is such a shithole. Currently the only hockey to be had in New Haven is Yale, which has managed four winning seasons in the past two decades and barely counts as hockey. On some nights I'm pretty sure Middlebury could give them a run for their money. I used to go to the UVM-Yale games at Ingalls when I was down in CT for grad school. It was a lot of fun, there are so many UVM alums in Connecticut that the Alumni Association would make sure at least half the rink was supporting Vermont, they'd be there handing out green and gold pom-poms and "go cats" paraphernalia and all that. Two things that stuck out the most about a Yale hockey game: 1) No Canadian flag in the rink. What kind of hockey rink has no Canadian flag? 2) When the Bulldogs took the ice at the start of each period, a recording of cheering played over the loudspeaker. That's just sad.

-Ricardo

[MGB Boy]

Quote: Originally Posted by jcsinnh

Why don't we do a UNH game? Keep it in the fambly. I'll throw the fish.
Then, as we're driving up there, yelling over the Motorolas at Rico for screwing up some part of the arrangements (no doubt), we can stop at Middlebury and see some perrenial championship level collegiate hockey.

UNH-UVM is a fun rivalry, usually tight games too (the teams have played four times in the past two seasons, with the results being two ties, a one goal UVM win and a one goal UNH win). Plus the "**** New Hampshire" chants are always good fun for the kids...

-Ricardo

PS five hour hat trick

[snek]

Seeing "MINI Hockey Night" I already had visions of us getting together to play. Back in the groovy college days, I used to get together with my friends for wacky coed games of broom hockey using a tennis ball. Sometimes we rented a rink, sometimes we played outdoors.

So Ricardo, would you be up for something like that? I'm serious.

[MGB Boy]

Quote: Originally Posted by snek

Seeing "MINI Hockey Night" I already had visions of us getting together to play. Back in the groovy college days, I used to get together with my friends for wacky coed games of broom hockey using a tennis ball. Sometimes we rented a rink, sometimes we played outdoors.

So Ricardo, would you be up for something like that? I'm serious.

Absolutely, just point my toward the ice. Broomball, ice hockey, whatever, I'm game.

My high school was the only one around that had an ice rink right at the school (all that IBM property tax money going to good use), so we got to play broomball in gym class . Good clean fun...

-Ricardo

[yellowmininy]

How about Minis On Ice?

[MGB Boy]

Okay, it's time to revive this thread. Ticket sales for individual games begins on Monday Oct 2nd. UVM games are perpetually sold out (although there are usually scalpers and the asking price isn't steep), so it's best to plan ahead. Ticket price is $17. I've listed and edited version of the home schedule below, there's a couple dates which conflict with MINI stuff (as noted). I've only listed the Saturday games (plus the Friday 12/29 game, since it's a holiday week and a lot of people are off), as I'm guessing a Saturday is what would work best for traveling. Plus if anyone wanted to come up early and go for a drive or a little photography tour of the area, a Saturday afternoon would be perfect for that. I've got a couch in the living room, a futon in the office, and lots of floor space, so if you want a place to crash Saturday night, you're covered.

Vermont only plays Dartmouth once a season now that they are in different conferences, and unfortunately this year's grudge match is over on the bad side of the Connecticut River. They do play UNH up here, though, if folks want to get a little twin state rivalry going. The only minor downside to that game is that, being on January 6th, it's right in the midst of semester break so most of the rowdies in the student section will be absent, depriving you of the full fun and joy of the Gutterson experience. The upside is that, with the students out of town, it's an easier ticket.

October
Sat 10/14 - Northeastern - 7:00pm (same day as Haunted MINIs)
Sat 10/21 - Michigan Tech - 7:00pm (same day as Come to MAMA IV)

November
Sat 11/18 - Merrimack - 7:00pm
Sat 11/25 - Maine - 2:00pm

December
Sat 12/9 - USA U-18 National Team (exhibition) - 7:00pm
Fri 12/29 - Rensselaer - 7:00pm
Sat 12/30 - Union or St. Cloud State - Time TBA

January
Sat 1/6 - New Hampshire - 7:00pm
Sat 1/20 - Boston College - 7:00pm

February
Sat 2/3 - Providence - 7:00pm
Sat 2/17 - Massachusetts - 7:00pm

March
Sat 3/3 - UMass-Lowell - 7:00pm

Sooooo, any thoughts? Anyone up for a game, and if so, which one?

-Ricardo

[dracmanf]

Quote: Originally Posted by yellowmininy (original)

How about Minis On Ice?

Lake Champlain in February is where my dad taught me how to drive. Put the car into a spin and learn to straighten it out......
Jumping Ice faults with the blazer came later...

[dracmanf]

I like the January games..... either one.

[bethandlouis]

Whenever is good-except Nov 18 (bruins vs. Caps)