(no subject)

[unicornduke]

Went to the Connecticut Whale game today and it was fucking awesome!

The drive was easy, no one drives on the Taconic and the ice rink in Danbury was less than a mile from 84, so easy on and off. There was a parking garage right next to the rink and everyone was a reasonable driver except the two people in front of me pulling into the parking garage because they didn't want to pay for parking (???) and turned around in the entrance.

Total drive time was a little over 2 hours one way, so I left around 9:30 to get there early for a 12:30 puck drop and got back at 5:30. I can shave off some time by getting there closer to puck drop but overall, not too bad time wise!

The rink was freeeeeezing and I hadn't brought a blanket because I wasn't sure how it all would go. I will bring a blanket next time but I still need to figure out how to keep my feet warm, that is still a mystery.

I put up my whale pun sign on the glass.




The rink itself was nice, decent amount of seating although they were metal benches, my least favorite. Next time I will bring a cushion. The crowd was small and enthusiastic and the DJ and rink announcer were great.

There was a dog there, who hung out for the whole game, most of the time across the rink in the upper stands.



The game was SO MUCH FUN! The Whale lost, which they are so close to winning something, I can feel it. But it was a super close game and really fast, I forgot how much faster pro hockey is than the NCAA, it was so cool. I'm planning to go to the rest of their home games, which are mostly in December and maybe maybe try to get to a game in Boston but that will require a lot more logistics, since they play almost all evening games and are three hours away, which would mean an overnight stay or something. Future Whale home games are 11/30, 12/8, 12/21 and 12/22, 12/28, 2/22.

Next time I'm also going to get in the autograph line, which I skipped this time. I've got some shirseys (t shirts with the player names and numbers on them, shirt-jerseys) that I want signed and I want to chat with players a little bit. It's cool.

Comments

[graydon]

Yay, awesome game!

You could try those charcoal heaters dropped in your boots; you could try double-layer (felt liner plus overshell) boots for the serious cold, because just sitting there is a recipe for cold feet. Have to bring those and change, though; don't want to be driving in mukluks.

Also I suppose the default is extra-fluffy wool socks. :)

[unicornduke]

I've been wearing my hiking boots but I think I'm going to switch to my muck boots and drop in the warmers. I hate to use them because they last so long but the game is only 2 1/2 hours but I spend about a half hour with the heat blasting my feet and a window cracked to get them warmed up again.

Unfortunately wool socks only keep my feet warm if I'm moving. Anytime I sit still, my feet become cold. It's very irritating.

[graydon]

You might have the heat-exhange cutoff thing in your hands and feet. Good for avoiding frostbite, bad for comfort.

"half an hour with the heat blasting" reminds me of getting into the car (a volkswagen beetle) after skating classes when I was wee small. Gods below the seats were cold. I wouldn't say there was any question if it's worth expending a charcoal hand warmer charcoal block to avoid that!

[dragonlady7]

I will have to come with you sometime, that sounds like fun.
Hm Dude's cousin lives in... Danbury or something, around that area, and has asked us to visit.
as for Boston... I possibly know someone there too. my mom's college roommate, for whom my little sister is named. Hmmmm!
i have been meaning to go visit boston for a while. dave's such a poop, he's like, 'but i've been to boston', and i'm like, 'you went to boston once in like 1989 that doesn't mean you can never see it again'. ANYWAY.
Of course I'm mostly in Buffalo during hockey season, and of course the next home Buffalo hockey games are while I am *not* in Buffalo, but. I missed the first one for literally no reason so I cannot complain.

[unicornduke]

It would be fun if you came! I'm now rooting for CT because they are my "home" team lol. They apparently also have a home game on Dec 1st that was supposed to be an offsite game but I guess they just decided not to do that...

I think I'm going to aim for a Boston home game in January on the 12th because it's an afternoon game and while it would be a long drive home, I could probably make that in a day. I'm still not sure I want to stay overnight for a game unless it were a two game weekend, but Boston isn't hosting anymore of those since they wiped Minnesota. Just dog boarding mostly.

Schedule logistics are hard :|

Boston would be a cool city to visit I think. It's got stuff to do.... I've never been there so I don't actually know what to do....

I suspect you'll be in Troy but the outdoor game on Dec 28 in the Buffalo looks like it will be a blast. I'm also keeping an eye on the PWHPA players since they are contemplating what their next big stops are, looks like one will be Toronto at some point.

[dragonlady7]

Ha, I will be in Buffalo on the 28th, because I'm flying out of Toronto's Pearson airport on the 29th to go to Iceland for Dude's 40th birthday. I don't actually know what I'm doing for Christmas yet but we've got that bit planned out. I'd have to look at the timing to figure out if I'd want to go see a hockey game that day-- I've forgotten, but it's likely we'll have to be up very early on the 29th to get to Toronto in time for the flight. But I don't know that!

I haven't been to Boston forever, but it's a lovely place, the traffic is awful but there is, as I mostly recall, an absolutely kickass science museum. I'm sure there's plenty else, that's just what consumed most of my awareness when we visited as kids.

[unicornduke]

It's a 6:30 game.... miiight be too late lol. that would be a very busy two days. Iceland sounds cool!

[dragonlady7]

Oh it's an evening flight, actually. So we'll still have to leave in the afternoon but it's not a crack of dawn type situation. Soooooo going to a hockey game the day before would not be ridiculous.
Iceland is freaking amazing, we went there in 2015 as a stopover enroute to Norway for a wedding, and when it was going to be our 40th birthdays I told Dude he should pick a place to go for his, since mine's inconveniently usually on a chicken day, and he picked Iceland again. It's worth a redo.

[dragonlady7]

(oh I just saw a USB-rechargeable handwarmer somewhere, I should look for it again, might be nice to have something intermediate between disposable and microwave, right?)
(ayy this thing)

[unicornduke]

That is super cool! Thanks to this, I discovered the solution to my feet cold problems at games and that is a battery powered insole heater so I'm buying that for sure.

[unicornduke]

There will apparently be a Beauts beer, which sounds funny and interesting.

[dragonlady7]

There are so many local breweries (including Labatt's US headquarters) that it would frankly be an insult if we couldn't come up with a Beauts-themed beer for such an occasion.