Skating away

Pressure’s on. The Laval Rocket represents the parent team Montreal Canadiens quite well, standing in first place in the North Division of the American Hockey League. The Syracuse Crunch, working for the parent Tampa Bay Lightning, is right behind in second. And yes, they played that close as we enjoyed the hockey on our trip…

Drop the puck

Hockey! Yes, live ice hockey gets me going, I thought again as I watched our hometown Syracuse Crunch tangle with the Laval Rocket in this year’s visit to the old barn in downtown Syracuse. The War Memorial was crisp, the skating was fast and I got to yell a little bit, as I’m sure my…

Honor the moments

Great moments at the arena. Thank you, Onondaga County War Memorial, I thought as my dear wife Karen, terrific daughter Elisabeth and fantastic George Three took our trek to downtown Syracuse for what’s become an annual visit to see our American Hockey League team, the Syracuse Crunch. Good sir! Our first stop was the new-to-us…

Zamboni squared

Twice the fun. Back in the day, hockey organizations would send out one trusty Zamboni to resurface the ice before the game and between periods. Lo and behold, I discovered at our visit to the Syracuse Crunch game at the War Memorial in downtown Syracuse that nowadays two of the pleasingly-named ice-smoothers circle the rink.…

I’ve missed a lot

Four officials! As I let the hockey game atmosphere roll over me this past weekend in downtown Syracuse, first off changes since our last visit sank in. The arena has a new name. This good, old building I’m so accustomed to calling The War Memorial now officially goes by Upstate Medical Arena at The Oncenter…

Beer and hockey

Thirsty this summer of our stay-at-home for a bonus beer, a brew that George Three had given to me a bit ago was discovered safely in the fridge. Syracuse Crunch Amber Ale, a craft brew named in honor of the 25th anniversary season of our city’s American Hockey League squad. It sure tasted good. And…

Good promo for the home squad

Good promo space for the Syracuse Crunch at Destiny USA, I figure. The downtown AHL hockey squad and the mega shopping, dining and entertainment complex can root for each other to do well. The pro team is having a good season, by the way. My dear wife Karen and I must get to a game,…

He shoots, he scores at the AHL All-Star Classic

The best of the American Hockey League gathered in Downtown Syracuse Monday night for something all the banners and posters dubbed the All-Star Classic. And the old Onondaga County War Memorial rink was hopping. My dear wife Karen scored tickets Friday at SMG, and we were glad to take our two spots among the 5,710…

Five for Fighting at a hockey party seems so right

When my dear wife Karen texted from SMG on Friday afternoon with the news that she’d snagged a pair of free tickets for the AHL All-Star Classic weekend, I was all-in. The VIP Party on Day One brought rock band Five for Fighting to the Oncenter in downtown Syracuse, the convention center next door to…

Drop the Puck!

I’m the guy at the hockey game who likes to yell “Drop the puck” at the officials when I think he’s keeping the guys with the sticks waiting in the faceoff circles too long. Last week I learned a new meaning of one of my favorite phrases between periods of the Syracuse Crunch contest. They…