B-E-A-R-S... somethingsomethingsomething... Woooo!
Last Saturday, I went up to Hershey, PA with my sister and her friends to check out a Hershey Bears game. The Capitals farm team was already deep in their playoffs and were up against the Manchester Monarchs, farm team of the LA Kings. It was Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals and the Bears won it 3-2 in OT.
NHL announcers weren't kidding when they said AHL hockey wasn't at the pace of the NHL. Skating isn't as intense and the passes aren't as exact. However, they tend to take more risks in shooting, rather than look for the perfect pass and the overall play is a hell of a lot grittier (I really love net-crashing).
I really enjoyed the Giant Center atmosphere. It was like watching a Verizon Center game in the lower bowl, but filled with folks from the Eagle's nest. Plus, it was interesting to see all these Caps call-ups play more active roles than I'm used to seeing them in. Having only seen hockey games at Verizon Center, it was definitely a fresh experience for me.
Of course, I did feel a bit off base, since I didn't know the Bears chant (save for the "wooo" part, which I seemed to figure out by game's end) and the tempo at which to shout it. It's kinda like how I felt when I first started going to Caps games and didn't know the "C-A-P-S Caps Caps Caps" chant. I'm sure if I go to more Bears games, I'll get the hang of it.
One thing that amused me was that Flyers and Capitals fans were quite civil with each other, especially when the Sydney Crosby/Max Talbot commercial came on the telescreen and everyone booed in unison. Guess the old saying was right: "my enemy's enemy is my friend."
Pretty cool time for my first Bears game!
Here's pics from the game.
NHL announcers weren't kidding when they said AHL hockey wasn't at the pace of the NHL. Skating isn't as intense and the passes aren't as exact. However, they tend to take more risks in shooting, rather than look for the perfect pass and the overall play is a hell of a lot grittier (I really love net-crashing).
I really enjoyed the Giant Center atmosphere. It was like watching a Verizon Center game in the lower bowl, but filled with folks from the Eagle's nest. Plus, it was interesting to see all these Caps call-ups play more active roles than I'm used to seeing them in. Having only seen hockey games at Verizon Center, it was definitely a fresh experience for me.
Of course, I did feel a bit off base, since I didn't know the Bears chant (save for the "wooo" part, which I seemed to figure out by game's end) and the tempo at which to shout it. It's kinda like how I felt when I first started going to Caps games and didn't know the "C-A-P-S Caps Caps Caps" chant. I'm sure if I go to more Bears games, I'll get the hang of it.
One thing that amused me was that Flyers and Capitals fans were quite civil with each other, especially when the Sydney Crosby/Max Talbot commercial came on the telescreen and everyone booed in unison. Guess the old saying was right: "my enemy's enemy is my friend."
Pretty cool time for my first Bears game!
Here's pics from the game.