February 27, 2004
99 things every college hockey fan should experience

We wanted to come up with the ultimate college hockey fan's to-do list, so we turned to our readers for their suggestions. The first two were our thoughts to get things started, but the rest are submissions, listed in the order they were received. We deleted the duplicates, but believe this - the grinders at the Red Pepper come highly recommended.

• Check out one of Hobey Baker's skates on display in the lobby of the rink that bears his name, then grab a seat in the balcony to watch the action.

• Enjoy a post-game beer under the dollar bills, bras, and CCHA jerseys on the walls at the Captain Bartlett Inn in Fairbanks, Alaska.

• A Brady Murray to Brandon Bochenski to Zach Parise back to Brandon Bochenski goal.

• An Al Montoya glove save (and a beauty!)

• Experience the pre-game light show, then witness UNH's first goal with fish dumped on the ice.

• Your team scoring an overtime goal.

• Your team scoring a goal with the goalie pulled.

• A championship.

• Going into another team's barn and pushing them around.

• The annual RMC-Army hockey game, complete with each military school's presentation of colors to the international patriotic pride with which the contestants battle for 60 minutes.

• Strap on the chains and make the perilous winter journey on route 26 to watch Cornell and Colgate go home-and-home.

• One game, preferably against hated rival Harvard, at Cornell's legendary Lynah Rink.

• Order a 'Fat Bag' at Sergi's Pizza in Canton or Potsdam, and then enjoy hockey at one of the nation's oldest rinks at Appleton or hear the big whistle at Cheel.

• A party with the Penalty Box of tUMD.

• Sit at the table under (former UMD Bulldog) Brett Hull's signed jerseys while partaking in a $4 pitcher of Long Island Iced Teas at Grandma's Sports Garden after a UMD vs. Minnesota game.

• Catch a game puck, preferably (but not necessarily) with your hands.

• Go to a Frozen Four game even if your team isn't there.

• Every fan should get to enjoy the spectacle (and decibels!) of a Wisconsin Badgers or Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. UND Fighting Sioux series at the "old" Ralph Engelstad Arena (preferably on Halloween). Oops - too late! I guess suffering through a series with either team against the Sioux in the "new" Ralph will have to do!

• Watching an alum from their alma mater skate in the NHL.

• Get to the Frozen Four early, like Monday or Tuesday.

• Enjoy a big greasy brunch while remembering the weekend on the Sunday of the Frozen Four.

• Be an unsuspecting by-stander, or sitter, when the Minnesota pep band marches around the concourse (and through the all of the men's restrooms) before every game at Mariucci.

• A game at Ralph Engelstad Arena, followed by a grinder at the Red Pepper. It doesn't get any better!

• A post- or pre-game bull session with the garrulous Bob Norton in the lobby bar of the headquarters hotel in Frozen Four City, USA.

• The unique building and electric atmosphere at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine, and the nice scnic drive that goes with it. :-)

• Any game for the Beanpot.

• Sweep at home.

• Sweep on the road.

• Any game involving a local rivalry (CC vs. DU, BC vs BU, etc.).

• Beating the two Ms. (Michigan and Minnesota).

• A home-and-home series between Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan. (No matter what the record, the games are always sold out and great.)

• Michigan Tech and Michigan State fans banding together to root against Michigan at the Great Lakes Invitational.

• A hamburger at "The Corner Bar" in Bemidji, Minn.

• Watching a playoff overtime that you never want to see end.

• Go to a Frozen Four and then another one. The second time you go you will see alot of people you saw at the last one; it is somthing like a reunion. Good people, good college hockey fans and a good time. You will see them at a bar or two also.

• A Saturday night in Grand Forks after the Sioux sweep the Golden Gophers. Start out the evening on the south end of town at the Parrot's Cay (a Jimmy Buffet bar where they have the best hot wings in town), then cruise a little further up the road to Southgate where plenty of green and white will be frothing it up. End the evening downtown at Bonzers pub for a schooner of beer with the biggest Sioux fan in the area - John Bonzer.

• A good old dog fight (pardon the pun) between Minnesota-Duluth and Minnesota at Mariucci.

• A game between the University of Maine and University of New Hampshire at Alfond Arena.

• A game at Alfond Arena sitting under the Balcony, getting dripped on and things poured on you, and not beeing able to see much of the game.

• Watch their team win the NCAA title (two (or more?) years in a row if possible ;) ).

• Tailgate for the big game playing BeerDarts with your best buds and then watch your team win the title.

• Watch an overtime title game.

• Correctly pick the overtime goal scorer and get treated during the first round of post-game drinks.

• Witness an unthinkable upset, as long as your team isn't on the losing end.

• Watch Michigan lose and their fans file out as soon as the buzzer sounds.

• Talk with Herb Brooks in your home arena during intermission. (unfortunatly no longer possible) :(

• Play a game of hockey on your home ice with your friends.

• The "Cold War" outdoor game between Michigan and Michigan State (if we're ever lucky enough to have it happen again).

• A packed house against Michigan State in either Yost or Munn Arena.

• An evening of friendship and cocktails at the 500 sq ft. Post Bar in downtown Detroit during the CCHA Super Six.

• Discover "the other" Alfond Arena (at Colby College) or some of the other charming Division III barns out there.

• Sweep away an opposing team with the rest of the Minnesota faithful to the "Battle Hymn of the Repubic" at Mariucci Arena, then head over to Stub & Herbs and talk about the game with Doug Woog.

• The Copper Country Anthem at Michigan Tech home games.

• The Michigan Tech Pep Band.

• Winter Carnival in Houghton.

• One of the all-night parties after the championship game of the NCAA Frozen Four. No rivalries - only revelry.

• A UAF-UAA or a UAF-Ohio State game at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska.

• Any big game at Mariucci Arena or Yost Arena.

• The atmosphere in the Kohl Center during a big weekend.

• Every Hockey East fan should follow their team to Orono for a two-game series. There is nothing like Alfond Arena and two nights in Bangor/Orono. Great college town.

• Chanting "BC SUCKS" whenever BU is playing any team at Walter Brown Arena.

• The thrill of your team winning the National Championship in overtime (2002) after the agony of them losing in overtime (1989).

• A trip to the WCHA final five tournament in mid-March at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul - 18,000 college hockey fans, split seemingly evenly between five WCHA teams.

• Sitting next to a pep band or right behind a team bench in the stands.

• Singing the fight song as loud as you can after a win.

• Teach someone the words to "In Heaven There is No Beer."

• Library in your town too noisy at night? Enjoy the peace and quiet of an AIC home game.

• Sneaking into the student's section at Yost Arena and swearing up a storm at the Michigan vs. Cornell game.

• Grab a cup of college hockey's best hot chocolate before finding a spot on the concourse rail above the seats at Thompson Arena. Between periods read about Eddie Jeremiah and the three Riley brothers, all in the USA Hockey Hall of Fame.

• Beating Michigan in overtime at Munn Arena to advance to the Frozen Four.

• Beating Michigan in overtime at Joe Louis Arena to win the CCHA Championship.

• Beating Michigan in overtime of the CCHA semifinals.

• Beating Michigan back-to-back at home by a count of 13-2.

• Just, generally, beating Michigan...anywhere, anytime.

• Enjoy a night out with the players' parents, some of the hardest working, most fun folks you'll find anywhere.

• The RPI Big Red Freakout is like nothing else. Sold out red and white faces, give away gift, and everyone wears red.

• Look at all the women around the glass at The Goggin Ice Arena at Miami of Ohio.

• A weekend trip to see the ECAC Championships in beautiful Lake Placid, N.Y. What a great time, too bad they are no more.

• Experience the "Sieve" chant at a Badger hockey game (against the Gophers or Sioux is most preferable!).

• See 40 brooms flying through the air onto the ice as you just got done with your first ever season sweep of the gophers. And then watching Keith Ballard throw them back at you.

• Chris Conner scoring on an amazing shortie break away!

• A fishbowl at the Ambassador during Winter Carnival at Michigan Tech.

• A Kariya at the Alfond!

• Fish tossed on the ice at Cornell's Lynah Rink when Harvard comes to Ithaca.

• Take off your shirt in celebration of your team's victory, doesn't matter where.

• See the puck split in half, with one half going in the net and the other half into the corner of the rink, as it did in a 1965 Denver-St. Paul Steers game. The ref decided that all of the puck had to cross the line so a goal was not allowed.

• Without trying to pretend it was fair to the visiting teams, you've never experienced an atmosphere like Yost Ice Arena for an NCAA Regional. The crowd was deafening, and we shook the Old Barn right down to its foundations. Nobody supports their team like Michigan Hockey Fans.

• Catching a loose puck in the stands and basking in the glory of being a better net-minder than that of the opposing team while hearing the chant "goalie - sieve, goalie - sieve" as hands in the crowd point from you to the opposing goalie.

• After taking in a game at Cornell's Lynah Rink (if you can get tickets), visit the Hot Truck and order a Triple Sui, G&G, Hot and Heavy, Liquid Heat, Extra Pink. Then grab a Hot Truck Dictionary and figure out exactly what you just ordered.

• Pat's Pizza after a great, hard fought UMaine game.

• View the trophy cases at one end and the Hall of Fame at the other at Boston College's Conte Forum, then head down to Cleveland Circle after the game on the "T".

• Eating a hotdog and having a Pepsi at Cheel Arena in Potsdam, N.Y., while watching Clarkson battle St. Lawrence in any round of the ECAC playoffs.

• Your team is down 3-2 on home ice and scores 3 goals in the final 28 seconds! (UAF vs UAA 10/11/03)

• Sprints to the Curling Club between periods at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center in Duluth, MN followed by a short walk across the foot bridge to Grandma's Sports Garden.

• Sit next to the penalty box of your home team and mercilessly mock the opposing players when your team is on a power play (Harder to do at Dartmouth now that they took out the best seats).

• A 9-7 barn burning marathon of a game at Magness Arena...oh wait...already did that.

• Going on a road trip with the team.

• Just once be sitting on the bench at UNH when the 8000 fans start chanting their "Yes we are the winning team, yes you are the loosing team" cheer.

• The Bud Song, Live.