I attended practice today and had a real treat when Tommy Daniels introduced me to Rick Gosslein, sports columnist for the Dallas Morning News. Rick is most known for his many years covering the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL. He serves on the Pro Football Hall Of Fame Selection Committee as well as the Senior Selection Committee. What people may not know is on Rick's bio page he has the following:
SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME:
I played
hockey for a media all-star team in Detroit and once scored a goal
against the Detroit Red Wings Old-Timers in a charity game at Olympia.
As a high school player, I once scored a hat trick in a game at the
Olympia. Love those "Original Six" buildings.
As a rookie blogger and real amateur it was great to have someone of Rick's experience share his insights with me and answer some questions while he was waiting to interview Richard Matvichuk. I know Rick has done a couple stories about the Americans this year and it is greatly appreciated.
- Matvichuk, Ludwig, & Belfour conducted the practice today and put the guys through the paces. I'm not sure but I assume coach Martinson took a trip back to Chicago to visit his family.
- Talked to Adam Pineault and he is still hoping to play in the finals.
- The defensive pairings in practice today were Ludwig-Ludwig, Montgomery-Baldwin, & Berube-Henrikx.
- If anyone has plans to make the trip to Wichita you can get discounted tickets and sit by other Americans fans. Our front office has
been in touch with the Thunder
front office and they are offering Allen fans a special $25 ticket
in section 117 (near the Americans bench) at all our away games. I am told you can get discounts in other sections if you don't want to sit behind the players bench. Please
contact their front office and ask for Luke for this special. You can reach Luke at 316-264-4625 or email him at lschuellein@wichitathunder.com
- Ever wonder what the player bonus is for winning the President's Cup. According to the collective bargaining agreement between the CHL and the Professional Hockey Player's Association (PHPA) the champions will get $1300 per player and the second place team will get $700 per player.
- Stadium Journey Magazine (stadiumjourney.com), yes there is a magazine dedicated to ranking and rating stadiums in all sports at all levels, just came out with their ranking for the CHL. The following is an article written by Paul Swaney. Visit the web site to get detailed rating on each stadium.
Ranking the Arenas of the CHL
The Central Hockey League (CHL) deserves respect for its perseverance
if nothing else. Since 1992, the league has continued on, despite the
loss of 31 different teams over a span of two decades. The 2012-2013
season offered 10 teams stretching from Northern Arizona to Central
Illinois. Some of the league's members have secured affiliations with
NHL teams, which can help to establish stability and help build hockey's
minor league system into a model on par with Minor League Baseball.
Over the past two seasons, we have seen each of the 10 venues currently
home to CHL hockey. Here is our ranking of the best overall experiences
in the league:
-
Despite their short
existence, the Rush already have a rich history, winning the President’s
Cup in 2010 and a division championship in 2011. The team has a fervent
following and they frequently sell out their arena.
-
The team puts on a
show and keeps the fans entertained from the time they enter the arena.
If you are in the Dallas area, have a look at the CHL schedule and see
if Allen is at home; the trip will be worth it. There are a surprisingly
large number of concession stands for this level of hockey, each with
something different to offer making this a great place to grab a bite.
-
There are plenty of
promotions during the game and between periods: coupons floating from
the rafters, a binocular giveaway, player trivia contests, pizza
giveaway, etc. Be sure to sign up at the fan center table pre-game to
participate in these contests. The music, PA, and temperature levels are
absolutely perfect. Not too high; not too low. No need to bundle up or
bring ear plugs.
-
The Denver
Cutthroats are named after the cutthroat trout where particular
subspecies of the trout are the state fish of Colorado and other western
states. The team takes the fish theme to the hilt. The merchandise shop
is called the Tackle Box, the mascot is named Gil and is dressed in
what I presume a cutthroat trout looks like including the red coloration
under the jaw. Instead of chuck-a-puck you've got fling-a-fish, and in
place of a shout out you've got a trout out. All are very cleverly done.
-
Downtown Wichita is a
great city to visit. It has several museums and many art galleries.
There are walking tours including a 6 block sculpture walking tour, an
art walking tour, and several others. When visiting for a Thunder game,
be sure to take a crisp autumn walk to Old Town, a historic brick-lined
neighborhood with many of the old brick warehouses renovated into shops,
restaurants, and bars.
-
The CHL Arizona
Sundogs call Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, AZ home. The term
“Sundog” comes from an atmospheric condition in which ice crystals in
the air creates the appearance of two suns in the sky. While the duel
suns are reflected in the team’s S-shaped logo, their mascot is of the
four-legged, tail-wagging variety. Originally opened in 2006 as the
Prescott Valley Convention and Events center, the arena is located in
the town’s “entertainment district.” Along with the arena, the district
has a collection of restaurants, a multiplex movie theater and a hotel.
-
Fans can thank John
Deere for the i wireless Center. As part of revitalization efforts
started in the 1990s, John Deere demolished its vacant riverfront
factories and donated the land to the city of Moline. This area became
the John Deere Commons, a collection of a hotel, restaurants, the arena
and the John Deere Pavilion, as well as a museum on the agricultural
history of the Midwest. Some 400,000 people visit the Commons every
year, which has in turn energized the entire Moline downtown.
-
Outside, the arena
is a swirling confluence of shimmering glass and sparkling stainless
steel that appear to have more in common with Coruscant than Tulsa.
Inside, you are greeted by a spacious, multi level promenade that
stretches upwards to the full height of the arena. This vast atrium,
bounded by the exterior glass walls, ensures no traffic flow issues even
with the largest of crowds. An abundance of natural light combined with
a brightly lit interior on white accents further contributes to the
space ship feel of the exterior. This is really a world-class,
major-league arena in a minor-league town.
-
The Brahmas are in
dire need of a bigger arena as the NYTEX Sports Centre does not
accommodate the team well. What truly makes this atmosphere even sadder
is that less than an hour away, another member of the CHL, the Allen
Americans, have an absolutely beautiful arena. Overall the Brahmas don't
do a whole lot to make the NYTEX Sports Centre into a nice hockey arena
or atmosphere except for the CHL team banners located in the rafters.
-
While the U.S.
Cellular Coliseum is relatively new being built in 2006, it seems dated
on the inside. The main concourse is white painted cinderblocks with a
plain concrete floor, lacking much character. Extraneous tables of all
sorts severely narrow the hallway, which get quite crowed between
periods. The seating in the arena is a U-shaped configuration around the
ice with the single bowl of seats topped with a ring of luxury suites.
The far end wall contains a large video board and aforementioned club.
Like most newer arenas, the seats are made of hard plastic with little
leg room
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