I still have a bunch of game recap posts to do (I fell completely behind on those), a few swag reports, and an end of tour final post.

For those of you who followed along here, I want to thank you for coming along for the ride. I had a lot of fun updating here as I went, reporting on the games from my seat, and sharing not only the hockey, but the ride itself. The next time I take a trip like this, I’m going to do the same thing (microblog, photos, etc) but I should have better tools and more stuff to post.

223 post total here. Thanks for joining me.

The team is playing soccer behind the arena.

The Western Hockey League announced today that due to a serious bout of illness with the Chiefs that Spokane’s next two games, Saturday at Tri-City and Monday at home versus the Kelowna Rockets, have been postponed.

“It is difficult to be 100% sure, but all symptoms indicate that it is highly likely that this represents a case of food poisoning with our players,” Spokane Chiefs Team Physician Dr. P.Z. Pearce said.

via spokanechiefs.com: News.

At least the beer is cold.

Once I got to the commit or peel off point, I called the Waterloo Blackhawks to see if there were tickets available for tonight’s game, but all they had left were SRO. I had some indecision before about stopping for the game, and this was the deal breaker. And frankly, I’m happy I didn’t go.

The road trip officially ends Tuesday in Ann Arbor, MI, catching up with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. Not that I’m ready to end this thing, but my real job beckons.

I sure have been “prolific” for a “microblog” lately.

Next time I take a trip like this, I will take a pillow with me. No, not because I have a questionable manliness, but because most of these things are thicker than a Sonic Burger shake. I’m going to hurt my neck on these things.

Finally, this hotel has the Sci Fi network, and I am choosing not to turn it on, for fear that I will see BSG. This is sheer willpower at it’s finest. Instead, I have SportsCenter. I hate SC. I have come to terms with this. I will watch the Top Ten plays, but for no other reason than the Top Ten are pure fun, and have nothing to do with ESP-TV (and some of you will get that). Pure willpower.

Good night.

Places like Rapid City, SD, Ontario, CA, Ft. Collins, CO, Stockton, CA, and smaller towns where booster clubs are necessary, size is trumped by desire, and teams are scrambling for fans because they know where their bread is buttered know what the real deal is. You can not turn your back on the first season jersey buyer, the guy who brings their friend to a game because “you have to see this.” The hockey fan is built on the fifth time icing is explained, or when the reason a fight happens is understood, or a t-shirt is less important than a solid effort. Hockey fans are built on backchecking and forechecking, even though they may not know it.

While the NHL looks to expand their efforts into the south and “large markets,” the fan is build in places like Rapid City, in places that don’t seem like hotbeds. And this is where the hard work is being carried out, in the small markets, the markets that are minuscule. A team can make a name for itself in places like this. All they have to do is try.

And that’s all I have to say about that…

for now…

My first seat was a typical buy-it-over-the-phone single seat. It sounds good, it looks good on paper (first row of the upper section), but then you sit in it and it’s what we “in the business” call “obstructed view.” Which means there is a railing blocking your sightlines. And I wish it were the only time it has happened to me. It shouldn’t be as difficult to buy a single seat to a game. They are scattered around the entire building. Instead, this is what the box office tries to pawn off on the unlucky. No one wants the seat, so they try to pass it off to one person.

This is where the power of asking comes into play. I went to the Rush “Information Booth” and complained (nicely, or so I believe). Rather than put up a fight, they got the AGM (Assistant General Manager) who got me a better ticket. And it wasn’t as close to the ice (which I was OK with), and it wasn’t on the penalty box side (which turned out well with some of the action), but it was a good ticket around fun people who enjoyed the game, or had kids who were a bunch of fun (especially since I could leave the game without them after they were wired to the gills on hockey and noise).

A pretty good game, but I’m not done for the night. A few more photos, maybe a photo post-game report, and then off to bed. Up early for some hard core driving. Maybe a game if I can make it. Maybe.

Chuck-A-Puck aftermath.

Here are the Rushettes.

When I saw the Rocky Mountains shrinking in the rear view mirror, all I could think was that to the right was home, just a few hundred miles away. It wasn’t hard to stay the course, since I had a hockey game compelling me east, but it made for a sad moment. I wouldn’t trade going on this trip, and I am not ready for it to end, but I sure miss Denver.

There is a new version of this blog theme that should be ready right after I finish my trip. Grrrr…. It’s really cool, with live updates, threaded comments, and it’s easier to read. I’m going to be using it on my next trip, as well as some other things I have going on.

6 hour drive to Rapid City tomorrow, with a game at 7:00. Then I have a few choices to make.

The Tips finally got one, so it’s 7-1 now. SOG 20-17 favoring the Tips. Go figure.