A Trip to DeKalb for NIU Basketball-- Part 8: Victor E. Pub and the $2 Beer

Beer and mixed drinks are sold at the Convocation Center, but with a 16-oz. can of domestic beer going for $7, that doesn't meet my cheap requirements for my beer.  As such, I wasn't planning on getting a beer.

But, I saw an advertisement on the huge video screen at midcourt about a new place on the west end, second level, where they had alcohol specials.  They called it the Victor E. Pub.  Well, my ears perked right up with those words, much like our mascot Mission does whenever he hears the sound of ice.  Anything is better than $7 beer (well, at All-State Arena in Rosemont where I went for a Chicago Wolves AHL Hockey game, they were charging $8.50 for a 16 ouncer.  Also, way too expensive.)

So, Liz and I got out of our seats between games and walked over to the Victor E. Pub to see what was what.  There were some people there, but not a huge crowd.  Liz was able to find a table for us while I walked right up to the bar and looked to see what the deals were.

Not bad.  They had two beers for $2 (12 ounces).  That's right in my ballpark.  I got two Naturdays, which is a new Budweiser Natural Light beer with a strawberry lemonade taste.  Also they had 16 ounce Coors Light cans for $4.  Also doable.

--RoadDog

Chicago Wolves vs. Milwaukee Admirals-- Part 5: Kid Hockey, Tee Shirts, Zambonis and a Blowout

Friday, January 31

Between periods, they had a youth hockey game for about eight minutes and those little guys were really moving up and down the ice (and falling down a lot).  They'd fall and pop right back up, as did the AHL players.  Not so with me anymore.  I go down and it isn't, "Help I've Fallen and Can't Get Up" but approaching that.  And on ice, not likely at all.

In the second between periods game, one team's goalie was really good at stopping shots.  With how badly the Wolves goalie was going we decided that they should offer the little guy a one-day contract.

Plus, between periods and during time outs, girls would go out on the ice and throw and toss tee shirts to the kids, which would cause a stampede in our area.

The Zamboni's came out between periods and would smooth out the ice.  One time they had a special Zamboni where people were sitting on top and waving to the crowd,which probably filled about one third of the arena.

First and second periods the Wolves were outscored 2-1 in each.  The second one, the Wolves goalie was in the net by us and he sure looked big enough that he shouldn't be letting all those pucks go by him, but he sure did.  Where's that kid goalie when you need him.

We left with the Wolves down 6-3 and one out for the count as a result of a fight.  We later heard that the final score was 7-3 so we didn't miss anything.

--RoadPuck

Chicago Wolves vs. Milwaukee Admirals AHL Game-- Part 3: That's Wayne Messmer Singing

One thing I can say and that there sure were a lot of kids there, especially youth hockey players.  There are a lot of activities set up in the halls for them.  You had to keep a weather eye out for wayward hockey sticks.

While the teams weer practicing before the game  there were lots of kids up by the glass and putting their hands on the glass and forming a target.  Every so often, a player would toss a puck over the glass which would set off a stampede.  Enjoyed watching the Zambonis doing their thing on the ice.

The game was slated to start at 7, but didn't until about 7:15.  The Wolves sure have an interesting and impressive intro to the game, complete with flames and fireworks.  My buddies had been there before and told me to get ready for the "Heat."  And we sure got it when those flames went off.

Well-known Chicago talent and singer Wayne Messmer, sang the National Anthem.  he was the original Chicago Blackhawks singer before Jim Cornelisun.  When he hits those last notes, WOW!!!

Watching the NHL on TV, you don't really get the feeling of how fast the action goes and the quick switching of the lines.  But, I sure got it tonight.

One guy sitting in the front row by the glass, got a good lesson in why you don't want to put an expensive beer up on the ledge by the glass because there was a collision there at that spot and down goes his expensive beer onto the floor.  I noticed that he had other beers later, but none of them were placed back in that spot.

--RoadIce

A Trip Out to Minor League Hockey: Chicago Wolves vs. Milwaukee Admirals-- Part 1: Sorting Them Out

This past Friday, January 31, a bunch of us guys from Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg, Illinois, took a trip down to Rosemont, Illinois, to All State Arena to see the game between the Milwaukee Admirals and Chicago Wolves of the AHL, American Hockey League, which serves as the minor league teams of the NHL, National Hockey League.

The Admirals are the affiliate of the Nashville Predators in the NHL and the Wolves are with the Vegas Golden Knights.  I read this past week that the Knights are looking to get an AHL team closer to home.

Right now, the Admirals are in first place in the Central Division of the Western Conference and the Wolves are in third.  Our own Chicago NHL team, the Blackhawks, has their AHL team in nearby Rockford named the IceHogs and they are in fifth.

I'd never been to a minor league hockey game and just one NHL game in my life.

And, even better, the tickets were compliments of Anheuser-Busch.  I was a bit shocked at the price we would have had to pay which was $39.  Wow, $39 for a minor league game.  Definitely more than I pay for a Clinton Lumber Kings game of the baseball Class A Midwest League which is $8 for a box seat right by the dugout.

A Hockey We Go.  --RoadPuck