nccanes
04-17-2004, 06:43 PM
We spent a week on the Florida panhandle and noticed that the Pensacola Ice Pilots, the local ECHL team, were in the 1st round of the ECHL playoffs vs. the Louisiana Ice Gators. We attended Game 4 with the Ice Gators leading the series 2-1.
I have to say it was a blast. It was just so fun to be back watching hockey at all and watching a game that actually meant something to the players and the 2500+ fans that were there. I intended to pull for the Ice Pilots since they were the local team, but the Ice Gators goalie impressed me and I guess my Louisiana roots kicked in and ended up wanting the Gators to win.
It was a fun game, 1-1 well into the 3rd period before the Pilots ended up winning with 2 fantastic goals, 3-1.
The crowd was small but enthusiastic (after the Gators would kill a penalty the announcer would say "Ice Gators are back at full strength" and the crowd would yell "but they STILL SUCK").
The Ice Pilots are affiliated with the Lightning and I'm pretty sure a couple played in the preseason with the Bolts as their names seemed very familiar. Four Pilots have been called up to practice with the Lightning during the playoffs now that their playoff season is over. (After the game the two teams had to travel by bus from P'cola to Lafayette, LA for game 5 the following night where the Gators would win in 2OT.)
Corey Sarich's brother Rod played for the Ice Gators.
It was so much fun it made me want to head out to see another playoff game, ECHL, AHL, whatever. The Everblades are playing South Carolina, but I fear that a trip to Charleston isn't in the cards for me. ;)
I have to say it was a blast. It was just so fun to be back watching hockey at all and watching a game that actually meant something to the players and the 2500+ fans that were there. I intended to pull for the Ice Pilots since they were the local team, but the Ice Gators goalie impressed me and I guess my Louisiana roots kicked in and ended up wanting the Gators to win.
It was a fun game, 1-1 well into the 3rd period before the Pilots ended up winning with 2 fantastic goals, 3-1.
The crowd was small but enthusiastic (after the Gators would kill a penalty the announcer would say "Ice Gators are back at full strength" and the crowd would yell "but they STILL SUCK").
The Ice Pilots are affiliated with the Lightning and I'm pretty sure a couple played in the preseason with the Bolts as their names seemed very familiar. Four Pilots have been called up to practice with the Lightning during the playoffs now that their playoff season is over. (After the game the two teams had to travel by bus from P'cola to Lafayette, LA for game 5 the following night where the Gators would win in 2OT.)
Corey Sarich's brother Rod played for the Ice Gators.
It was so much fun it made me want to head out to see another playoff game, ECHL, AHL, whatever. The Everblades are playing South Carolina, but I fear that a trip to Charleston isn't in the cards for me. ;)