The Quest


It's pretty simple, really: I've compiled a list of all of the hockey games that I've attended, including my "Quest" to see a game in each of the 31 NHL markets (I purchased a shot glass from each team after visiting their arena).


NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE (31 of 31 Current Arenas)

ST. LOUIS BLUES (Enterprise Center)

My original "hometown team".  Over the course of two decades, I've seen the Blues in action more than a dozen times.  Highlights include:

Blues vs. Colorado Avalanche, 15 February 1997
 - I met several of the Colorado players before the game, including Claude Lemieux and (future Blue) Scott Young.

Blues vs. Detroit Red Wings, 22 April 1997 (Game 4 - WCQF)
 - A 4-0 playoff win over a hated rival: still the greatest game I've ever seen in-person.

Blues vs. Minnesota Wild, 26 March 2002
 - It was a 0-0 game in the 3rd, until the Wild scored on a penalty shot.  The Blues pulled the goalie, and the Wild scored an empty-netter.  The Blues kept the goalie pulled and added a late goal to lose 2-1.  Very bizarre, very boring.

Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 25 April 2002 (Game 5 - WCQF)
 - St. Louis wrapped up the series 4-games-to-1, and I got to see my first playoff "handshake line".

Blues vs. Calgary Flames, 29 November 2002
 - My favorite all-time member of the Blues, the late Pavol Demitra, scored a hat-trick.

Blues vs. New York Islanders, 21 November 2009
 - I got to see this beauty, one of the best goals I've seen in-person:


Blues vs. Buffalo Sabres, 27 December 2018
 - In town to visit my Dad for the holidays, I got to see these two teams face off for the first time after the blockbuster offseason trade that sent Ryan O'Reilly to St. Louis.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (United Center)

Blackhawks vs. New Jersey Devils, 16 April 1998
 - A Devils team at the height of their "neutral-zone trap" era against a Blackhawks team that had been eliminated from playoff contention the night before.  The result: one of the most boring games I've paid to see, which ended in a 1-1 tie (remember those?).  During the 2nd intermission, the Jumbotron cut to a shot of Billy Corgan in the crowd, so I spent most of the 3rd period and OT trying to find where he was sitting.

Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues, 28 March 1999
 - Tony Amonte scored a hat-trick in a Hawks victory, which made it easier for me to escape from "enemy territory" while wearing my Blues jersey.  Added bonus: after this afternoon game, I drove across town to see a Chicago Wolves game later that night.

ANAHEIM DUCKS (Honda Center)

One of two local NHL teams - I've been to a handful of Ducks games, with these being the most memorable:

Ducks vs. St. Louis Blues, 17 October 2009
 - The Angels were playing the Yankees in the ALCS at the same time, so most of the TV's in the luxury suites were tuned to that game.  When the hockey game ended, people crowded around any TV they could find in the concourse to watch the conclusion of the baseball game.

Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers, 15 December 2013
 - I got to see Teemu Selanne in his final season, and he wound up scoring a goal.

Ducks vs. Dallas Stars, 1 February 2014
 - Game 2 of my "2 NHL Games in 1 Day" adventure.

Ducks vs. Dallas Stars, 18 April 2014 (Game 2 - WCQF)
 - My first California playoff game was a memorable one, featuring the most energetic crowd I've ever seen at The Pond.  A rousing win for the home team was the perfect end result.


Ducks vs. Calgary Flames, 3 May 2015 (Game 2 - WCSF)
 - Another exciting crowd for a Ducks playoff game, which saw the home team victorious in a 3-0 shutout (although, if not for the heroics of Flames goalie Karri Ramo, the final score would have been much more lopsided).

Ducks vs. Vegas Golden Knights, 24 September 2017 (Preseason)
 - Just before their inaugural season in the NHL, the expansion Golden Knights came to Orange County for a preseason game and skated away with a 4-2 win.  

LOS ANGELES KINGS (Staples Center)

The team I've seen in person more than any other - mostly due to my close proximity to the arena, and my propensity for receiving free tickets from friends and business associates.  Some of my favorite nights downtown were:

Kings vs. San Jose Sharks, 31 March 2004
 - Unemployed, I decided to go to my first game after moving to Los Angeles, as there was a "career fair" being held outside before the game (of course, no real job leads resulted).  Luc Robitaille was also honored in a pre-game ceremony - for what, I cannot recall.

Kings vs. Washington Capitals, 14 December 2005
 - Alex Ovechkin's rookie season, and I can vividly remember him skating circles around the Los Angeles defenders.

Kings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 1 November 2006
 - Evgeni Malkin's second goal of the game was the OT winner.

Kings vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 1 February 2012
 - Yes, the infamous "clock malfunction game"!

Kings vs. St. Louis Blues, 22 March 2012
 - Brian Elliott and Jonathan Quick stood on their heads, as neither netminder allowed a goal in regulation or OT, and the Kings won in the shootout.

Kings vs. New York Rangers, 7 October 2013 
- My first home opener.

Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers, 27 October 2013
- Jay Wells "bobble fist" Legends Night.

Kings vs. St. Louis Blues, 2 December 2013
 - My first Blues-Kings game at Staples Center since the bitter back-to-back playoff defeats in 2012 and 2013.  Unfortunately for myself and the other St. Louis fans in attendance, the Blues lost once again.

Kings vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 1 February 2014
 - Game 1 of my "2 NHL Games in 1 Day" adventure.

Kings vs. Florida Panthers, 18 November 2014 
- A ho-hum 5-2 victory for the Kings, but notable for the fact that Panthers forward (and southern California native) Rocco Grimaldi played an NHL game in his home state for the first time after having played in an AHL game that morning!

Kings vs. St. Louis Blues, 18 December 2014
 - Another Blues-Kings game at Staples Center, another unhappy trip home.  This time was even worse, as St. Louis blew a 3-0 lead and lost 6-4.  But I did get to see Martin Brodeur in net one more time, two weeks before his final NHL game.

Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers, 25 February 2016
- I had to see Connor McDavid during his rookie season, and he was just as impressive as I had hoped.

Kings vs. Montreal Canadiens, 3 March 2016
- My first time seeing my favorite NHL player, P.K. Subban - and he did NOT disappoint:


Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers, 17 November 2016
- I had to see Connor McDavid again.  This might be a theme...

62nd National Hockey League All-Star Game, 29 January 2017
Fifteen years after its first hosting duties, the Staples Center was once again the setting for the mid-season exhibition.  The league's centennial season also saw the recognition of the NHL's 100 Greatest Players, many of whom were in attendance to be honored. 

Kings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, 2 March 2017
- It was Jarome Iginla's first game in a Kings uniform, and my first chance to see rookie phenom Auston Matthews.

Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers, 4 April 2017
- Less than 24 hours after returning from Alberta, I saw McDavid and his Oiler teammates once again.

Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers, 7 February 2018
- There's that man again - my fourth time seeing Connor McDavid face the Kings.

Kings vs. Winnipeg Jets, 18 December 2018
- My wife and I were seated just behind the visiting bench, giving me an up-close look at Mark Scheifele, one of my new favorite players.

Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers, 21 November 2019
- I got to see McDavid and company one more time, a few months before the NHL shut down its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ARIZONA COYOTES (Gila River Arena) 

Coyotes vs. St. Louis Blues, 24 February 2008

Coyotes vs. Atlanta Thrashers(!), 19 February 2009
 - Wild game, as Ilya Kovalchuk tied the game in the final minute after the Thrashers pulled their goalie.  No scoring in OT resulted in an 8-round shootout, with the Coyotes ultimately prevailing on a goal by Daniel Carcillo!?!

Coyotes vs. Minnesota Wild, 10 December 2011
 - Wild game, in that it was a game against the Wild (otherwise, it was a pretty boring 4-1 win for the visitors from Minnesota).  Making matters worse, since the game was played during the height of the Coyotes ownership debacle / relocation rumors, an announced crowd of less than 11,000 people showed up on a Saturday night to see a Wild team that had the best record in the NHL at the time.

Coyotes vs. San Jose Sharks, 12 April 2014
 - Another trip to the Valley of the Sun, which found our group sitting a mere FOUR rows from the glass: the closest I've ever been seated for an NHL game.

Coyotes vs. Edmonton Oilers, 25 November 2016
 - Connor McDavid scored before we even got to our seats, but the Coyotes came back to win in the shootout.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (Nationwide Arena)

Blue Jackets vs. St. Louis Blues, 27 November 2011

Blue Jackets vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 21 December 2013
 - Part 1 of my road trip into "Big Ten Country": amidst a passionate crowd of visiting Flyers fans, I got to see a very exciting win for the home team.

Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 27 November 2015
- The finale of the Rust Belt Roundabout, and another opportunity to see a game at what is quickly becoming one of my favorite venues.

How can you NOT love the Goal Cannon?!

COLORADO AVALANCHE (Pepsi Center)

Avalanche vs. Florida Panthers, 16 November 2013
 - Not the most exciting game, as the Avs lost 4-1 to the visiting Panthers, but it was a memorable road trip into a very pleasant city.

SAN JOSE SHARKS (SAP Center)

Sharks vs. Minnesota Wild, 25 January 2014
 - At the exact same time that hockey fans in southern California were enjoying the outdoor game between the Kings and Ducks, I was up the coast experiencing the great atmosphere inside "The Shark Tank".

Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings, 21 February 2015 (game played at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara)
- I finally got to experience an outdoor hockey game, as the Stadium Series returned to California for the second consecutive season.


Sharks vs. Arizona Coyotes, 13 February 2016
- After seeing an AHL game during the afternoon, I returned to SAP Center for an evening contest during the Sharks' 25th Anniversary Season.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS (Prudential Center)

Devils vs. New York Rangers, 22 March 2014
 - Part 1 of the "Big Apple Trifecta": a raucous crowd of rival fans made for an incredible setting, as two 1990 draftees stole the show.

NEW YORK RANGERS (Madison Square Garden)

Rangers vs. Phoenix Coyotes, 24 March 2014
 - Part 3 of the "Big Apple Trifecta": an overtime thriller from "The World's Most Famous Arena".

DALLAS STARS (American Airlines Center)

Stars vs. St. Louis Blues, 28 October 2014
 - The final stop of my Great Southern Sports Adventure, in which Vladimir Tarasenko completed his hat-trick with an OT winner.

FLORIDA PANTHERS (BB&T Center)

Panthers vs. Minnesota Wild, 24 November 2014
- A paltry home crowd.  A humid winter night.  The first NHL game of my Sunshine State Safari.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (Amelie Arena)

Lightning vs. New York Rangers, 26 November 2014
- The Sunshine State Safari concluded with a memorable game on Thanksgiving Eve, as Martin St. Louis made his first trip back to Tampa in a visiting uniform.


VANCOUVER CANUCKS (Rogers Arena)

Canucks vs. St. Louis Blues, 16 October 2015
- Forty-eight hours after seeing Madonna in concert, my Vancouver trip continued with a return to Rogers Arena to see their "anchor tenant".

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (PPG Paints Arena)

Penguins vs. St. Louis Blues, 25 November 2015
- The first NHL game of my Rust Belt Roundabout was also my first time to see 3-on-3 overtime.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS (Bridgestone Arena)

Predators vs. Minnesota Wild, 19 December 2015
- A quick trip to the South wrapped up with a raucous game on a frigid night.

OTTAWA SENATORS (Canadian Tire Centre)

Senators vs. Montreal Canadiens, 19 March 2016
- The Empire State Excursion extended across the border for a classic rivalry on Hockey Night in Canada.


MONTREAL CANADIENS (Bell Centre)

Canadiens vs. Calgary Flames, 20 March 2016
- A second all-Canadian matchup in as many days, as the Empire State Excursion rolled along.

BUFFALO SABRES (KeyBank Center)

Sabres vs. Winnipeg Jets, 26 March 2016
- The Empire State Excursion came to an exhausting end, with a Saturday matinee affair on the banks of Lake Erie.

CAROLINA HURRICANES (PNC Arena)

Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals, 12 November 2016
- I took a journey down Tobacco Road, and experienced a very hospitable crowd (and AMAZING food!).

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (Wells Fargo Arena)

Flyers vs. New York Islanders, 9 February 2017
- I made my first trip to the City of Brotherly Love, only to endure one of the most hostile crowds I've ever encountered...

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (Barclays Center)

Islanders vs. Colorado Avalanche, 12 February 2017
- At the conclusion of my Philly trip, I made a quick visit to New York City for a wonderful Sunday: a matinee show on Broadway, followed by a visit to the new home of the Islanders.

EDMONTON OILERS (Rogers Place)

Oilers vs. Anaheim Ducks, 1 April 2017
- The first game of my "Alberta Engagement" gave me a chance to introduce my new fiancee to the magic of Hockey Night in Canada!

CALGARY FLAMES (Scotiabank Saddledome) 

Flames vs. Anaheim Ducks, 2 April 2017
- Game 2 of the "Alberta Engagement" saw us follow the Ducks down Highway 2, and included an encounter with one of the NHL's best mascots.


VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (T-Mobile Arena)

Golden Knights vs. Arizona Coyotes, 10 October 2017
- I was on hand for history as the league's newest team took the ice for their first regular season home game: a somber affair that served as a tribute to those affected by a devastating tragedy.


Golden Knights vs. Calgary Flames, 23 November 2018
"Black Friday" in Sin City featured a matinee battle between divisional rivals, as well as Nate Schmidt's first home game following a lengthy suspension to begin the season.

WINNIPEG JETS (Bell MTS Place) 

Jets vs. Montreal Canadiens, 4 November 2017
- My frigid visit to Winnipeg was highlighted with a Hockey Night in Canada contest, which required overtime to determine a winner.

DETROIT RED WINGS (Little Caesars Arena) 

Red Wings vs. Nashville Predators, 20 February 2018
- In the midst of my massive "Michigan-za!", we spent an evening in downtown Detroit to see the new home of the fabled Red Wings.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (Scotiabank Arena) 

Maple Leafs vs. Winnipeg Jets, 31 March 2018
- Saturday Night at the "center of the hockey universe" does not disappoint, as we were witness to a thrilling Hockey Night in Canada affair between the two best Canadian teams of the season.

MINNESOTA WILD (Xcel Energy Center) 

Wild vs. Arizona Coyotes, 16 October 2018
Our visit to the "State of Hockey" included a stop in Minnesota's capital city, and a low-scoring defensive struggle.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS (Capital One Arena) 

Capitals vs. San Jose Sharks, 22 January 2019
The nation's capital was the setting for a brief vacation in wintry conditions, and our chance to see the defending Stanley Cup champions in action.

BOSTON BRUINS (TD Garden) 

Bruins vs. Carolina Hurricanes, 5 March 2019
The Quest Is Complete!  In the middle of our trip to the Northeast, we saw the visiting Hurricanes in their vintage Hartford Whaler uniforms as they took on the Bruins.

Bruins vs. St. Louis Blues, 12 June 2019 (Game 7 - Stanley Cup Final)
We followed up the completion of "The Quest" by being on hand to witness history, as the team I grew up cheering for won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.



DEFUNCT NHL ARENAS

ST. LOUIS ARENA (home of the St. Louis Blues, 1967-1994)

The program I bought at my first game
Blues vs. Washington Capitals, 10 February 1994
 - My first NHL game, at the age of 17.  During the pre-game skate, I walked down near the glass to see the players come out on the ice.  Even though he was a bit shorter than me, I could not get over how imposing Al Iafrate was on his skates.

Blues vs. Los Angeles Kings, 7 April 1994
 - Wayne Gretzky broke Gordie Howe's all-time goal-scoring record two weeks before this game, so Peter Stastny and Brett Hull gave The Great One a plaque at center ice before the game.

TALKING STICK RESORT ARENA (home of the Phoenix Coyotes, 1996-2003)

Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 20 February 2009
 - One night after seeing the Coyotes in Glendale, I went to downtown Phoenix to see their old home.  As an added bonus, I got to see three future Hall of Famers suit up for the Suns: Grant Hill, Steve Nash and Shaquille O'Neal. 

THE FORUM (home of the Los Angeles Kings, 1967-1999)

Various in-person visits, beginning in August 2009
- Once the team moved to the Staples Center, this longtime home of the Kings was turned into a church at one point, before being sold to the Madison Square Garden Company and converted into a full-time music venue.  Some of my favorite concerts of all time have taken place at the Forum: Green Day performing for nearly three hours on their 21st Century Breakdown Tour; Lady Gaga closing out the North American leg of her Joanne World Tour; the dynamic Dixie Chicks on their DCX MMXVI World Tour; the final concert from Rush; and, most memorably, seeing Prince THREE times during his 21-night stand in 2011

JOE LOUIS ARENA (home of the Detroit Red Wings, 1979-2017)

Red Wings vs. New York Islanders, 23 December 2013
 - Part 2 of my road trip into "Big Ten Country": a 3-0 win by the Islanders made for a very listless crowd.

NASSAU COLISEUM (home of the New York Islanders, 1972-2015)

Islanders vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 23 March 2014
 - Part 2 of the "Big Apple Trifecta": a sparsely-attended matinee at the venerable arena, featuring a second 2-0 shutout in as many days.

REXALL PLACE (home of the Edmonton Oilers, 1974-2016)

Edmonton Oil Kings vs. Brandon Wheat Kings, 1 April 2015
- The WHL playoffs were underway on the day I arrived in Edmonton for my Alberta trip, so I got to see my first Canadian junior hockey game.

Oilers vs. Calgary Flames, 4 April 2015
- The Battle of Alberta served as the backdrop for my first Hockey Night in Canada game: a fun contest that concluded a pleasant trip to the western province.

COLISEE PEPSI (home of the Quebec Nordiques, 1972-1995)

Mastercard Memorial Cup, 24-26 May 2015
- Just before the legendary arena closed its doors after a storied 65-year existence, I got to spend a wonderful weekend watching the championship tournament of the Canadian Hockey League.


PACIFIC COLISEUM (home of the Vancouver Canucks, 1970-1995)

Vancouver Giants vs. Red Deer Rebels, 17 October 2015
- The day after seeing the Canucks in their new arena, I visited the team's previous home for a WHL matchup.

TD PLACE ARENA (home of the Ottawa Senators, 1992-1995)

Ottawa 67's vs. Hamilton Bulldogs, 18 March 2016
- I made the long drive from Buffalo to Ottawa, arriving just in time to take in an OHL Friday Night game at the original home of the Senators.

MONTREAL FORUM (home of the Montreal Canadiens, 1926-1996)

In-person visit, 21 March 2016
- On my final day in the city, I perused the historic surroundings of one of the most famous arenas in hockey history.  It now serves as a shopping center.


MAPLE LEAF GARDENS (home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, 1931-1999)

In-person visit, 27 March 2018
Like the Montreal Forum, the hallowed halls of this legendary site now house a shopping complex and grocery store, as well as the home rink for a local college team.  I was fortunate enough to spend one morning in the building during my "Ontario Odyssey".

ORACLE ARENA (home of the California Golden Seals, 1967-1976)

Golden State Warriors vs. Miami Heat, 10 February 2019
- Nearing the conclusion of their final season in Oakland, I got to see the two-time defending NBA champions host Dwyane Wade and the Heat, during his final season in the league.  It was a very exciting game in a cool building, but I was disappointed to see that there was NOTHING inside to pay tribute to the history of the Seals and their brief time in the NHL.   

XL CENTER (home of the Hartford Whalers, 1972-1997)

Hartford Wolfpack vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 2 March 2019
After taking in a University of Connecticut women's basketball game in the afternoon, we ventured to Hartford that night to see an AHL contest from the former home of the Whalers.


MATTHEWS ARENA (home of the Boston Bruins, 1924-1928)

Northeastern University Huskies vs. University of New Hampshire, 8 March 2019
At the end of our Northeast trip, we witnessed NCAA action from the esteemed venue, which is the oldest arena still in use!

AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

SAN DIEGO GULLS (Valley View Casino Center)

Gulls vs. Grand Rapids Griffins, 10 October 2015
- A sold-out contest served as my first AHL game, which was also the first for the newest iteration of the Gulls' franchise.

Gulls vs. Stockton Heat, 16 December 2017
- Just before Christmas, the Gulls allowed me a chance to finally see a "Teddy Bear Toss" night, which was just as awesome as it sounds!

BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (Rabobank Arena)

Condors vs. Ontario Reign, 14 November 2015
- The Condors and Reign took their rivalry from the ECHL to the AHL, as the league successfully expanded to California.

Condors vs. Colorado Eagles, 27 April 2019
- I returned to Bakersfield with my wife to spend a weekend in the city, and also took in an AHL playoff game.

ONTARIO REIGN (Toyota Arena)

Reign vs. San Jose Barracuda, 6 February 2016
- The Reign made the transition to the AHL, and I got to meet team GM (and Hockey Hall of Famer) Rob Blake!

Reign vs. San Diego Gulls, 8 May 2016
- The southern California rivalry extended into the Calder Cup Playoffs, with a very spirited contest from the Pacific Division Final.

American Hockey League All-Star Game, 27 January 2020
Three years after seeing the NHL All-Star Game at Staples Center, I joined the local hockey fans at another All-Star Game, this time featuring the best and brightest talent of the AHL.

SAN JOSE BARRACUDA (SAP Center)

Barracuda vs. San Antonio Rampage, 13 February 2016
- There was no one there (hardly), but it was fun to see the first of two professional games from the same arena on the same day.

STOCKTON HEAT (Stockton Arena)

Heat vs. San Antonio Rampage, 14 February 2016
- Of course I spent Valentine's Day watching the sport I love.

*ALBANY DEVILS (Times Union Center)

Devils vs. Springfield Falcons, 22 March 2016

*TEAM RELOCATED TO BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK AFTER THE 2016-17 SEASON.

UTICA COMETS (Utica Memorial Auditorium)

Comets vs. Syracuse Crunch, 23 March 2016
- A sellout crowd packed the tiny Auditorium for a Wednesday night intrastate clash - minor league hockey at its finest!

ROCHESTER AMERICANS (Blue Cross Arena)

Americans vs. St. John's IceCaps, 25 March 2016
I got to see an IceCaps team featuring John Scott in one of his last professional hockey games, two months after he captivated the hockey world at the NHL All-Star Game.

TUCSON ROADRUNNERS (Tucson Arena)

Roadrunners vs. Stockton Heat, 26 November 2016
My first hockey game with my wife, who designed a custom puck to mark the occasion!  I also got the chance to meet a few prominent NHL figures: former goalie Sean Burke, former Jets coach Claude Noel, and former Coyotes GM Don Maloney.


HERSHEY BEARS (Giant Center)

Bears vs. Hartford Wolfpack, 11 February 2017
- In between visits to Philadelphia and New York City, I took a detour to eastern Pennsylvania to see the popular AHL franchise in the "Chocolate Capital of the World".

TORONTO MARLIES (Ricoh Coliseum)

Marlies vs. Laval Rocket, 28 March 2018
As the fabled venue approached its 100th anniversary, we wandered the premises and took in some AHL action during my "Ontario Odyssey".

LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS (PPL Center)

Phantoms vs. Laval Rocket, 25 January 2019
At the end of our Mid-Atlantic trip, we were treated to a great AHL crowd in a fabulous new venue.

SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS (MassMutual Center)

Thunderbirds vs. Hartford Wolfpack, 1 March 2019
A few hours after arriving in Boston for our Northeast trip, we headed west for some AHL action.

HARTFORD WOLFPACK (XL Center)

Wolfpack vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 2 March 2019

ECHL (formerly East Coast Hockey League)

*ONTARIO REIGN (Citizens Business Bank Arena)

Reign vs. Alaska Aces, 1 December 2012
- The NHL lockout was underway, so I ventured out into the Inland Empire to see the only professional hockey team in southern California - and the Stanley Cup was on display since the Kings were the reigning champ!

Reign vs. Utah Grizzlies, 15 March 2015
- The Ides of March also happened to be "Star Wars Day" for this matinee affair.

*TEAM RELOCATED TO MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE AFTER THE 2014-15 SEASON.

FLORIDA EVERBLADES (Germain Arena)

Everblades vs. Gwinnett Gladiators, 21 November 2014


TOLEDO WALLEYE (Huntington Center)

Walleye vs. Atlanta Gladiators, 24 February 2018
- The "Michigan-za!" came to a close with a sold-out contest in front of some of the ECHL's most devoted fans.

MAINE MARINERS (Cross Insurance Arena)

Mariners vs. Norfolk Admirals, 6 March 2019
- We made the lengthy drive to Maine during our Northeast trip, where I got to meet Mariners GM Daniel Briere (I was at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, when he was selected in the first round!).

WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE

EDMONTON OIL KINGS (Rexall Place)

Oil Kings vs. Brandon Wheat Kings, 1 April 2015

RED DEER REBELS (ENMAX Centrium)

Rebels vs. Medicine Hat Tigers, 2 April 2015
- My second WHL playoff game in as many days brought me south to Red Deer for a hard-fought matchup between two Alberta teams.

VANCOUVER GIANTS (Pacific Coliseum)

Giants vs. Red Deer Rebels, 17 October 2015

BRANDON WHEAT KINGS (Westman Place)

Wheat Kings vs. Kootenay Ice, 3 November 2017
- During my trip to Winnipeg, I made the 2-hour drive west through the snowy prairie to see the passionate hockey fans in the charming town of Brandon. 

ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE

OTTAWA 67's (TD Place Arena)

67's vs. Hamilton Bulldogs, 18 March 2016

NIAGARA ICEDOGS (Meridian Centre)

IceDogs vs. Ottawa 67's, 24 March 2016
- Following an afternoon at Niagara Falls, I crossed the border into Canada for an action-packed OHL playoff game from a beautiful arena.

SAGINAW SPIRIT (Dow Event Center)

Spirit vs. Sarnia Sting, 16 February 2018
- The "Michigan-za!" kicked off with a visit to Saginaw, where we scored free tickets!

SARNIA STING (Progressive Auto Sales Arena)

Sting vs. Saginaw Spirit, 19 February 2018
- The same two teams faced off for the second time in four days, as the "Michigan-za!" rolled into Canada.

WINDSOR SPITFIRES (WFCU Centre)

Spitfires vs. Ottawa 67's, 22 February 2018
- The "Michigan-za!" made one more stop in Canada, with the defending Memorial Cup champions serving as host for the evening.

OWEN SOUND ATTACK (Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre)

Attack vs. London Knights, 24 March 2018
- The first OHL playoff game of my "Ontario Odyssey" was a wild overtime game in a fun and intimate venue.

KITCHENER RANGERS (Kitchener Memorial Auditorium)

Rangers vs. Guelph Storm, 25 March 2018

LONDON KNIGHTS (Budweiser Gardens)

Knights vs. Owen Sound Attack, 26 March 2018
- The "Ontario Odyssey" rolled along as the two teams square off for the second time in three nights.  Meanwhile, my wife and I were named the "Couple of the Game"!


OSHAWA GENERALS (Tribute Communities Centre)

Generals vs. Niagara IceDogs, 27 March 2018

MISSISSAUGA STEELHEADS (Hershey Centre)

Steelheads vs. Barrie Colts, 29 March 2018
- After starting the day at the Blue Jays home opener, we ventured across the city to see an exciting overtime contest.

HAMILTON BULLDOGS (FirstOntario Centre)

Bulldogs vs. Ottawa 67's, 30 March 2018
- The sixth and final OHL game of the "Ontario Odyssey" featured a dominant Bulldogs team that would go on to win the OHL Championship.

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA)

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPARTANS (Munn Ice Arena)

Spartans vs. Penn State University, 17 February 2018
- My first NCAA experience was on "Senior Night" in East Lansing, as the "Michigan-za!" kicked into full swing.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (Yost Ice Arena)

Wolverines vs. University of Notre Dame, 18 February 2018
- After watching the Michigan basketball team in the afternoon, we walked across campus to the legendary venue and saw their hockey brethren face off against the top-ranked Fighting Irish.


WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY BRONCOS (Lawson Arena)

Broncos vs. University of Minnesota Duluth, 23 February 2018
- Kalamazoo was the setting for the final college game of the "Michigan-za!", and a visit from the UMD squad that would eventually win the Frozen Four that same season.

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MAVERICKS (Verizon Center)

Mavericks vs. Boston University, 13 October 2018
- My first NCAA game in the "State of Hockey" was a matchup between two highly-ranked schools.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH BULLDOGS (Amsoil Arena)

Bulldogs vs. University of Maine, 20 October 2018
- The defending NCAA champions put on a show as I wrapped up my trip to the "State of Hockey".


NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY HUSKIES (Matthews Arena)

Huskies vs. University of New Hampshire, 9 March 2019

UNITED STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE

WATERLOO BLACK HAWKS (Young Arena)

Black Hawks vs. Youngstown Phantoms, 18 October 2018
- In the midst of my Minnesota trip, I head south to Iowa for my first USHL game: a spirited affair between two venerable teams in this junior league.

*CENTRAL ILLINOIS FLYING ACES (Grossinger Motors Arena)

Flying Aces vs. Chicago Steel, 28 December 2018
- During their final USHL season, I see the Flying Aces on "WWE Night" and get to meet "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan in person!

*TEAM SUSPENDED OPERATIONS AFTER THE 2018-19 SEASON.

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