Ice Ice Baby

Aside from the cinematic triumph, The Mighty Ducks, I have very little experience with ice hockey. So when my hospital gift shop advertised discounted tickets to the Idaho Steelheads, Boise's minor league hockey team, I jumped at the chance to try something new. I picked out seats near the ice so we could take in the whole experience, but definitely didn't know just what I was signing up for. We arrived partway through the first period after a delicious dinner at Mai Thai, grabbed a couple beers, and found our seats in the first row on the glass, right behind one of the goals. About 30 seconds passed before a league of enormous, padded men on skates came racing down the ice towards us. In the fight for the puck, they collided with each other and the glass, causing me to literally leap out of my seat. I knew I was protected, but man, you can't help your instincts! Over the course of the game, we saw three fights, countless collisions and pucks flying in the air, and heard from some die hard fans. My next seat neighbor has been a season ticket holder since the team's fruition in 1997, and from the way he talked to the rest of the people in our section, it was clear that he wasn't alone in his dedication. It felt great to be surrounded by so many intense fans who have been with this team through its ups and downs, and it's nice to know that being a spectator of the Steelheads is accessible for everyone. Tickets, drinks, and food are inexpensive, and the games are conveniently located in the heart of Boise. Not to mention, this is an incredibly exciting sport to watch! The Steelheads have certainly found their next fan.

Our view for the evening