Hockey Dopefest in GA?!

I’m up for a weekender! I think it’d be damned near impossible to rent ice in Atlanta, but I’m willing to go for a game so long as we consider what the after-game party is going to be ahead of time. . . :smiley:

Tripler
I’ve got the pre-game covered: I’ll go buy a grill this weekend for a tailgater.

I don’t know if you can rent the whole thing, but the Ice Forum in Gwinnett is where the Thrashers practice. I know you can have parties there, but that’s all I know.

Archergal
doesn’t skate (bad knees and weak ankles), but will cheer others on

I will happily call them and start working reservations, however:

If we’re going to play for a Cecil Cup, I would insist we have quite a few players. . . like at least 10 for half-rink who are willing to go in for maybe $10-15 for the hour. Any less than that, and everybody’ll be tired after twenty minutes (well, most of you will). Trust me on this, it’s like playing an entire game with a penalty. . . If you are interested in skating for the SDHL, post, and let me know what time of the week is best for you–keep in mind that most of the times for private “pick-up” games are usually late at night, on weeknights–at least that’s the only times I could get ice up in North Dakota and Montana.

However, this would not in any way, shape, or form limit the number of spectators.

Tripler
And we’ll need a Cecil Cup.

I am so in for this! Wonder if Coach has any pads I can borrow…

OK, am I the only one who mis-read the title of the thread and thought it said, “Hokey Dopefest in GA?”

I was envisioning green jello molds with cottage cheese, background music by the Osmonds and a lively board game of Shoots and Ladders.

…never mind.

…oops…“Chutes and Ladders”…“shoots and ladders” is I think a hunting game played by Dick Cheney…

Okay, I’m gonna list some pros and cons here-
Pros of renting ice - potentially cheaper, w/ the exception of ER visits; shorter time period means more time to do other stuff; Tripler gets to wow all the girlies w/ his mad skating skillz.
Cons of renting ice - some of us are non- and bad ice skaters; some of us would have to take a day off work to make a weeknight game 5 hours from where we live; we still have to get up the next morning and make it to work 5 hours away; some of us are more brittle than others.
Pros of Game On ! Thrashers Against The Stinkin’ St Louis Blues on Saturday September 23rd - Though somewhat more expensive, is all-inclusive; less painful to fall when walking in a parking lot; on a weekend so the whole 5-hours-from-home-on-a-weeknight thing is not such an inconvenience; I can wear my Blues jersey and jinx them.
Cons of Game On ! Thrashers Against The Stinkin’ St Louis Blues on Saturday September 23rd - More expensive, tix are $10, 28, 38, 44, 55 and up and some brave soul’s going to have to pay for them all at once if we want to sit together. (Unlike other stadiums, the $10 seats are actual seats, not SRO, which gets old FAST.)
I’m interested in your thoughts, folks.

If I may,

We’re all amateurs, so I’m sure we’d all agree on a no-check game. Sure, slight bumps will happen, but anyone willing to get onto the ice will not get hurt beyond a bumped knee or a frozen rear end. I can skate, and will put my name on the line for this promise.

That being said, most of the locker rooms I’ve seen have showers, so everyone can pack some “hittin’ town” clothes with whatever they pack for the rink (which is standard practice) and we can all head out downtown thereafter. You’re a hockey player! What the hell do you care what people think about what you look like!!![sub]F*ck 'em! You’ll knock their teeth out![/sub] :smiley:

Seriously, if you want to go in for ice time, let me know. I’ll make the phone calls.

Tripler
Even if you can’t skate very well, it’ll be fun!

Sorry, who’s a hockey player? I can barely ice-skate.

Dear Robert says he might be play, though cautions that he’s not a Very Excellent Skater.

If you find players, I’d help pony up for the rink.

Someone’s gotta hold the camera and submit the tape to AFV! We split the cash equally, tho, mmkay?

I’ll rephrase my statement:

Whether or not you can skate well, handle a puck, or tend the pipes well is not at question. What I’m worried about is that we’ll have a lack of people willing to step onto the ice for a game. Money? Feh. I’ve spent more on lesser endeavors.

I just don’t want to throw a couple hundred bucks at a chance to let people play, only to have three Dopers show up for a full sheet of ice.

Tripler
I mean, someone’s gotta drive the Zamboni.

I think I could die happy if I ever get to drive a Zamboni. :smiley:

Dear Robert is a kick-ass street hockey player, but he’s seldom played ice hockey.

Archergal, my vote goes to you for being the Zamboni Facilitation Engineer! To see the True Master/Octopi Relocator, use your Google-fu on “Al Sobotka”.
I wanna be da goalie, eh? Put me in the pipes, Coach!

Since I got sidetracked at the last minute from attending the fest last weekend (and don’t think I didn’t shed a tear Saturday night while I was at dinner with my parents and two children at Chili’s. Chili’s, for god’s sake) I am so up for it.
I’ll be keeping an eye on the thread. Maybe this time I’ll get out of the house!

Nawth Chucka, if you ever decide to come to Raleigh to see a Hurricanes game, I can hook you up with tickets for less money than it would cost you through Ticketbastard. We’ve got tickets to one of the 10-game mini-plans and one of the nice things about it is that you can get tickets for other people for less money than they’d otherwise have to pay.

Thank you, I will definitely keep that in mind! I haven’t seen my beloved Wings play in person in years now, I think I have a better chance to see them on the road.
Ticketbastard boo.

Alright, all ya’ll who were interested before - here’s the scoop! :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

We’re going to meet up at the Cottonmouths game on Saturday the 17th in Columbus, GA against Fayetteville; that’s a Fanfest night, too, which I bet SnakesCatLady can fill us in on. Puck drops at 7:30.

Who’s in?

That’s March 17th, I guess.

I’ll check with Dear Robert, but odds are we won’t make it. :frowning:

This is why you’re a Doper, you are smart enough to fill in the blanks my tired mind leaves!! Yes, March 17th.

I would hate that you and he can’t come, you’re two of the nicest people I’ve met in GA yet! If you can’t make this one, maybe the Cottonmouths will make the playoffs and we’ll do it again!
SCL, are they playoffs bound?