The good ole hockey game

We thought the crowd would be small. The Edmonton Oilers have had a bad season. The Phoenix Coyotes are already in the race for the cup. Would their fans even show up? But Scott and Bonnie are here for a visit, and being big Oilers fans, going to this NHL game is a given.

And we were wrong about the Coyotes fans. Though sparse at the start, by game time it looks as if every seat is full! All that's left is some goals from our team.

Hockey games have become theatre. When the lights go down, there's a sort of hush and with a great burst of music and spotlights these burley boys rush onto the ice to wild applause and cheering. They skate quickly around and around, and it seems as if the ice surface is not big enough to hold them all. Quite a show. Quite a show.

The hockey arena in Phoenix is called "Jobing.com". It's a job finding company that finds jobs for people in Arizona and does it all on line.

The University of Phoenix Stadium (Arizona Cardinals) is across the street. I am showing you a picture of it, but to drive around a corner and get your first look? - Whew! With a state of the art retractable roof it looks exactly like a huge ship from another planet.

In the Jobing area, we find huge banners and billboards, a movie theatre, hotels, lots of stores, and pubs, and restaurants. It's no wonder everyone arrives early, prepared to spend the day wandering around enjoying the ambience. There is unlimited parking - free - this could be the reason there is no public transit to the area.

Wow! A lot of Edmonton Oilers shirts out here! - lots of talk and laughter. We enjoy beer and food on the patio and watch the crowd getting bigger. Big smiles - everyone out for a good time. We do the shops, and pose for pictures. Scott and his dad check the car, move it around and discuss the pros and cons of each parking spot.

And a final word about watching an NHL Hockey game live. It really is a big rush and worth the cost and effort. Although our drive from our digs in Tempe, Arizona to the big arena in Glendale, Arizona is 45 minutes, it's worth it. The space, the parking, the other amenities - all these things make the trip a real delight. (The score? 6 - 1 for Phoenix - happy home fans)