Roaming The Rinks

Arena # 14 - First Arena in Elmira, New York, home of the Elmira Jackals

We go on our fair share of hockey road trips here at RTR, but Arena # 14 on the list features the place that we always come home to.  With the smallest market still standing in the minor league hockey, Elmira's First Arena provides a little glimpse of how hockey used to be in small towns in North America.  Local fans love their hockey, hate the refs, and heckle opposing goalies mercilessly.  F...

Arena # 15 - Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre in Owen Sound, Ontario, home of the Owen Sound Attack

The first arena to crack to FUN FIFTEEN is simply known as The Bayshore.  This simple 3,000 seater is among the most fun places we have ever been.  This arena is nothing fancy, and neither is the city of Owen Sound, but the thought of having big time OHL hockey in a market of only 22,000 makes this place special.  Owen Sound loves the Atta...

The offseason is a time of hockey withdrawal for fans.  It is also a time to reflect on the best teams, games, fights, moments, and arenas we have experienced this past season as well as throughout our hockey lives.  We at RTR are fortunate to have seen games at over 100 different hockey arenas and wanted to keep the hockey spark going during the offseason for our readers by offering a countdown of our favorite arenas.

How it works-  Although we have se...

Outdoor hockey seem to be all the rage these days.  Even leagues like the USHL are getting on board, and the NHL has had high budget events at such venerable settings as Fenway Park and Wrigley Field in recent years.  College hockey has had its share of cleverly named events as well, including the "Cold War" game at Spartan Stadium where Michigan State took on Michigan, and the "Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic"  at Lambeau Field, featuring the Wisconsin Badgers versus Ohio State.&...

I admit I am not that up on pop culture or celebrities.  In fact I haven't really watched any network TV series in at least 10 years.  I do remember watching "Entertainment Tonight" one evening in high school on my brithday and learning that I share a birthday with Emmanuel Lewis- you know, the short statured baby faced actor who starred as Webster Popodopoulas in the TV comedy "Webster".  Not only did we share the same birthday, but he was delivered in a hospital on the same d...

The playoffs are always a time of renewed fun.  You get to battle the same team for up to 7 games, and develop new hatred for players on the opposing team.  A playoff series against your arch rivals is about as much fun as you will encounter, and you need to pace your nerves, and your voice, to withstand the grind if you are a loyal fan.  When it was announced that my Elmira Jackals woulds play the Reading Royals in the ECHL's first round, I knew that despite Reading being...

We see a lot of different and cool things through our travels to arenas each year.  There are the typical between period contests such as tricycle races, the typical fan shot from center ice, the occasional weiner dog race, and we even took part in the world record attempt at setting off the most whoopie cushions at once at an Albany RiverRats game a few years ago.  Sometimes you get to see something that seems completely typical on the surface, such as zamboni rides, but turns out ...

Labor Day Weekend is here.  Preseason hockey is already underway in many of Canada's Junior Leagues, and the rest of the hockey world will be back in action within about a month.  For Roaming The Roaming Rinks this weekend also starts the hockey season, at the Elmira Jackals Pro Placement Camp.  This event with 2 days of scrimmages usually kicks off our hockey for the year, and gives that first hockey fix after a long summer.

       ...

It is old news by now, but most of you have probably already heard that the powers that be in Devils land have pulled the plug on their ECHL affiliate in Trenton.  At Roaming the Rinks we are fortunate enough to see a wide variety of hockey played in lots of different markets, in various leagues.  There are loads of successful organizations who do things right and keep fans interested.  There are also those teams that once you leave the arena, you figure the team may be on borr...

This offseason seems to have a lot of twists and turns, even moreso than normal.  There is turmoil in the Central Hockey League. There are rumors of new Federal League teams popping up in unlikely places.  Sadly though it has been confirmed that one of my favorite teams is officially done.  The Lewsiton MAINEiacs of the QMJHL have been acquired by the league and have been dissolved.  Just like that there are no more MAINEiacs and the Q has gone back to an all Can...