Roaming The Rinks

Eleven games.  Eleven home games that is.  That's how long the Broome County Barons of the Federal Hockey League lasted before they pulled the plug and folded.  Of course the official word came just after I posted my review of the Chenango Ice Rink, the small barn that the Barons called home.  I am bummed that the team did not make it, especially since they are only an hour and a half from home.  I was even planning to take in their Christmas Eve afternoon game (that's today), but will not be able to catch the Barons anymore.  I hope the Federal League can survive, but one has to hope the owners have deep pockets trying to play in a startup league in small arenas which don't hold more that 1500.  I am very glad I was able to catch a game there as the hockey was intense, the arena rather unique, and the price very affordable.

The photo above shows the Barons celebrating their first win. I am glad I was there to see it.  The arena seemed fairly full on opening night when I was there, but the word is that most of the tickets for each game were comp tickets.  It is a real shame as a few games into the season the Barons also picked up a legit tough guy in Brad Pawlowski, so fans were sure to have a show if the other teams were up to the task.  Oh well you can't really change the nature of the business.  Afterall this is minor league hockey.  Teams come and go.  That's just the way it goes.  I am just hoping to make it to as many arenas as I can in order to document a little piece of history at each stop along the way.  Oh, and also have a lot of fun while trying to see them all.