So, I finally got around to checking out a Merrimack men’s ice hockey game. Heard a bit about them, you know, local team, college hockey scene. Didn’t really know what to expect, honestly. College sports can be hit or miss.
Getting There and First Impressions
Getting tickets wasn’t too bad. Just went online, picked a game that worked. Then came the actual trip over to Lawler Rink. Finding parking, the usual drill. It wasn’t like going to a huge pro venue, felt a bit more down-to-earth, which was kinda nice.
Walked into the rink, and yeah, you could immediately feel it was a college arena. Smaller, more intimate than the big league places. You could smell the popcorn and maybe that distinct cold air smell you only get at ice rinks. Found my seat, which felt pretty close to the action. That’s one thing I liked right away – seemed like there wasn’t really a bad seat in the house.
The Game Experience
The warm-ups started, and the players came out. You could see the energy even then. The student section was starting to fill up, already making some noise. That’s always the fun part of college games, right? The students.
Once the puck dropped, things got lively. The game was fast. Faster than I expected, maybe. Lots of back and forth. I’m no expert, but you could see the guys were hustling hard. Blocking shots, chasing the puck into the corners, throwing some hits. It felt pretty intense down there on the ice.
- The speed was noticeable.
- Physicality was definitely there.
- Goaltending seemed solid, lots of quick saves.
The crowd was really into it. Lots of cheering, the usual “oohs” and “aahs” on close calls or big saves. The student band was playing, adding to the whole atmosphere. It wasn’t super polished, felt more raw, more passionate maybe? Like everyone there genuinely cared about the team, not just there for the spectacle.
Watching the Team
Didn’t know any specific players beforehand, just watched the game flow. Merrimack seemed gritty. They weren’t always the smoothest team, maybe made a few mistakes here and there, but they didn’t give up. Kept battling. That’s something I appreciate, win or lose. You want to see the effort.
There was this one sequence, I think in the second period, where they killed off a penalty. Blocked like three shots in a row. The crowd went nuts. That felt like a turning point, energy-wise. Even though I didn’t have a huge stake in the outcome, you get caught up in moments like that.
Final Thoughts
Leaving the rink, it was definitely a different vibe than leaving a pro game. Felt more like a community event. People chatting about the game, kids running around with mini sticks. It wasn’t just about the final score.
Overall? Yeah, it was a good time. It reminded me that sports don’t have to be this massive, corporate thing. Sometimes the smaller scale, college-level games have more heart. You see the players working their tails off, the fans are super passionate. Would I go again? Yeah, probably. It was a solid way to spend an evening, good energy, real effort on the ice. Simple as that.
