Happy Hockey Season

I'm going to keep this brief, because my laptop is beginning to suffer catastrophic failures.  Fortunately, in a few days I will be building myself a new computer (which I'll be using to stream some sports games at http://www.twitch.tv/revdonkbonkers.

However, until then, hockey season has finally descended upon us.  The Providence Bruins had to wait a week to get their home opener and did so with a back-to-back Saturday/Sunday slate featuring the Rochester Americans and the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Stadium Visit: Clem Spillane Field (Wareham, MA) Wood Bleachers on Rainy Days

Scene.
INT - Bedroom, morning

PAUL wakes up in bed.  It is literally any weekend day during the baseball season.

PAUL (to self)
I think I'm going to go see a ball game today.

THE WEATHER (off screen, presumably from wherever anthropomorphized weather watches mortals from)
Oh yeah? You think you're going to see a ball game today?  Naw, son.  It's gonna rain.

END

But, today I was able to foil the weather (mostly) and see some baseball.Today's stadium visit is Clem Spillane Field, home of defending Cape Cod League champions the Wareham Gatemen.

Stadium Visit: Paul Walsh Field (New Bedford, MA) Where Fans Are Asked to Return Foul Balls

I'm going to start by saying that I can't be more disappointed in the management of the Brockton Rox.  At about 1:00 I bought a pair of tickets for today's Rox versus Starfires game at Campanelli Stadium scheduled for 5pm.

At 4:30 we pulled in to the parking lot at Brockton High School (next to Campanelli) and was promptly told that there was, in fact, no game today.  Instead of the game (which is still listed on the Rox's website), there was a music festival.  It is unfortunate, Campanelli is supposedly a very nice park.  The Rox have been around for 17 years going all the way back to the Northern/Northeast League.  Surviving the collapse of that organization and spending several years in the Can-Am League.  It wasn't until recently that they dropped the professional designation and joined the summer college scene.  Sadly, from what I'm hearing in the local baseball community, it's unlikely the Rox play beyond this season.  So my opportunities to see them are rapidly dwindling.

Luckily, the New Bedford Bay Sox owed the Newport Gulls a make-up on one of the season's numerous rainouts.  That game kicked off at 6:30 and lent itself to my second experience at New Bedford High School's Paul Walsh Field.

Stadium Visit: Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (Manchester, NH)

It was a beautiful Saturday and my partner (who is a hockey fan, but not a baseball fan) asked if there were any baseball games to go to.  Turns out, the closest game was in Manchester NH.  It's an hour and a half drive to Manchester, so I was surprised when I heard her say "Okay, buy the tickets".

2019 Calder Cup Playoffs: Checkers vs Bruins

Game Day Report: Utica Comets vs Providence Bruins AHL Regular Season

American Hockey League Regular Season
Utica Comets vs Providence Bruins

Dunkin' Donuts Center

I can count the number of Baby Bruins games I've missed over the last two seasons on two hands (and probably still be able to hitchhike).  So I am intimately familiar with the Dunkin Donuts Center.  It is a great place to watch a hockey game.  Of the New England minor league/college rinks I've been to, it may be the best laid out, brightest and most technically proficient building in the region.  This season my partner and I have spent most of the year in section 101 anywhere between 2 and 5 rows off the ice behind the goal (Bruins attack once zone).  We're actually considering doing season tickets for next year because we'd like to slide down to glass row, or at least be able to get good seats without having to show up at doors open.

Game Day Report: Cara Cup New England Free Jacks vs Munster RFC

2019 Cara Cup game 4: New England Free Jacks vs Munster RFC

April 6, 2019 at the Irish Cultural Centre, Canton, MA

The New England Free Jacks are a Major League Rugby expansion franchise set to begin league play in the 2020 season.  But this season, the Jacks have launched a very aggressive marketing and branding campaign to introduce the sport of rugby to Boston.