Sometimes when you’ve got the person you love in your life every day, you forget that sometimes when you go out and about for an event, it is a “date”. I’m not very good at differentiating the nuances between doing things together, and going on a date. Yesterday we hit up the farmer’s market in Union Station and tonight I took her to a hockey game (we didn’t win tonight damn it, but it was still so fun). I think they were both dates, but tonight was more of a date than yesterday I think because “she said so”.
We can’t bring any “real” cameras into the Delta Center, but we can bring our phones and “point and shoot” cameras. I made myself use the point and shoot most of the time tonight, but it is a truly shitty camera. The Olympus SZ-12 that I brought was an eBay find from a few months ago. It isn’t a good camera at all. It doesn’t have manual mode, doesn’t take RAW images (just jpg like your phone), and it just takes pictures plain and simple no effort what so ever to allow for any improvements, corrections, or basic quality. So the majority of images tonight, are from that camera so you’ll know, oh you’ll know.







Something I get ENORMOUS enjoyment out of at these NHL games is the “State Culture” doesn’t invade the fun and enjoyment of the game. I absolutely love that the Delta Center sold more beer than it ever has during the first game with this new team. In the NHL we’re already one of the loudest stadiums, and we haven’t even found our place yet. As a fan, I feel our team has a lot of us behind them, encouraging them, and spending our money to keep them here in Utah.



When television is having a commercial break, the ice shovel cleaner crew comes out real quick to tidy up, they toss the camera around to catch people doing stuff, and they even encourage parents to hold their kids high while some Lion King music sputters out through the speakers.






We sat in a different area this time (last time was “free” because I bought the SEG+ annual subscription), this time was on our dime. As much as I dislike basketball, SEG is also the owner of the Jazz (Well, SEG is “Smith Entertainment Group” so “Ryan Smith” is actually the owner of the Utah Hockey Club, and the Utah Jazz). So unfortunately, much of the content we receive includes some Utah Jazz crap on the side lines. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll get our own stadium.
Meanwhile, the commentator for the Utah Hockey Club was visible from our seats tonight (about 50 miles away, but we could see them working during the intermission and watch them enjoying the game when they weren’t on the air. In these two images, that’s Sarah Merrifield enjoying the game, and talking to the cameras. To the right of her box is where the DJ and tonight’s Saxophone playing guest played their music.


Jamie also saw Matt McConnell and Dominic Moore (announcers for the Utah Hockey Club) but we weren’t sure if it was “okay” to chase them down and slam a selfie with them. They had zero people bothering them, so I “assume” they don’t get hassled too much at the games. We didn’t see Nick Olczyk, but he has never “clicked” with me like the rest of the media team has (Nick’s dad was here when ESPN or one of those sports channels were covering the game – His dad is also an announcer / previous player).
Finally, a video from the game. Here is our only score (Yes, it’s dark, n crappy, n about what you’d expect from a $25 camera from 2012 off eBay). I muted this video when it starts, but you can click the speaker and hear the crowd if you wanna.
I’ve been to a lot (not a ton, but more than 10) Utah Grizzlies games, and there is just a subtle difference between ECHL hockey (Minor league), and NHL hockey (Professional league). I like the prices for a Grizzlies game better, but the gameplay feels quicker, sharper, and more intense at an NHL game. I also LOVE to go see our local Mustangs here in Ogden. Them guys play some top-notch Hockey (16-22 years old if I remember – but you’d never know by how well they play).
The jersey I hope to find, and buy is that of #38, “Spicy Tuna” or Liem O’Brien is the player I enjoy watching and listening to the most. But, “Veggie” or Karel Vejmelka, is my goalie hero though. I’m really torn on which jersey to second mortgage my house for because they’re both great players in their own ways. O’Brien is recognizable just by how he skates (Big neanderthal on skates), and Veggie does such a good job smackin’ pucks out of the air he’s probably part superhero. I say second mortgage my house because a personalized jersey is north of $350 each (Personalized means a player’s name and number on it). A plain jersey with no number or name is $200 plus tax. Tonight, I bought a puck, sticker, and tumbler for just shy of $60. Tonight’s tickets were one seat down from the top and came in just short of $150 for both of us (down closer to the ice and you’re talking $500 each to start). You get what you pay for, I guess. NHL hockey is really good, the Grizzlies are good, our local Ogden Mustangs are fun, and they all have their price points. My local Mustangs are ~$10-15, the beverages are reasonably priced, and they’re a 15-minute drive with free parking (NHL parking is $20+).
Here are a few images of the game in progress, some intermission activities, and a little look around.







Finally, after our hopes were dashed with a 1 – 2 loss, we finished up and headed back to the car. We took our time, did a little bit’o shopping, snapped another guitar picture, and wondered out of the Delta Center (I always leave out the wrong door, but it was around 50* out, so it was a nice walk around the block to the parking garage).






As far as dates go, I was with the best. She’s got the attitude, spunk, and laugh to keep the mood light, she’s cute, and she knows more about the players than I do. I love you much Jamie MUA!