I have a dream...

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 12:52 am

...of seeing the Ice Arena full for every game, no matter who is playing.

Being a student, I am a relative newcomer to Falcon hockey. The only sold-out game I have ever seen in the Ice Arena was when the Luckeyes came to town last year. Even then, it seemed as though half the arena was filled with OSU fans. I see no reason why we can't fill that place 20 times a year.

There are roughly 5000 seats, and even if it was JUST students attending games, that is only a quarter of our student body. The reality is that it isn't just the student body going as many alumni and community member either hold season tickets or go to quite a few games.

The bottom line is that we as hardcore Falcon fans need to spread the word about this program (much like we need to about our women's basketball team!). There are 320-some-odd members of this forum. Each of us needs to do everything that we can to spread the word about this program, and not just because the revenue would help our athletic department. The kids out on the ice just plain deserve the support.

Many of these kids have come here from as far away as Minnesota, Alberta, BC, Ontario, etc. simply for the history of our program (fan attendance has certainly not been a factor for a long time). I am friends with many of them, and nothing means more to them than having the fans out there supporting their efforts. We have perhaps one of the most noise-condusive facilities in the nation. It may not be anything as nice as the Woverines have with boxes and such, but I'd be willing to bet that our dinky little tin roof could create an environment 10-times as loud.

I WISH it was difficult for students to find a decent seat. I WISH we could take full advantage of our Ice Arena.

What I am saying is that there really is nothing in college sports that is as fast or exciting as hockey (men's or women's!). And believe me, I am a HUGE football fan! Given this fact, each of us should do as much as we can to get people to games this year. Between Sigalet in net, Sigalet on dfence, Rogosheski and our other captains, we are going to have a HELL of a team this year. We could be a force to be reckoned with in the CCHA...

...GET ANYONE YOU CAN TO THE ICE ARENA ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS!!!!!!!!

BGSUfanatUT · Post by **BGSUfanatUT** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:40 am

That would be great! That kind of enthusiasm is needed from all our students. back int eh glory days when the north end of the ice wasnt there, the seating I mean, there was jsut fencing around the ice,and students could be right there next to the game, my dad tells me how they would grab the other teams jerseys when they got checked up into the fence near them, how awesome is that?

You are dead right, that place, along with anderson arena, arent the best facilities, but the environment there is priceless. Michigan and MSU wont play us again in basketball for those reasons. The Ice arena can be the same way... and should be. Its terrible that our program had to fall so low in the first place, but its on the rise again, and we can help. Last year when the 84 team came for the weekend serise and signed autographs, that was the best ever. We packed the place pretty good that weekend, and meeting the guys that accomplished that feat is great. Real legends at BGSU.

If the students can make a better showing, I think that would eb the greatest help, you are right, we should be able to pack that place with students alone, but we have enough local fans as well, that we should never have the need for that. I want to see SRO this seaon when we play LSS and AF and NO. It shouldnt matter the opponent, jsut liek we did at the doyt for SEMO. You come to the game to see the FALCONS play, not the other team.

Falcon Fanatic · Post by **Falcon Fanatic** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:53 am

Wow, Bleeding Orange!! AWESOME POST!!!! What you are dreaming for, is what I used to experience at that rink when Scott Paluch was a defenseman on that ice!!! I used to line up at the doors at 4 in the afternoon, waiting for them to open the doors at 6. We ran our tails off to get in the first rows of Section A, while others ran for the same seats in Section H!! We were LOUD and thoroughly intimidating for incoming teams. We used to be the hardest rink to come and play in, due to the noise and the home team support we gave the Falcons!! With the students sitting in Sections A and H, we gave the opposing goalie total grief for two out of three periods. It was such a blast going to Falcon Hockey games! Season tickets even had a waiting list!!!

This isn't just your dream, it's Scott Paluch's dream too. That is his goal, to get this program back where it was when he was here and to keep it there! We will be a national contender again, and SOON!!!!

Again, AWESOME post! Hope everyone reads it!!!

FALCON HOCKEY....BE THERE!!!!

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 4:35 am

Thanks guys, but I am not looking for praise for my literary skills. I am simply hoping to get people out to the games this year. I remember going to see us play Michigan last year and thinking that it is bull---- that these Michiganites can come out and support their team better than we can. We ARE and HAVE been one of the best hockey schools in the country, and its about time we started acting like it.

You guys both rock, and I hope that we can find this kind of enthusiasm from all of the members of this board. This is a place where larger fanatacism can grow, and I am excited as hell about that.

Go Falcons, and beat Michigan -- TWICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Falcon Fanatic · Post by **Falcon Fanatic** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 11:07 am

Bleeding Orange wrote:This is a place where larger fanatacism can grow, and I am excited as hell about that.

Go Falcons, and beat Michigan -- TWICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, I hope we beat them FOUR times, since they are in our cluster this year!! I have the same wish for Michigan State and Notre Dame!!!

And you are right about this place. I have watched the number of postings grow as the team improves and hope that some day, we are busier than the football thread during it's season!!!

THAT would say something about the hockey program's improvement!!! The local fans are STILL out there and WILL come back as the team moves up the standings, I have no doubt about that!! Within another year or two, we will be the hottest ticket in town...once again!!!!

DROP THE PUCK!!!

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 12:54 pm

When I attended BG from 86-90, hockey was THE game in town. And that arena was packed for EVERY game. It was loud, proud and exciting and opposing teams shuddered at the fact of having to face the Falcons and 3,000+ screaming fans. We used to line up at 4:30 as well just to get a seat. Now mind you I had never really seen a hockey game before I got to BG...hockey just wasn't part of my life growing up except for the Olympics. But that all changed in a heartbeat!

This program will be back at the top very soon....

GO ICERS!

BGSUfanatUT · Post by **BGSUfanatUT** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:24 pm

As I was born in '84....the greatest year in BG history.

1) BGSU Icers win Nat'l title in the longest title game ever beating Minn-Duluth.
2)Scott Hamilton wins the Gold
3)BGHS hockey wins the state title.
4) I was born.

The ice arena was overwhelmed that year with 3 MAJOR things happening for it. I really wish I was there and able to understand what was happening. I asked my dad one time if he was at the BGSU victory. He told me "no, I was watching you be born." Then I yelled at him for not having priorities straight. "dad, what were the odds of winning another nat'l title huh? You can have more kids(they did not). I would rather you have been at that game then make sure I was born OK.... I can't believe you..."

He laughed, not sure he knew I was being serious.

.....So the point of all this is this: I want to see that happen again. I want to experience that kind of emotion from our community and students. I want to go watch the Falcons win another Nat'l title. I want to have to get to the arena hours in advance to wait in the cold of winter to sit next to a sheet of ice. That's what I want. I want that more than bowl games for the football team, more than keeping player on the basketball team for more than 2 years. I want to watch hockey. Falcon hockey.

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 9:26 pm

In 1984 I was southern CA, on the floor of a family friend's living room. I recall the NBC nightly news ending with a quick item on the longest NCAA hockey final in history, and seeing these two guys with brown jerseys on. What stuck in my mind was the big orange stripes on them. My late mother chimed in, that "that was where I went to school."

I still remember when I first arrived in fall 1992, I sat in Section A, top row, and watched BG hammer OSU 12-1. Arron Ellis was in goal I think. He missed a shut-out by a couple of minutes. I wasn't sure what to make of hockey at the start of the game, but by the end of it I was sold. By the end of the year I was sitting in Section E, and showing up two hours before gametime.

Some of my favorite memories are of beign crammed into the foyer waiting for "Bitter Old Man" to finally let us in. Hopefully career and family will provide for my getting back and building some fresh memories.

In any case, those were the days before the WWW, when surfing the web was being done on text based browsers, and Gopher searches were all the rage. You could access the web for free, using the University's modem pool, or dialing up to the BG Link testing system and telneting through it.

Its good to see new blood picking up on things!

Keep posting Bleeding. Orange that is.

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 1:55 am

NWLB, I'm happy (or unhappy, depending on your perspective) to say that "Bitter Old Man" still works the southwest entrance to games. I really can't stand the guy, but I guess hockey games wouldn't be the same without his regularly bitter attitude.

You guys are all awesome. I wish that I could have been here for the glory days of Falcon hockey. I attended the 20th anniversary dinner last year and was blown away by the support that they recieved. I remember watching the video of the championship game there and being blown away by the level of puck control they possessed. Truly a squad not to be rivaled.

Anyhow, you all give me hope. I'm going to be doing everything that I can to spread the word about Falcon hockey and hopefully we can get back to where we once were. God knows we have the team that can make that happen.

Anyone else about ready to jump out of their shorts in anticipation of the numbers Sigalet is going to put up this year?!?!

BGSUfanatUT · Post by **BGSUfanatUT** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 2:42 am

speaking of which, does anyone know how I can get a DVD or tape of that game? I need one or I may not live much longer.

Falcon Fanatic · Post by **Falcon Fanatic** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 3:18 am

Bleeding Orange wrote:Anyone else about ready to jump out of their shorts in anticipation of the numbers Sigalet is going to put up this year?!?!

Siggy Junior or Siggy Senior? ...I'll take BOTH!!!!!

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 2:39 pm

I recall they were supposed to sell a DVD of the '84 title game, but I've not gotten to campus to see if its beign sold outside of the limited run it had.

Can any of our other hockey fan luminaries inform us of how to get it?

Falconboy · Post by **Falconboy** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 6:35 pm

MMMm.......well for starters the team can start winning more to help people get excited. Especially for people who aren't hockey fans in this town and didn't grow up with it. You hardcore guys will be there no matter what , but that's not likely for average "joes" to show up. Falcon hockey is going to have start dominating a little and start beating up on teams , good teams too. Otherwise the rest of BG sports fans won't give a crap. Yes, hockey is fast and furious but it lacks the scoring to get most people who grow up with basket ball and football to get into it like myself.

Beating teams like OSU and Mich.St.and Notre Dame more often might help ,but then when was the last time we beat any of those teams more than once in the last 5 seasons or so? :shrug: Not tryin to be pessimetic ,but hockey is a weird sport sort of. Not alot of people around here grow up with it. So it would take time and alot of winning.

falconboy

BGSUfanatUT · Post by **BGSUfanatUT** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 7:54 pm

falconboy wrote:MMMm.......well for starters the team can start winning more to help people get excited. Especially for people who aren't hockey fans in this town and didn't grow up with it. You hardcore guys will be there no matter what , but that's not likely for average "joes" to show up. Falcon hockey is going to have start dominating a little and start beating up on teams , good teams too. Otherwise the rest of BG sports fans won't give a crap. Yes, hockey is fast and furious but it lacks the scoring to get most people who grow up with basket ball and football to get into it like myself.

Beating teams like OSU and Mich.St.and Notre Dame more often might help ,but then when was the last time we beat any of those teams more than once in the last 5 seasons or so? :shrug: Not tryin to be pessimetic ,but hockey is a weird sport sort of. Not alot of people around here grow up with it. So it would take time and alot of winning.

we beat ND twice last year.

NWLB- I heard the same thing...but then nothing came up it I think. If anyone knows any info on this post ASAP!

falconboy

BGFan · Post by **BGFan** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 8:57 pm

BGSUfanatUT wrote:
falconboy wrote:MMMm.......well for starters the team can start winning more to help people get excited. Especially for people who aren't hockey fans in this town and didn't grow up with it. You hardcore guys will be there no matter what , but that's not likely for average "joes" to show up. Falcon hockey is going to have start dominating a little and start beating up on teams , good teams too. Otherwise the rest of BG sports fans won't give a crap. Yes, hockey is fast and furious but it lacks the scoring to get most people who grow up with basket ball and football to get into it like myself.

Beating teams like OSU and Mich.St.and Notre Dame more often might help ,but then when was the last time we beat any of those teams more than once in the last 5 seasons or so? :shrug: Not tryin to be pessimetic ,but hockey is a weird sport sort of. Not alot of people around here grow up with it. So it would take time and alot of winning.

we beat ND twice last year.

NWLB- I heard the same thing...but then nothing came up it I think. If anyone knows any info on this post ASAP!

falconboy

And we split with Michigan State.....

I have one thing to say Falconboy....if you don't understand the game, stay out of this forum. You really have absolutely no clue just how close we are, do you? We had 11 games go into overtime last year, we won one, we lost one, and we had 9 ties! Change those ties to wins and we have home ice in the playoffs. So, until you find a clue, or decide that you want to be more than just a fair weather fan regardless of the sport, stop reading this forum.

I have a dream...

I have a dream...

MY DREAM TOO!!!

Getting people to Hockey Games?

Re: Getting people to Hockey Games?

Re: Getting people to Hockey Games?