Hockey Night in Wilkes-Barre
This past weekend, my wife and I went to a hockey game in Wilkes-Barre. The “Baby Penguins” are celebrating their 10th year. In baseball terms, the team is the AAA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Fans pack the 10-year-old Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. The arena has about 8,000 seats to hold rabid hockey fans. And the fans love the hockey – or at least the action.
Two players threw down their gloves 5 seconds into the game. The crowd went wild. The hockey really hadn’t begun, but the fighting had started. Binghamton and Wilkes-Barre. Really? This isn’t the Browns and Steelers or Cowboys and Redskins. This isn’t the Red Sox and Yankees or Ohio State and Michigan. This is Binghamton and Wilkes-Barre. Not your Grade A rivalry. But don’t tell that to the folks of Luzerne County.
As for the game, Binghamton won 2-1. The fans were disappointed, and I don’t blame them. Binghamton’s players sure appeared to knock off the net intentionally several times. The refs missed the Penguins’ lone goal. The review booth had to go back and give credit for the goal at the next stoppage.
It was nice time – just like the other three times watching a Penguins game. I was a bit more impressed with the Capitals game that I saw in 2000. But this is a much more intimate arena. This is one of two major teams in the area. Well, major as in major points of pride. They’re minor league teams. The fans love the fact that they have a local hockey team. They’re proud, and the team isn’t a cellar dweller.
One other random note from the night. It really isn’t a sporting event if there isn’t some form of a race between sausages, pop bottles, or some other goofy thing on behalf of a section or row. We weren’t paying much attention and were surprised to see that our row was represented by Diet Pepsi in the race. We weren’t too enthusiastic and were surprised to watch our pop bottle win. Now I have a gift certificate for some soda fountain drink for the next time I go back. Unless I frame it first.
