My Final Post and the End of Beyond the Game.

I just wanted to officially declare the end of Beyond the Game. It was fun while it lasted, and helped me get an A in my writing class. However, I want to make it known that I am not shutting down this blog on my own. I had full intention to continue posting game highlights and various opinionated posts for the remainder of my career as the Boston University Men's Ice Hockey Video Coordinator. Unfortunately, in this business, reputation and strategy are crucial to an organization. I made an error by posting the pre-season video on youtube and on this blog.  Such information should be kept within the organization and not released to the public. Further, posting game highlights may have been a great tool for reaching fans who may not have access to watching the games, these posts may also take away from any strategic edge if other teams get a hold of them.

Some things are better off left at home, eh? Is that even a saying? Oh well.

I want to thank all of my subscribers, followers, and vistors to the site. It was because of you that Beyond the Game was as successful as it was. I had a great time blogging, and I am sure this will not be the last you see of me.

Happy Holidays,

JP Buckley

Game Highlights: BC Weekend

Well, this weekend was one for the books, as one would expect whenever the Terriers and Eagles clash in back to back games. On Friday, BU traveled up the street into enemy territory and stole the show...kind of? Anyone who was at the game will tell you how backwards it really was. The Eagles embarrassingly outshot the Terries, but thanks to miraculous goaltending by Kieran Millan, BU was able to come out with a 5 - 3 victory.

On Saturday nights game, just the opposite happened. Until the third period, before mental and physical fatigue set in, the Terriers dominated the Eagles on shots. However, freshmen goalie Brian Bennet was a brick wall, stopping 40 out of 41 shots, carrying the Eagles to a 6 - 1 victory.

All in all, both games were completely backwards and extremely long. From where I was sitting, it was painful to sit through all the penalties, reviewed plays, face-off delays, and tv timeouts. But I mean, BU/BC weekend? Can't beat it.

Boston University @ Boston College (12-2-11)

Boston University vs. Boston College (12-3-11)

RedHot Hockey Highlight Update

Hey everyone. I messed up on the original RedHot Hockey Game Highlight video. The clips were not arranged in chronological order, which kind of defeats the purpose of these videos. Anyway, here is the updated video with all clips in order.

Video provided by MSG broadcast channel.

RedHot Hockey Game Highlights: Boston University vs. Cornell @ Madison Square Garden (11/26/11)

This past weekend was the third time that the Terriers and the Big Red clashed at Madison Square Garden for the Red Hot Hockey game. This was the best games I have seen all season. Both teams were playing at top notch levels. Big hits and quality back-and-forth scoring chances filled the Garden with constant "ooohhhs" and "aaahhs." The Terriers came out on top in the end with a beautiful through-the-legs tip in by Ross Gaudet, but the game could easily have ended in the Big Red's favor. I'll let the video speak for itself:

Video thanks to MSG broadcast channel.

A RedHot Thanksgiving at Madison Square Garden

First, I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was filled with family, laugher and, of course, pounds upon pounds of traditional Thanksgiving grub. It's one of the best holidays in my eyes, mainly because of my obsession with egg nog. This year was a special because I got to spend the final days of my vacation in New York City. The morning after waking up from a food induced coma, I found myself with my knees to my chest on a Peter Pan bus. We were heading to the Big Apple to play against Cornell University in the RedHot Hockey game. Every other year for the past six years, BU and Cornell battle it out at Madison Square Garden infront of a sold out crowed. My freshmen year was my first time going and it was an absolute blast, which made the fact that I had enough leg room for an ant not so bad.

This weekend, I lived a five-star lifestyle.

We first arrived at our hotel around 6:00pm after dropping our equipment off at Madison Square Garden. We stayed at the Affinia Manhattan Hotel on Seventh Ave. Last time I was here, I had a huge room looking right out over Madison Square Garden. This year I got stuck in a renovated janitors closet looking right at one of the nicest brick walls in NYC.

An hour after settling in, we walked a few blocks to Keens Steakhouse. When I tell you I have been looking forward to eating here for two years, I have been looking forward to eating here for two years. Going out to team dinner is always a great time, but Keens is the best. Mouth watering steak, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, and the best New York style cheesecake around, you can't beat it. 

After dinner we had some time to walk around and take in some sights. We walked from the restaurant down Seventh Ave to Times Square. I hadn't been there in two years and I had forgotten how amazing it is. On our way back, an old man dressed in some funky gear was giving out dance lessons for a dollar. Well, little did he know Sean Escobedo was in town. Long story short, a small crowed gathered to watch an old man and a crazy kid with a full grown mustache dance battling on the sidewalk. Classic Esco. 

After a great night sleep at the hotel and a long day of wading through the sea of people in Times Square, we were ready to play some hockey. A few of the managers and I headed over to MSG after pre-game meal at 4:00pm to set up. There was a lot of chaos because the Rangers played at 2:00pm against the Flyers and we were supposed to be moving into their locker rooms. With some teamwork and patience, we were able to get everything set up by the time the team arrived. 

I was pretty fired up because I found this huge flat screen HD television in the dressing room. Last time I was here they tried to stick me in the chokey (Matilda) using the jumbotron feed. Luckily I was able to hook everything up to get an HD feed from the tv. 

Finally, it was time for RedHot Hockey. As fans began piling in, the funky turquoise and purple color'd seats at the MSG turned to shades of red and white. The closer it got to game time, the harder it got differentiating between Cornell fans and BU fans. The place was going wild. 

The game was one of the best college hockey games I have watched in a while. It was back and forth action the entire time. Both teams were playing fast and physical with great scoring opportunities. (Above) Adam Clendening receiving six stitches in his chin during the second intermission after a big collision. After a Cornell goal got called back late in the third period, the game was sent into overtime. Red shirt junior Ross Gaudet tipped in the game winner from a shot from the point. BU WINS!! 

I got pretty caught up in the celebrations to take any pictures, but I'm sure you can imagine how much fun we had in the City That Never Sleeps. Dean Elmore, the Dean of Students at Boston University hosted an after party at an irish bar Feile. Family, friends, and fans all came together to celebrate the victory and to the entire organization. 

The following morning, we found ourselves packed into the bus like a sardine can once again. Overall, the weekend was better than anyone could have expected. We continued our undefeated status in the RedHot Hockey tradition, experienced New York City, shared laughs with close friends, and created new memories. 

If you have any questions about the day to day, behind the scenes activities that go on during a road trip like this, or anything else you would like to say, just leave a comment below.

Also, game highlights will be posted tomorrow. 

Game Highlights: 3 Game win streak!

This week's Game Highlights are from the past two games: vs. Vermont and vs. UNH. I held off in posting each game individually because I was confident after the win against Boston College that we would go on the first win streak of the year... we did. Three game win streak for the boys! Was this a big risk to take? Of course, but with big risk comes big reward. Am I using some serious rhetoric to hide the fact that I let procrastination get the best of me? Well, you'll never know! But without further adue, I present to you the game highlights.

My original plan was to post the past three games starting with BC, but blogger is refusing to let me upload the BC highlights. I think it has something to do with violating the terms and conditions since it is a CBS Sports video feed. I'm going to look into it and try and get it posted sometime this week. But in the meantime, enjoy this past weekend's games.

GO TERRIERS!

Friday, November 18, 2011 Boston University vs. University of Vermont




Saturday, November 19, 2011 Boston University vs. University of New Hampshire

The Top 3 Best/Craziest Hockey East Arenas

Lately, there has been a lot of buzz around the hockey community about the best and worst rinks around the league. No. 4 Notre Dame opened the doors to their new facility last night for the first time, hosting No. 3 Boston College Eagles. Anyone who watched the game on TV was shown just how spectacular the Compton Family Ice Arena really is. Costing the school about $50 million, this arena is the best of the best. The external structure actually resembles that of an ancient cathedral with a modern adaption, which is carried throughout the inside of the building as well. But is it a good rink to play in? Will chants from the student section be sent thundering throughout the building so loud that the opposing team can not hear themselves think?

I listened in on a few conversations between players and coaches to find out what were the essentials to a great hockey rink. I came to realize that the best rinks are not the fanciest or the newest. In fact, the trend seemed to be the older, the better. Schools that undergo a facilities change are typically trying to cater to the rising amount of fans. A bigger rink means more tickets to sell, which means more revenue for the school. The problem with this is that these new rinks are so big that they lose the intensity that comes with smaller buildings.

For example, anyone that grew up watching Boston University games at the Walter Brown Arena will tell you that it got so loud in there at times that you couldn't hear what the person next to you was saying. The student section filled half the seats in the whole rink. Players used to say that it felt as if the fans were literally on top of them. Their chants erupted with such power that opponents were intimidated. It was pure mayhem. The low, tin roof and angle of the stadium seating were the main reasons for this. When the team moved to the Jack Parker Rink in the newly constructed Agganis Arena, Jack Parker knew they were going to lose this advantage. He specifically designed the stadium seating to be as steep as possible in order to mimmic the Walter Brown Arena. Still, it would never be the same.

So what Hockey East rinks today still maintain the Walter Brown effect? I have ranked the top 5, from my experience, best/craziest rinks in the Hockey East.

1. Alfond Arena- University of Maine, Orono. 

The Alfond Arena is the modern day Walter Brown. It is an old building with low ceilings and a seating plan that has parts of the rink literally hanging over the ice. And you better believe the student section takes full advantage of that. The thing that makes Alfond Arena so loud and hostile is because the fans are crazy. Unlike many rinks, the student section isn't the only one cheering. Every single Maine Blackbear fan is screaming at the top of their lungs. Their fans are unlike any other fans in the Hockey East. They live, breath, and eat Maine hockey. These fans combined with the architectural design of the Alfond Arena is a deadly combination, earning it the number one spot as the best/craziest/loudest rinks in the Hockey East.

2. Matthews Arena- Northeastern University

The Matthews Arena is a legend as far as hockey rinks go. It is the oldest indoor ice hockey arena still being used for hockey and is the oldest multi-purpose athletic building still in use, in the world. Its oval shape is almost entire made of concrete. When the Dog House gets going, the noise level is out of control. Every time Northeastern scores a goal, the crowed gets so loud that I lose my video feed until they quiet back down. Although Matthews Arena has been renovated several times, it still maintains great acoustics and its old-time feel, earning it the number two spot.

3. The Thom Lawler Arena- Merrimack College

This rink has always had the potential to be the loudest, craziest rink in Hockey East, but it never had a true fan base to complete the equation. I mentioned earlier that the Alfond Arena was the modern day Walter Brown because the overall experience matches that of Walter Brown Arena in its hay day. However, the Thom Lawler Arena, structurally, is Walter Brown Arena. It has the same low, metal ceilings and steep seating arrangement. As the Warriors began to establish themselves as a Hockey East powerhouse over the past few years, the Thom Lawler Arena has been slowly reacting its potential. An increasing fan base packs it in, lining the glass all the way around the rink, and the student section can get the place going really loud. I was able to see the potential first hand when I went to watch the Malden Catholic vs St. John's Prep Super 8 high school hockey game last year. The place was packed to the point where they had to turn people away at the door. Student sections from both schools nearly shook the house down. It is this potential that earns The Thom Lawler Arena the number three spot.

Honorable mentions include the University of Vermont's Gutterson Fieldhouse, which is one of my personal favorites, and the University of New Hampshire's Whittemore Center.

Any other great rinks out there? Leave a comment and tell me your favorite college hockey arena.