Florida Hockey Classic (Estero) roll call

23 days out seems like as good a time as any to start. See you folks there. Who else?

Me and the Pumpkin!!

Pumpkin, aka my 5 year old nephew McClean, who did actually turn into "a pumpkin" and fell asleep in the 2nd period of game #2 both nights. Here's hoping he stays awake for both games or I may need help carrying to the car.

I'm in which is bad news considering they have never won any of the first three times I've been.

I've only missed one so far; don't see why I should let moving to Europe stop me.

The two of us will be there again.

I'll be there... for both games this year, finally.

Me! Though my flight is such that it looks like I'll probably miss half of the WMU-Maine game. (Interesting that UNH-Cornell gets top billing, despite the later start time, on USCHO's schedule page.)

I'll be there

Not definite yet, but highly likely. Am rooting for Cornell the first day, despite being a UNH season ticket holder (makes up for me cheering for UNH in Buffalo).

Am rooting for Cornell the first day, despite being a UNH season ticket holder (makes up for me cheering for UNH in Buffalo).

No, it doesn't

Liz '05
Me! Though my flight is such that it looks like I'll probably miss half of the WMU-Maine game. (Interesting that UNH-Cornell gets top billing, despite the later start time, on USCHO's schedule page.)

Well, the "marquee game" is often the late game at a four-team tournament.

Maybe you'll break your record of futility. We're not going this year and Cornell always wins when we attend. We're going to miss it. The venue is first class and the crowd, at least first day, is pretty good.

billhoward
Maybe you'll break your record of futility. We're not going this year and Cornell always wins when we attend. We're going to miss it. The venue is first class and the crowd, at least first day, is pretty good.

We'll miss the photography you did last year.

reilly83

Am rooting for Cornell the first day, despite being a UNH season ticket holder (makes up for me cheering for UNH in Buffalo).

No, it doesn't

If it's any consolation, I was, and still am, on your side when it comes to the highstick decision in that game.

Rob NH

reilly83

Am rooting for Cornell the first day, despite being a UNH season ticket holder (makes up for me cheering for UNH in Buffalo).

No, it doesn't

If it's any consolation, I was, and still am, on your side when it comes to the highstick decision in that game.

If you've got a time machine and some pull with Don Adam then yes, it would help. Otherwise, not so much...

I caved when I found a good deal on a flight. I'll be there.

Em and I will be there. I'll be in my white Cornell jersey (fake-style, i.e. PSP), with '03' on the back. She'll likely be in her Red Koronis Cornell jersey.

Please stop by and say hi, there's many of you who I've had lovely conversations with that I've never met . I don't know where are seats are as I plan on buying on game day, but I plan on making my way to the largest gathering of Cornell fans.


Btw, I have flight, hotel, and car all set. Any suggestions on things to do? We'll be there for a couple days before and a day and a half afterwards. I'm consider the Everglades, a day in Tampa maybe, etc. Anyone who's been before care to recommend any must-see or must-do touristy (or non-touristy) things?

Not that it really matters, but it looks like the seats given to the Cornell ticket office this year are in the 114 corner. I think we'd been in the 118 corner for the past couple years.

UHN is also having some sort of alumni reception at the rink, so maybe they'll be in the corner we usually have.

Rob NH
If it's any consolation, I was, and still am, on your side when it comes to the highstick decision in that game.

Actually, it is. And to tell the truth, I have a warm spot in my heart for UHN fans - when we aren't playing each other. We met some friendly, knowledgable UNH townies at a doughnut shop near the arena at the 2002 regionals in Worcester. Fond memories, despite the outcome of the second game.

And BTW, nice winning streak.

Yes.

Peer pressure is a helluva motivator. I'm in.

RichH
Peer pressure is a helluva motivator. I'm in.

And the size of the band doubles...

jtwcornell91

RichH
Peer pressure is a helluva motivator. I'm in.

And the size of the band doubles...

All we need now is the trumpet part to Rocky.

reilly83
Actually, it is. And to tell the truth, I have a warm spot in my heart for UHN fans - when we aren't playing each other. We met some friendly, knowledgable UNH townies at a doughnut shop near the arena at the 2002 regionals in Worcester. Fond memories, despite the outcome of the second game.

Well, like I posted on USCHO, try not to be too mean to the section of UNH students making the trip down, I've been slowly molding them in to members of the faithful. Don't be surprised to hear them shouting "RED!" during the anthem and joining in the singing of "Oh, Canada".

I'll be there both nights (plus Marea K.). Just ordered tickets thru the Cornell box office - not that I expect a sell out, but since I've got family commitments on the other coast and will miss the WMU-Maine game the first night, I just felt more comfortable knowing I would have tickets in hand.
See y'all there.

I'm trying to finagle my way there. If someone has a cheap hotel to recommend that'd probably push my attendance into the "definite" column.

Jacob 03
I'm trying to finagle my way there. If someone has a cheap hotel to recommend that'd probably push my attendance into the "definite" column.

Staying at the Crestwood Suites in Fort Myers, 89.99 a night, about 10 miles from the airport and 10 miles from the arena. Room on the floor available if you're that desperate.

Jacob 03
I'm trying to finagle my way there. If someone has a cheap hotel to recommend that'd probably push my attendance into the "definite" column.

You could try Priceline. If anyone still has any rooms left at this date, they're probably willing to let them go at reasonable prices. Then again, that's a definite 'if' in Florida between XMas and New Years.

Thanks for the hotel tips, Rob and Fred. I'll see you at the games.

DeltaOne81

Jacob 03
I'm trying to finagle my way there. If someone has a cheap hotel to recommend that'd probably push my attendance into the "definite" column.

You could try Priceline. If anyone still has any rooms left at this date, they're probably willing to let them go at reasonable prices. Then again, that's a definite 'if' in Florida between XMas and New Years.

A friend who did a book on Priceline shopping said:
- First time you log on (ever) Priceline may give you a better deal, sort of a first-time discount. That was so in the past, at least.
- Because you can't resubmit the exact same bid twice: First pass through an area, make it as small a geographic swath as possible with a lot of restrictions, then if your bid is rejected you can widen the area search while also increasing your bid a few dollars. Of course, this works better for NYC or Las Vegas than Estero, Fla.

billhoward
A friend who did a book on Priceline shopping said:
- First time you log on (ever) Priceline may give you a better deal, sort of a first-time discount. That was so in the past, at least.

Not sure I buy it. There's a ton of factors that go into it - style of hotel, how busy the area is that particular weekend, how close it is to your travel time. That's why I can usually get great deals in Albany in March a week in advance (plenty of empty rooms that they'd like to sell for something rather than sit empty), but Florida in late December was tougher. I could see someone mistaking a little bit of luck for some "first bid" discount.

- Because you can't resubmit the exact same bid twice: First pass through an area, make it as small a geographic swath as possible with a lot of restrictions, then if your bid is rejected you can widen the area search while also increasing your bid a few dollars. Of course, this works better for NYC or Las Vegas than Estero, Fla.

Well, you *can* submit the same bid twice, but not within 3 days. In fact, you can't even submit the same bid with a higher price twice, within 3 days. Meaning you can't just bid... $40... $41... $42, etc.

So yes, start with a narrow scope of areas and a fairly high star rating. Then you can start adding areas and lowering your star requirements.

And, I beg to differ, it works fine in Estero/Ft Myers. You are presented with the following areas: South Ft Myers & RSW Airport, Ft Myers Beach, Ft Myers, Bonita Springs, Gateway to the Islands, Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Naples (maybe too far), and Marco Island (probably too far). So that's 8 areas 5 star levels, for 13 different bids maximum... and then wait 3 days and do 13 more.

P.S. I'm also not sure I completely buy that you can't submit the same bid twice - at least by logging out and coming back, rather than following the 'try again' links. But I've never really proved it.

DeltaOne81
So that's 8 areas 5 star levels, for 13 different bids maximum...

Shouldn't that be 8*5=40 rather than 8+5=13?

jtwcornell91

DeltaOne81
So that's 8 areas 5 star levels, for 13 different bids maximum...

Shouldn't that be 8*5=40 rather than 8+5=13?

I thought about that for a minute before I wrote it. No.

Once you add an area, or go down in star, you can't return back (at least not if you follow the 'try again' link). So you *can't* do:

Area 1 at each star level
and then
Area 1 & 2 at each star level
etc.

Because you've if you've already gone down to 1 star, you can't go back up when you add area 2.

You have 7 different adding areas to do, and 4 different downward star moves to do. Plus the original bid, is actually 12. So 12, but not 40.

And... I'm coming! Just booked my flight, Newark direct to Sarasota and direct back from Dec 29 to Jan 2, all for a grand total of $229 with tax (yay specials). Gives me a nice little vacation on the beach in addition to getting to see the hockey games! Wow, I'm excited Let's go red!!!

So does anyone have a PepBand CD they can hand deliver to the DJ so they can play Davy? Two years ago I think Grant mailed one down and I emailed Craig Brush to alert him to the issue, and none of that seemed to help.

jkahn
So does anyone have a PepBand CD they can hand deliver to the DJ so they can play Davy? Two years ago I think Grant mailed one down and I emailed Craig Brush to alert him to the issue, and none of that seemed to help.

As of right now we'll have two trombones there to play Davy. They didn't play over the three-person pepband playing Davy last year, so I doubt they'd do it this year.

I don't know where my actual CD is, but I have the songs on my computer and could burn a copy to give to the DJ if people want me to?

Section A Banshee

jkahn
So does anyone have a PepBand CD they can hand deliver to the DJ so they can play Davy? Two years ago I think Grant mailed one down and I emailed Craig Brush to alert him to the issue, and none of that seemed to help.

As of right now we'll have two trombones there to play Davy. They didn't play over the three-person pepband playing Davy last year, so I doubt they'd do it this year.

That's great. Last year I was only there for day two, and you guys were only at day one, so I missed it.

If we have two bones, I don't think we'll need the recording. From what I vividly remember at the Red-White scrimmage, the bones can be plenty loud when they need to be. Plus, like Banshee said, they didn't compete with the "band" last year.

Section A Banshee

jkahn
So does anyone have a PepBand CD they can hand deliver to the DJ so they can play Davy? Two years ago I think Grant mailed one down and I emailed Craig Brush to alert him to the issue, and none of that seemed to help.

As of right now we'll have two trombones there to play Davy. They didn't play over the three-person pepband playing Davy last year, so I doubt they'd do it this year.

Yeah. And both of us are plenty loud. Whether or not I have the stamina at this advanced age to do two games remains to be seen.

I have both Pep Band CDs and a Marching Band CD which I'll bring as well.

ebilmes
Not that it really matters, but it looks like the seats given to the Cornell ticket office this year are in the 114 corner. I think we'd been in the 118 corner for the past couple years.

UHN is also having some sort of alumni reception at the rink, so maybe they'll be in the corner we usually have.

The tickets I got off of my UNH buddies were in section 103. Presume they were bought through the UNH box office.

A belated postscript to the Everblades Tourney (I think it was originally called the Florida Everblades College Hockey Classic, Yeah, that is what my 2003 tourney T-shirt says.) ...

My nephew and I had a great time at the games and thanks to everyone who answered his questions and helped keep him amused . BTW, my nephew had a short cat nap during the 2nd period of the Cornell-UNH game, but otherwise stayed awake for the games.

It was great seeing people from previous tourneys and meeting other members of the Lynah Faithful. Thanks again to Lauren and Rich for bringing their trombones and doing an awesome job as our Pep Band!! I hope the cowbell has forgiven Ari for leaving her (?) behind *and* for hooking up with that NH cowbell.

I'm having a hard time getting a read on our team this year. I really do hope that they fix the PK soon. They probably need a bit more offensive firepower, especially if we do not get more production from the PP units. We do not seem to be quite strong enough defensively to play with a team of sharp shooters like Maine, and if our PP isn't producing, we really can get into a hole.

However, our team is young and showed some flashes of offense and it will be a lot of fun, with some anxious moments mixed in, watching this team mature. I'm optimistically looking forward to a good second half of the season.

Let's Go Red!!