Florida Hockey Classic (Estero) what to do [2010]

[tretiak]

Injured player. Orange means don't check and avoid all physical contact if possible.

[Trotsky]

"University of Cornell"? Must be the new guy on the job.

Anybody with more than 2 days' sports writing experience in that state is living in Urban Meyer's laundry room this week.

[David Harding]

Any hotel/motel recommendations?

[ajh258]

stayed at a La Quinta by the airport. Can't complain, better than a Howard Johnson's and had internet and a pool.

http://www.kayak.com/h/hotel/details.vtl?searchid=WF9f3e&hid=32704&rating=2&bookiturl=-542741712.EXPEDIA,EXPEDIA.0|118845408.ORBITZHOTEL,ORBITZHOTEL.0|-225933544.CHEAPTICKETSHOTEL,ORBITZHOTEL.0|-1274840237.HOTELSDOTCOM,EXPEDIAHOTEL.0&cp=13-75-133&idx=118&&ro=false&pg=1

[dbilmes]

We've stayed at a Wynstar near the airport on Daniels Blvd right off I-75. It features decent rates, free breakfast, free internet, and if you hang out by the pool during the day there are usually members of a women's swim team from up north getting some pool time in before their meet at the nearby college.
http://www.wynstarinn.com/

[jtwcornell91]

Any hotel/motel recommendations?

Things are very spread out in the area, and there's not much right by the rink besides outlet malls.  So you have to decide where you want to stay and when you want to do your driving.  There are a few nice bars in downtown Fort Myers, so if you want to walk home from there, there are some reasonable hotels about a mile away.  I think we stayed in the Quality Inn a few times.

Alternatively, you can stay closer to the rink in Bonita Springs, so you'll have a half-hour drive to the games rather than an hour.

I think some people have had decent beach house experiences, but remember that in December, it's not necessarily beach weather in Florida.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

FWIW, I stayed at a Motel 6 in N. Fort Myers.  What can I say?  I'm cheap, and I don't need fancy.  And as John said, it's not beach weather then.

Plenty of restaurants nearby, but internet is extra (approx. $3/day).

[billhoward]

The opponents for Cornell and Maine change every year but some things remain the same:

Decent weather, 50-50 chance of it being beach weather (Estero is not much farther north than Miami). The rink staff is super-friendly, the opposite of the TSA people who now have carte blanche to grope you in the name of national security. If you forget to buy tickets in advance, you can always find tickets at the arena. What you paid for the sausage-with-peppers, pretzel, and beer at Prudential Center Thanksgiving weekend will feed a family of three in Estero.

Games this year are:

Weds Dec 29
Cornell - St Cloud State, 4:05 pm
Maine - Miami 7:35 pm

Thursday Dec 30
Consolation 4:05
Title 7:35

TV coverage is uncertain. I don't recall broadcast TV being there the past couple years. The http://cornellbigred.com/schedule.aspx?path=mhockey& site shows a TV link to Redcast, so that's something.  

National rankings as of Nov 29 (both polls):
 6 Miami
 9 Maine
NR Cornell
NR St Cloud State
Cornell obviously got the better draw and the early game gives fans the option of a leisurely dinner or seeing a great hockey game at 7:35.


Cornell and Maine are co-hosts every year. Maine is 12-8 with four titles in ten years. Cornell has won three times: 2008, 2005, 2003. Cornell's record:
2009 - 4 (Maine won)
2008 - 1 (beat Colgate)
2007 - 3 (UMass Lowell)
2006 - 2 (Maine)
2005 - 1 (beat UMD)
2004 - 3 (BC)
2003 - 1 (beat Ohio State)
2002 - 4 (Maine)
2001 - 4 (NMU)
2000 - 2 (Maine)

I thought the best, strongest tournament was 2003, where Cornell beat Ohio State in the title game in OT (a goal by Greg Hornby avoiding a shootout, IIRC) after beating Notre Dame in the opener. Attendance was good that year.

[billhoward]

What kind of motel charges three bucks a day for WiFi? It's either free or $10-$12 a day.

[jtwcornell91]

What kind of motel charges three bucks a day for WiFi? It's either free or $10-$12 a day.

Similarly, hotels are typically divided into those that gouge you to use the phone and those with free local calls and no direct-dial long distance option (because they can't be bothered).

I've actually stayed in that Motel 6 in North Ft. Myers too (back when internet at a Motel 6 was dialup to a free AOL trial), but found it a hassle because no one else was staying anywhere near.

[ajh258]

stayed at a La Quinta by the airport. Can't complain, better than a Howard Johnson's and had internet and a pool.

http://www.kayak.com/h/hotel/details.vtl?searchid=WF9f3e&hid=32704&rating=2&bookiturl=-542741712.EXPEDIA,EXPEDIA.0|118845408.ORBITZHOTEL,ORBITZHOTEL.0|-225933544.CHEAPTICKETSHOTEL,ORBITZHOTEL.0|-1274840237.HOTELSDOTCOM,EXPEDIAHOTEL.0&cp=13-75-133&idx=118&&ro=false&pg=1

Wifi was free here.

[billhoward]

There is a post-game reception both nights, 10:30ish, after the late game ends, at Olympia Grille just off the arena/shopping mall tract. Hosted by the Class of 2004 but open to all. [edit update to directions:] If the Olympia Grille is a 21253 Stoneybrook Golf Blvd (not Drive, not Road), then it is kitty-corner [or catty-corner depending on your upbringing] across from the SE corner of the Miromar Outlet.

Exit the rink parking lot heading east (big pond and mall buildings would be to your right).
Turn R on Ben Hill Griffin Pkwy and go S 0.5 mi to the traffic light
Cross Corkscrew Rd, road becomes Stoneybrook Golf Blvd
Go 100 yards, turn left (first left on the map), you're there.

(As I understand it, no Cornell or Cornell Club events pre-game or in the building. (Shop at Miromar Outlet Mall instead.))

This is a cut and paste from here on down:
Please join the Class of 2004 for a happy hour for all Cornell alumni at Olympia Grill and Sports Lounge
21253 Stonybrook Golf Dr, Estero FL 33928 [Google has it as Blvd; I think it's Stoneybrook Golf Blvd not Drive]- BH]
10:30pm or immediately following the second game
December 29 and 30, 2010

For more information:
The Florida College Hockey Classic - http://floridaeverblades.com/fanzone/college/

Olympia Grill and Sports Lounge - http://www.yelp.com/biz/olympia-grille-and-sports-lounge-estero

Cornell Class of 2004 - http://classof04.alumni.cornell.edu/

Questions? rachel.a.krug @ gmail.com

[Rita]

There is a post-game reception both nights, 10:30ish, after the late game ends, at Olympia Grille just off the arena/shopping mall tract. Hosted by the Class of 2004 but open to all. The bar is nearby but not walking distance (more like 1.5 driving miles from the red line). If you recall, the rink is bounded on the left (west) by I-95 I-75, on the right or east by Ben (not Benny) Hill Griffin Pkwy, and to the immediate south (same tract) is Miromar Outlet, and the local road on the southern edge is Corkscrew Drive; the bar is at the intersection with Stoneybrook Golf Drive (not Stoneybrook Golf Road, which is the extension of Ben Hill Griffin). The bar appears to be about a half mile past (to the east or northeast of) the mall. (As I understand it, no Cornell or Cornell Club events pre-game or in the building. (Shop at Miromar Outlet Mall instead.))

This is a cut and paste from here on down:
Please join the Class of 2004 for a happy hour for all Cornell alumni at Olympia Grill and Sports Lounge
21253 Stonybrook Golf Dr, Estero FL 33928 Drive not Road; at intersection of Corkscrew Drive - BH]
10:30pm or immediately following the second game
December 29 and 30, 2010

For more information:
The Florida College Hockey Classic - http://floridaeverblades.com/fanzone/college/

Olympia Grill and Sports Lounge - http://www.yelp.com/biz/olympia-grille-and-sports-lounge-estero

Cornell Class of 2004 - http://classof04.alumni.cornell.edu/

Questions? rachel.a.krug @ gmail.com

I'm quite familiar with the area, and I'm confused by the directions. I will try and take a ride by the Olympia Grill and provide better directions from the rink.

Also, if you do find yourself by I-95, you will be in Miami/East coast of Florida and not in Estero anymore! :-P

[billhoward]

Rita, so that's why, the last time we were heading north on the interstate, the ocean was on our left. I'll fix the directions on my post to make them a bit clearer on account of when I look it up online by the bar's name, I get the address as 21253 SToneybrook Golf Blvd ... not Drive. That makes it kittycorner across from the SE corner of the Miromar Outlet and if you park at the mall outlet (and save the $5 parking), then you could walk to the bar. Driving, it shows as 1.0 miles. Going diagonally on foot, a bit less.

[Rita]

Rita, I'll fix the directions on my post to make them a bit fuzzier on account of when I look it up online, I get the address as 21253 SToneybrook Golf Blvd ... not Drive, not Road. That makes it kittycorner across from the SE corner of the Miromar Outlet.

The Stoneybrook golf course/community is across from the Miromar mall (there is also a CVS at that corner) and before you go into the community there is a bar at the enterance that used to be called "Stoney's". I think it is under new managment and probably a new name. I'm not sure what else is on Corkscrew (and not at the mall). I'll be in Estero this weekend, and can drive by it.