IHS Boys Hockey

[Trotsky]

Route 37, which does run limited service on Sunday, gets you within a 20 minute walk of The Rink.  Not a pleasant walk, I might add, on the shoulder of state highways.

Can confirm.

[stereax]

IHS plays their sectional final at 2:15pm at The Rink in Lansing on Sunday March 1 against lone section IV foe the BC Bulls.

Where exactly is this? (And any info on tickets?)

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Sheldon+Court,+420+College+Ave,+Ithaca,+NY+14850/The+Rink,+1767+E+Shore+Dr,+Ithaca,+NY+14850/@42.479573,-76.5807652,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x89d081913964e267:0x5e0419b092fe2f8b!2m2!1d-76.4855014!2d42.4422042!1m5!1m1!1s0x89d0832792238e8f:0xcfe1c6bcba83bc43!2m2!1d-76.5032444!2d42.5182376!3e0?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDIyNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Looks like like Route 36 is the only bus that goes past there, and that's just once or twice per day on weekdays.  Route 37, which does run limited service on Sunday, gets you within a 20 minute walk of The Rink.  Not a pleasant walk, I might add, on the shoulder of state highways. 

Yeah, I'm checking it rn. The bus runs at around 10:44 or 13:44, the latter getting me there after the first period, the former like 2 hours early. But I see a restaurant that serves breakfast on the way...

I'm... genuinely thinking about it 😭 if it were Cass, no-brainer, I can for sure walk that. This'd be a pain, but a fun pain. But also, I'm a little bit spent from the last two days + my crappy sleep schedule (pretty sure I couldn't go back to sleep after 4 am today) so... who knows if I even get up in time.

On the way back, I have to be out by like, 17:00 or I'm hoofing it all the way down to the Commons. Which, if no OT, 14:15 start time, 2h30, means out by 16:45. Would have to leave before OT if that procs, though.

...Or beg for a ride. 😭

"Walking on the side of state highways" barely fazes me tbh. If any of you remember my Syracuse travelogue, had to nearly get flattened into a pancake doing the same stuff on the haul from the mall to the long-distance bus stop. So. 🤷

[stereax]

so I'm on the bus to Lansing-

[stereax]

Travelogue update: Currently posted up at the East Shore Roadhouse for pregame breakfast/brunch. I have never swung up here before (partially just because it's a ways away) but this is a nice homely spot so far, and a new entry for my spreadsheet when I update it later today.

Also, turns out a solid 90% of a breakfast place's menu is eggs. [Cue the groan track from everyone who reads all my posts.] I think pancakes will be fine. We'll see how I feel tomorrow though.

Side of Road Walking: I've done much worse. The highway has a nice large area between the white lines and the grass. The smaller roads have slower traffic so that's fine too, and the white area isn't covered in snow so it's easy to leg it. (Or easy enough. My stupid right ankle is acting up again. Maybe I just need to eat and it'll limber up. Hopefully.)

That being said, the moment I got off the bus I saw a water bottle filled with either piss or beer directly next to my feet. So I dunno what part of town I'm in, exactly.

In either case, doors open at 1, so I'm gonna probably stick around here, graze on pancakes until 12:40ish, and then amble down the road to The Rink. If you're around, I'll be in my Cornell red and my hat trick hat, the Atlanta United one, today. Also brought my clear bag... just in case.

[Weder]

Sounds like it's too late to try to do this now, and not sure what weather/trail conditions are like today anyway, but you're not far from one of the lesser-known waterfalls in the area.
https://nyfalls.com/waterfalls/emilie-jonas-falls/

[stereax]

Sounds like it's too late to try to do this now, and not sure what weather/trail conditions are like today anyway, but you're not far from one of the lesser-known waterfalls in the area.
https://nyfalls.com/waterfalls/emilie-jonas-falls/

Oooooh. I'll keep this in mind - maybe some time in April when the weather is warmer, I'll come back by!

[stereax]

I have decided: boys who are still in high school should not be allowed to grow over 6 feet tall.

At least, that's how it looked...

Anywho. At the Rink. No idea where I'm supposed to go but we'll see.

Holy crap, they serve poutine here???

[The Rancor]

Kinda sad that the bus barely goes to the Rink for kids, but I guess hockey and figure skaters don't ride busses much.

[stereax]

Ultimate vibe: the Ithaca High players, who are noshing on concession stand hot dogs, sitting on tables, and yammering about Call of Duty about an hour before puck drop. In suits.

Speaking of food, the pancakes were excellent. And pretty cheap to boot. 10/10 would recommend to pregame there. Saw a couple people in Cornell gear too.

Kinda just reminding myself that just about every hockey player starts out on rinks like this. Tiny local rinks, attendance mostly just parents and friends of the athletes, banners for every little tournament win suspended from the ceiling. I never really grew up around athletics. I think you can tell, a little bit.

Didn't know they made kids THIS blond, though. Not sure if they've dyed their hair for the playoffs or if it's natural. Considering most of them have different shades of Incredibly Blond, leaning towards the latter.

[Weder]

Sounds like it's too late to try to do this now, and not sure what weather/trail conditions are like today anyway, but you're not far from one of the lesser-known waterfalls in the area.
https://nyfalls.com/waterfalls/emilie-jonas-falls/

Oooooh. I'll keep this in mind - maybe some time in April when the weather is warmer, I'll come back by!

One thing I haven't done that would be fun on a nice day (would do only with a car): Hit Emilie Jonas and then either picnic at Ludlowville Falls or just hang out there for a bit and then get pizza/drinks at Salt Point.

I like waterfalls, if you can't tell.

[stereax]

Sounds like it's too late to try to do this now, and not sure what weather/trail conditions are like today anyway, but you're not far from one of the lesser-known waterfalls in the area.
https://nyfalls.com/waterfalls/emilie-jonas-falls/

Oooooh. I'll keep this in mind - maybe some time in April when the weather is warmer, I'll come back by!

One thing I haven't done that would be fun on a nice day (would do only with a car): Hit Emilie Jonas and then either picnic at Ludlowville Falls or just hang out there for a bit and then get pizza/drinks at Salt Point.

I like waterfalls, if you can't tell.

(I need to find people with cars to do things with...)

Waterfalls ARE nice. I'll upload some nice pics I took on the way here when I can. Internet here is between Bad and Abysmal.

[stereax]

Initial thoughts:

It is COLD out here. For the people who've complained about Lynah to me... this place has it beat by a MILE. I haven't even unzipped my jacket yet. People here legit have blankets.

Decent amount of people in Cornell gear. WAY more in Ithaca gear, which to me is crazy. (Also, a guy in a Marner Leafs jersey. Always, always, a Leafs jersey at every hockey game.) Bunch of people in BC (Broome County) stuff too.

Long, long "these are kids and don't be assholes to them" speech.

Lights go OUT for the anthem. Fun thing the Ithaca team does is they smack their sticks on the ice and yell "red". The crowd... did not, really.

Alright. Puck drop. The teams are BANGING their sticks on the walls. See you at the end of the first.

[stereax]

First period thoughts:

Line changes seem a lot less... organized... than at the Cornell level. Kinda just seems like they get off whenever they want. If they want.

Periods are 17 minutes?

The jerseys don't even have nameplates. I assume the hassle of getting them each year, sewing, unsewing, etc, just is too much cost for not enough benefits.

They're playing Pretty Fly for a White Guy. Cornell pep band, take notes.

Penalty on Ithaca. Looks like a hook on our 9. The banging recommences...

When these guys drop their sticks, they autopilot to grab them, no matter what. Presumably because there aren't spares, I'd assume. Still funny to see.

Holy shit with the banging, kid.

I am slowly learning I am UTTERLY incapable of watching a hockey game in person without yelling things like "cover, cover" as instructions for the team I want to win.

More banging... scrums in the BC goalie's crease.

No Sleep Till Brooklyn. Again, pep band. Take notes here. Even just learning Even Flow for 4 on 4s would be nice.

OUR 5 SCORES!!! THE HORN IS DEEPLY ANNOYING BUT HELL YEAH. OOH, WELCOME TO MY HOUSE IS PLAYING. THE BANGING WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE DECREASES.

"O-ver-ra-ted" chant from the Jocks in front of me. Bless.

Also, our 5 is TINY. FFJOL vibes.

"You can't do that!" as their 24 goes to the box for a trip. The Jocks scoot over to annoy him. Athletic staff comes over a minute later to scold the Jocks, telling them if they do it again, they're going to have Consequences.

OUR 19, WE'RE UP BY TWO! WHAT A SNIPE TOP SHELF!!!

Wow, that puck took a SKIP down the ice there.

Hopefully by the 2nd I can unzip my jacket. Damn it is COLD out here.

Period 1 end.
ITH 2-0 BC
SOG 17-10

[sah67]

"Internet here is between Bad and Abysmal."

No cell reception away from the lobby area, but there is a free guest Wi-Fi network that works pretty well.

[stereax]

Second period thoughts:

Someone's texting the entire Class of 27 law school groupchat about a place for eyebrow threading. I realize very quickly that I live on a different planet than some of my classmates.

Jacket unzipped. Banging recommences before the faceoff.

It feels like I usually see a few players on the women's teams at Lynah with pink pants laces. First time I've seen a guy with them.

PINK PANTS LACES GUY SCORES! 28! AND WE'RE UP BY THREE!!!

Ooh, 9 also has 'em. And 20.

20 POTS THE REBOUND OFF THE BREAK. FOUR LOVE. Are the pink laces superpowered?

For context, it is currently like... 3 minutes into the second.

That's a NICE sliding save by our goalie, 35.

Big hit by one of our guys. The Jocks chime in with a "SIT DOWN, TWENTY!"

Tumble into the BC net. And again. Lotta net presence.

Man, when I get home I have to wash my hair 😭

A lot of the Ithaca guys are wearing neck protectors. A good amount of the BC guys too. Always welcome to see. I don't think any Cornell player wears one this year? Because I think Mack did, but that's the only one I can recall.

Our 9 in the box... our 5 in the box... Each clear or block DELIGHTS the crowd.

Penalties killed! And more delightful rush chances. I don't know if these teams know what zone offense is.

Whoa, what a hit. Our 9 is rushing and two BC guys collide with each other and him at center ice.

Our D coughs up an AWFUL 2-on-1 and can't block the pass. Luckily, our goalie makes a STELLAR save.

Our 10 is making HUGE blocks during BC zone pressure. Foot, shin, whatever.

Another prime rush chance for us. Whoa. Holy hell this is fun.

Period 2 end.
ITH 4-0 BC
SOG 35-19