Albany Regional (3/27/26 and 3/29/26)

[stereax]

I think someone else yelled red with me during the anthem!!!

Could be RPI fans. Several locals who post on USCHO wrote that they would be there.

I saw a couple of 'em too :>

[marty]

I think someone else yelled red with me during the anthem!!!

Could be RPI fans. Several locals who post on USCHO wrote that they would be there.

Yes,  Not much red in the crowd but more RPI than Cornell. I saw a Wisconsin jersey or two too.

[stereax]

I'll sift through most of my photos later to send some updates from the rest of Friday (have been in a losing battle with my phone storage for weeks at this point) but in the meantime:



His name is Major (yes, like Charlie Major) and I picked him up yesterday before the games 🥰

(And if you haven't picked up that I like my stuffed animals yet... Yes, I am spiritually all of six years old. I thought this was an established fact.)

[stereax]

Btw, puck drop on UMD-Mich is 5:30 as per CHN.

[stereax]

Sitting at the Biergarten waiting for lunch before the game, so as good a time as any to update the travelogue!

First - thanks for the ride, Marty 💜 didn't know if you'd appreciate the shout on the forums, but much appreciated!

Sad Gavin McKenna for all your sad Gavin McKenna needs.



Alright, so - Saturday! Decided to start this by going to the Art Institute, following both my own research and recommendations. Unfortunately, I took a route that required significant stairsing. Gross. In either case... enjoy some of the art!

They had a couple of exhibits, including flower paintings, abstract art, sculptures, landscapes, and ancient Egypt. (The issue with the Egypt one is I frequently ask myself "nice artifacts, who'd you steal them from?" Like... isn't it a little weird to be displaying dead bodies in a museum? Objectively.)














I really like angels...

Afters, I realized that the Iron Gate Cafe was basically next door, so I scurried over for a lunch. I probably should've gotten the French toast, but I did get the turkey sandwich. Which was still pretty good, but - at that price point, I could've just gotten CTB, lol.




From there, I swung out to Crossgates to... not buy much of anything actually.

Shen Yun is inevitable.



Hockey totem poles in the sports store. Kinda funky.




Dog in the sports store. Actually jumped when I saw it 😭



Some cool dioramas on display!




Wings... I was debating taking a selfie with them but - nah, I'm not - that kinda person.



Next up, I wanted to do something that I didn't manage to at LP - try some Stewart's ice cream. I housed part of it down with my face in the container at the bus stop... and had the rest this morning. Unfortunately my freezer liquified it but it was still DELICIOUS. 10/10 would recommend.



Albany at night.





I think "recovery room" and "sports bar" are oxymorons.

Anywho, Sunday. Started the day off sick (ughhh). Once I pulled myself together enough -

I was thinking about visiting a Ukrainian Easter market, but that was in Watervliet proper and a ways away. Plus. Sick. So instead I decided to wander the Albany Skyway.

Even the views here kinda suck.














One of the things I did like was, when I was heading back, I had to clamber over a little handrail (ow) but then there was a bridge to the bus stop with all these little engraved stones in them. I took pictures of a few :')

I keep thinking about being remembered after I die. Legacy. Little pieces of immortality, love letters in bridges, locks, desire paths. One bad storm ruining everything.







Sorry. Too deep. I need food.

Didn't know the Biergarten was right next to the diner that y'all recommended as well! Chose the Biergarten.





Maybe I'm just used to real Polish cooking, but another disappointment. Still pretty good - the onion rings were quite nice - but an entire sausage with sauerkraut and mustard shouldn't have tasted basically only of the mustard. I'm sure they numb down the kraut for American consumption, but it really wasn't that sour. And why is the wurst almost tasteless? The bread was nice - very light and flaky, almost croissant-like. But c'moooon.

Plus, the ordering system online was a mess, which means I couldn't figure out how to even get water because they didn't have any drinks on the menu lmao.

So now I'm heading back to the rink for the regional finals. Gonna see if I can't find a bodega to grab something to drink beforehand, because I've got a few minutes before the doors open.

$3 for a bottle of water. Okay... gotta chug that in 5 minutes.

Just saw someone in a St Patty's Devils shirt. Life is better already.

Heading in, so I'll give you my next update from the inside!

[stereax]

Our guys:





Also, the water inside was $5.50. Yikes.

[marty]

Sitting at the Biergarten waiting for lunch before the game, so as good a time as any to update the travelogue!

First - thanks for the ride, Marty 💜 didn't know if you'd appreciate the shout on the forums, but much appreciated!

Sad Gavin McKenna for all your sad Gavin McKenna needs.



Alright, so - Saturday! Decided to start this by going to the Art Institute, following both my own research and recommendations. Unfortunately, I took a route that required significant stairsing. Gross. In either case... enjoy some of the art!

They had a couple of exhibits, including flower paintings, abstract art, sculptures, landscapes, and ancient Egypt. (The issue with the Egypt one is I frequently ask myself "nice artifacts, who'd you steal them from?" Like... isn't it a little weird to be displaying dead bodies.

Years ago when visiting the Egyptian room I heard a youngster ask his mom after seeing the mummies, "Is this Heaven?"

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Sitting at the Biergarten waiting for lunch before the game, so as good a time as any to update the travelogue!

First - thanks for the ride, Marty 💜 didn't know if you'd appreciate the shout on the forums, but much appreciated!

Sad Gavin McKenna for all your sad Gavin McKenna needs.



Alright, so - Saturday! Decided to start this by going to the Art Institute, following both my own research and recommendations. Unfortunately, I took a route that required significant stairsing. Gross. In either case... enjoy some of the art!

They had a couple of exhibits, including flower paintings, abstract art, sculptures, landscapes, and ancient Egypt. (The issue with the Egypt one is I frequently ask myself "nice artifacts, who'd you steal them from?" Like... isn't it a little weird to be displaying dead bodies.

Years ago when visiting the Egyptian room I heard a youngster ask his mom after seeing the mummies, "Is this Heaven?"

No. It's Iowa.

[Beeeej]

You look different on the broadcasts.

[stereax]

You look different on the broadcasts.

Well, yes. One of us is attractive.

[stereax]

Dueling chants at the start of the game. This one's competitive.

Ooh, a Bulldog pushed a Wolverine hard enough to get a quick whistle. No penalty though.

Place is remarkably full in the centers at least. The ends are sparser.

Yep, my ear is buzzing again. At least it's not consta-

FLOATER POST AND IN. 1-0 MICH. WILL HORCOFF I THINK.

[ER]

Looks like Robertson with the assist. Actually he was credited with the goal

[stereax]

Did they say that was Horcoff's TWENTY-FIFTH??? Who the hell do they stat farm on?

The Michigan SIEVE SIEVE SIEVE IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT is obviously inspired (taken?) from us, but they do it after the goal announcement, not the goal itself. Weird. The "Screw BU" song turns into "Let's Go Blue".

A rehoofing in front of me! Yayyy.

Whoaaa Gajan did a 360 out there.

Man he just RID that kid into the boards. Woof.

TV timeout. The band is playing that one song I like but don't know the name of. Ride of the Valkyries? That can't be right.

Mich 16 is a BEAST on the forecheck.

UMD 5 with a HUGE hit. A Mich guy hits UMD 25 in retaliation, he goes to the bench in PAIN. Scrum time. UMD 25 down the tunnel. First "FUCK!" of the night.

And they call a penalty on the hold of TJ Hughes? Ok.

Imperial March for the powerplay... ok...

Shorthanded break! Now back the other way. They play the Plantes on the PK too? Is there anything these two CAN'T do?

VALENTINI. 2-0 UMICH. That play reminded me of the one between Mack and Major vs MSU.

[stereax]

Looks like Robertson with the assist. Actually he was credited with the goal

Two goals in two days for Robo??

[stereax]

If I am nearly as annoying at Lynah as the lady making the dog yips every 30 seconds, I give anyone and everyone permission to whack me in the nuts every time I am until I stop.