Free Hooters!

I knew that would get your attention...

I picked the right time to go to my first Hershey Bears game. My friends and I waited for our one other friend... by the time we made it to our parking spot and into the arena, the first period was halfway over. No problem, no score.

Hershey played Binghamton in front of me and 9,530 of my closest friends, which explains the usual traffic problems trying to get in and out. Binghamton scored the first goal... almost utter silence in the building.

It took me a while to get used to where I was sitting, considering every other time I was at the Giant Centre, it was for basketball. Section 126 is to the right of the press box, the north end of the stands.

Hershey scored two goals in the first period, and the crowd got into it fast. Down in the corner near where I sat, a scuffle ensued. You know how fans bang on the glass when there's a fight nearby... well, a fan held a little girl up so she could pound on the glass. Our whole side of the arena laughed.

During each intermission, junior hockey teams took to the ice. It was fun watching the little lads score goals. Two more goals in the second period made it 4-1.

The only disappointment was that none of the souvenir stands had any clothing in size 2XL... oh well.

Hershey dominated the game. The only thing my buddy Dave and I wanted was Hershey to score two more goals... the Bears have a deal where if they score at least six goals in a game, fans get free wings at the local Hooters.

Score! 5-1... then the fun began... fight at center ice. Just about everyone involved. Then the Binghamton goalie skates across the rink to pick a fight with the Hershey goalie. I could see the reaction of the Hershey goalie as if he were to say, "What the hell is this guy thinking?" They battled to a draw, and the Binghamton goalie got ejected with a game misconduct.

New goalie. Fresh meat. GOAL! Free Hooters! Wings, that is.

Yet another goal made it 7-1. What a great game. Traffic wasn't as bad on the way as I thought it would be. Overall, we all had a great time.

Website of the day: www.hersheybears.com

Talk with you at 6:00. Buckle up.
TS