Hockey Game for the Books

We went to two hockey games yesterday: The first one was the consolation game in the "Cardinal Classic" tournament and it was between Wesleyan University (CT) and Castleton State (VT). In the evening we watched Plattsburgh State play Williams College. The first of the two is truly a game for the record books because it was stopped with only 7+ minutes left to play by, of all things, a fire alarm. The entire fieldhouse had to be evacuated; the boys had to go outsi

de into a bitter wind in their sweaty uniforms and on skates, and the crowd had to go outside also. (Bruce & I took the opportunity to break away to Burger King for a quick supper before the important game.) I don't think many hockey games have had the distinction of emptying the arena for a fire alarm.

But the real record-book component is the reason the alarms went off: There was a softball clinic going on inside the other half of the fieldhouse--indoor track, indoor tennis courts when they drop nets from the ceiling to create courts, basketball court (not used for PSU games--who knows why). And someone made a direct hit on an alarm box with a softball! I really think that should have been picked up by CNN Headline News. My opinion is that it would make better news than some of the car chases they show.

But everyone got to come back in, the last few minutes of the consolation game were played--Castleton won--and we then played and beat the Williams "Ephs." Yes, that's their team name. And apparently their mascot, which they do NOT feature on their jerseys, is a purple cow. If you're in the know, you pronounce it eefs, as in the beginning of the name Ephraim, as in Ephraim Williams, college founder. (I would say the name with a short e, but what do I know.) The Ephs are a very physical hockey team and in the last few seconds of the game their coach was either ejected or penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct! But we won anyway, so it was a good night. But a fire alarm. Sheesh!