Guys night out ...

Laughing, chair-dancing, clapping, head-hanging, selfie-taking, Tootsie Roll sucker chomping, popcorn eating, whooo-whooo-whoooing -- all took place against the background of a professional hockey game last night at PNC Arena as three generations of our family had a great night out.

Our son, Doug, his two sons and I went to my first hockey game since moving to NC.  I was really looking forward to seeing this team, the Carolina Hurricanes, as they had actually won the Stanley Cup in 2006 and had been pretty high in the standings a few times since.  Also, I had seen a bunch of hockey in the old days while attending Ohio University and really enjoyed it then. But more than all of that, it was a chance to have a night out with these three guys, a fun get-together, a special time for me with them.

 

  

Our seats were pretty much up in the nose bleed sections of the arena, but we could really see very well. In fact, as you can see from the picture above, I was sitting right behind the goal.  I think that vantage point allowed me to see a bigger perspective of the action.  Up, and down -- up, and down -- and up, and down again and again.  The Hurricanes took an incredible 40 shots on goal and only managed to score one time, while the Dallas North Stars took a total of 18 shots which produced 4 goals.  Not a good night for the home team.  Some of the Hurricane shots were pretty weak and looked more like passes to the goalie than real professional shots.  Oh well, it was reported that the team had just that day wrapped up some team clearing trades and this was pretty much the first game that they all had played together.  

Have you ever kicked an ant hill, or lifted up a piece of ground cover in ant country and watched them go everywhere -- well check out this film loop.                                         

                              

So, what can I say --- it was a really great time  of being with my son and his sons ....my grand sons, with a hockey game thrown in for good measure.  As we walked back to the car, and made our way back home, the kids were laughing (mostly about our walking around looking for the car),  talking about the game and the lack of goal production and loud crowd -- at least until they fell sound asleep in the back seat.  Good, good stuff.

 I know this quote was said in an entirely different context, but from a grandpa point of view describing a night like this, it fits quite well...

This is your moment. You’re meant to be here.  Herb Brooks

Hooah