Comments on: Note to Verizon Center Ice Staff: Cold Makes for Good Hockey

By: Spartycuse

Spartycuse — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:57:40 +0000

I was at the game, and it was COLD in the ACC. Nevertheless, the Caps 2-1 win kept me warm!

By: Victor

Victor — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:53:15 +0000

I still remember one game early in the season, when icing wasn’t called toward the end of the periods because you could actually watch the puck slow down as it scooted down the ice. And have you seen how much snow the ice kids shovel up? That is a serious metric asstonne of snow getting shoveled up…what? Three times each period?

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:48:01 +0000

So, about 10 years ago, I had the pleasure of playing at what was then the MCI Center. There are 2 things I always remember about skating there as a young college freshmen. The first, an NHL visiting team’s dressing room is better than any locker/dressing room I will ever be in again. The second, the ice absolutely sucked. It was very soft. It was very difficult to find your edges and keep the puck from bouncing. The only caveat here is that we played before the Caps played Toronto (what a coincidence) that evening. Maybe they didn’t crank the A/C and dehumidifiers up until later? Who knows.
This was compared to the ice we normally practiced and played regular games on at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel. The difference between the rinks obviously was that at MCI you took your jacket off when you got there. At Laurel, you left your jacket on and also made sure you had gloves and a hat to watch the games.

By: PEARL GIRL

PEARL GIRL — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:41:01 +0000

We sit in Sec. 119 and notice that there is a guy who seemingly measures the ice temperature before each game. We see him put his measuring device down after the beginning of each game. Sometimes he measures the temperature again during the game, but it isn’t a constant. We also see all of the slush that they take off the ice after the Zambonis do their thing, and it’s a lot of slush.
I just think it isn’t cold enough in the rink – if I’m comfortable in a t-shirt and a light jacket, that’s not good. We see where the ice guy puts his measurement device and wonder if we can check it out — oh, yes, we harbor thoughts of insurrectionists! What drives us crazy is that you can see when the ice is bad and how the puck bounces badly, not to mention possible injuries that can occur. We’re thinking about it and we’re thinking about how we can take our own measurements. Oh, yes, we’re busy in Sec. 119….more information if we figure out how to do it. We could be smarter squirrels, or maybe not!

By: OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki)

OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:39:02 +0000

Wilbur: First, thanks for the link. Second, enough players — both Capitals and non-Caps — have complained about the VC ice that I believe ‘em.
I’d be very curious to see the full report and where the VC ice ranks. Plus, since when is “average” acceptable? Regardless, it’s pretty clear that the phone booth’s ice is not very hockey-friendly . . . perhaps not for a lack of trying, but for a lack of funds and arena control. I have high hopes that Leonsis will address the issue (and it is one) when he eventually buys the VC from Pollin’s estate.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 17:42:02 +0000

The ACC is always freezing. It has nothing to do with the weather outside. I went to a preseason game there in September and it was soooo cold inside!
Plus I remember reading that the ACC spent a couple million dollars in the summer on a new system to make the ice better.

By: hoqueibasefemeni

hoqueibasefemeni — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:10:35 +0000

Salut!

By: wilbur

wilbur — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:06:05 +0000

Stratocaps:
There is no elephant in the room…Ted says so. Take a listen to the following, which was on XM204 on 12/1:
http://nhlhomeice.com/wp/?p=1020
Repeat after me: the VC ice is no worse (if average is defined as being middle of the pack) than any other rink in the league. There is no relationship between the VC’s ice quality and player’s injuries. So sayeth Ted. You guys are just a bunch of whiners.
wilbur

By: Stratocaps

Stratocaps — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 12:46:59 +0000

Fortunately, new media offers the opportunity to report on critical issues such as the ice quality at our home diggs. Clearly the team has found a way to cope with the situation, but its just as clear that bad ice at Verizon is a taboo subject in the organization. It’s kinda like the elephant in the room that’s just really hard to ignore.