Have you ever wondered what it’s like traveling with the Beavers? Well, even if you haven’t, here’s what it’s like! All times are local…
Friday, December 28
10am – practice at the Sanford Center
1pm – Leave via bus to the Minneapolis Airport
5:30pm – Arrive at the “group travel” gate for Delta
6pm – make our way through security
7:30pm – fly out of MSP to Albany, NY (direct flight)
11:30pm – land in Albany, wait 45 minutes for our bags
12:15pm – load up the bus and head to the hotel
Saturday, December 29
8:45am – wake up call
9am – breakfast in lobby of hotel
9:45am – load the bus and head to RPI for practice (Hockey Ops and video coordinator Jeremy Coupal is an RPI grad)
11am – practice in a very cool (and VERY COLD) rink
12:45pm – load the bus for Hanover, NH (in the snow!)
1pm – eat lunch on the bus
5:30pm – arrive in Hanover (what is normally a 2 1/2 hour drive takes us nearly 4 because of the snow!)
6pm – unload the bus at the rink at Dartmouth
7pm – tournament banquet
I’ll update this again throughout the week, but that’s been the travel routine so far. Most people like to travel and “get away” from things. Traveling with the team is MUCH different. Very regimented, very routine. I’m not a huge fan of sitting on buses and flying in and out of Minneapolis can be a pain in the butt (literally, sometimes!). In fact, I somehow hurt my wrist today while sleeping on the bus! Must be getting old!
The one thing about the players though, is that they know how to take care of themselves on the road. Lots of water being drank, lots of sleep, and they do handle it better than we “older” people do. I can guarantee that none of the players managed to hurt their wrist while taking a nap on the bus today!
As for Hanover, it does feel a bit like stepping back in time. The college was founded BEFORE the USA was a country! The hotel was (if not still is) owned by the college. The comforter on the bed looks like a letterman’s sweater (dark green stripes on the bottom). The rink is “old school” but is very bright, and the fans love the view!
If you’re bored Google the architecture of the rink. VERY COOL STUFF!
More tomorrow on gameday!
Go Beavers!