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For a recent “date night” She and I agreed that a hockey game might be fun. Having gone to a college where the hockey team was specifically blessed during our class convocation, I grew into a pretty big hockey fan. She and I had seen a handful of River Rats games while living near Albany, so the Portland Pirates, the AHL affiliate of the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks, was right up our alley.

We’d never been to the Cumberland County Civic Center before (having sold our tickets to a concert there when we learned the friends we were to go with couldn’t make it), so we were somewhat unsure of where to sit. She went down to the box office the day of the game and picked up a pair of tickets in Section G for $18 each (a dollar more than if we’d bought them in advance). These turned out to be pretty much perfect seats. We were high enough off the ice to have a great view of the action, the Pirates shot on the goal in front of us for the 1st, 3rd, and 4th (OT) periods, and yet we were close enough to be able to hear the players shouting to each other on the ice. Pretty cool. The game itself was pretty good. After trading pairs goals in regulation, Pirates center Andrew Ebbett scored the game winner on a 2-on-1 break in the first minute of OT, bringing everyone to their feet.

As far as something to do for a date, this was a pretty good one (if your S.O. likes hockey). We were able to park just down the street, across from Brian Baru, for $5. We got there early and had a few slices of pizza at Portland Pie Company before the game. The concession stands at the CCCC were typical stadium prices–we got a few Gritty’s Best Bitters for $5 each. Not bad, but then, who really likes beer in a 12 oz. plastic cup? All told the evening cost us about $60, including the pizza. If you’re a sports fan, especially a hockey fan, I’d highly recommend checking out the Pirates. You’ll be glad you did.

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