Two days, two games. A trek that started in Hogansburg, NY at 6:00 am Friday morning. The Warriors boarded a bus heading for Danbury, Connecticut to take on the always entertaining Danbury Whalers. Akwesasne coming into this trip had lost three straight and were looking to turn things around on the two game road swing.
The nearly six hour drive led to a stop in Newburgh, Ny just outside of New York City where the team and management stopped for dinner and to relax a little bit. After eating the team had some down time before jumping back on the bus so they grabbed a soccer ball and started kicking it around.
Roughly three hours later the team was back on the road to finish off the 45 minute drive to Danbury enjoying some nice scenery while crossing a bridge along the way
5:00 PM, Danbury, CT - We arrive at the beautiful Danbury Ice Arena only to find out we are too early and they are not ready for us. A welcome change as the team has had some bad luck recently forcing games to be delayed. Every detail was planned out this time around and the guys are left to wait it out.
6:40 PM, Most of the guys are dressed and ready for warm ups some so ready they even strike a pose. Danbury however goes out for warm-ups unexpectedly early and the team is forced to rush out as the clock is ticking down. Warriors slowly trickle onto the ice and prepare for battle.
7:35 PM, Puck drops. Akwesasne @ Danbury A great game recap by new addition to You Call That Hockey? - Alec Kessler
Around 11 pm, the team has it's post game meal and head straight for the bus to begin the trip to Hyannis, Massachusetts.
3:30 AM, The entourage arrives in Hyannis, Massachusetts dead tired and ready to get some rest. After about 20 minutes the rooms are sorted and everyone begins disappearing for the night. My room mate for the trip is hard working rookie Sam Sanford currently on a three game tryout contract. A long day comes to a welcome end.
Around noon time the next day Director of Game Day Operations and video guru Keith Papineau gives me the opportunity to be one the first few to view the new Warriors commercial.
3:00 PM, Dinner is served at a restaurant across the street from the arena. Heaping plates of food are delivered to the tables as everyone takes in the intense Bruins/Canucks game. Loud chatter as everyone discusses the game and arguments over penalties can be heard in the background.
5:15 PM, Hyannis, Massachusetts - The team is packed up and heading for the Hyannis Youth and Community Center. A nice arena which is surprisingly small inside due to having two ice pads.
6:30 PM, - The guys are out for warm-ups. I get my first glimpse of the Bluefins
7:05 PM, - Puck drops on the first period. The Warriors come out flying as Ahmed Mahfouz strikes 33 seconds into the first frame. The guys are all smiles but it doesn't last long as the Bluefins hit back three and seven minutes into the game. Miguel Delisle scored his second goal in two games to even it up after a very entertaining first period of play.
The second period houses a lot of back and forth play. Cape Cod strikes midway through the period and it's followed shortly after by a minor tussle between former NHLer Billy Tibbetts and Akwesasne tough guy Mike Stacey who was more than willing. Tibbetts glove was off and he threw a punch that didn't faze Stacey at all but Tibbetts backs off from the challenge and both were given 2 minute roughing minors. The rough stuff doesn't go away as Kris McCarthy and Cory Bellamy had a shoving match with Bellamy trying to get McCarthy to drop the mitts until Ahmed Mahfouz skates in and goes straight after Bellamy, both men go down before any good punches can be thrown. Both are given a double minors.
The third period comes undone for the Warriors again. Miguel Delisle score his third goal in two games and fourth in four games is starting to look like the Delisle of last season where he produced better than a point per game. With time on the power play and an increased role it would not surprise me to see him return to form. However, it was Cape Cod's three goals in the third that sunk the Warriors for good. An empty netter sealed the deal and extended Akwesasne's losing streak to five games.
10:30 PM, After the post game meal the team heads for the bus as they load up and hit the road. With only a couple stops along the way it was a long quiet ride home. Getting back to the starting point in Hogansburg, NY at 6:30AM was the closing of a fun but disappointing trip.
Back home Wednesday the Warriors will have all of their starters back in the lineup to welcome the unlucky Danville Dashers who come to town to take on a sleeping beast. A wake up call has been issued with this five game losing streak and it's time for the Warriors to step up in a big way. With 22 scheduled games left to go it's going to take an Aviator like run to redeem this team. If everyone shows up there is no reason this stacked team can't get it done and if all else fails a big shake-up may be necessary.
Next up: Danville
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In closing I would like to thank team owner Darby "Buggo" Oakes for allowing me the opportunity to make the trip. I really appreciated this new and fun experience which I hope to be able to do again someday. I met some great people along the way and travelled with some of the best.
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