I can't quite pin point why I didn't care for the game here. I think, perhaps, I was spoiled by my experience in Amarillo.

San Angelo Coliseum

Our friends up north, once again, get the shaft on flag size. They did, however, play the Canadian National Anthem here.

Game Five - San Angelo Coliseum
Saints vs. Jackolopes
Score: Saints 4 - Jackolopes 2


Sunday, 10/24

I traveled from San Angelo to Austin, TX.

Saw the Austin Ice Bats vs. Laredo Bucks at the Travis County Expo Center.

Here are some notes about the game/arena I saw there:

• The Expo Center was quite a distance from downtown.
• The second level of seating was metal benches with a strip of metal backing (it's where I sat and it wasn't so bad).
• Kudos to the Ice Bats organization. They had a 'puck in play' rule and they enforced it!
• I couldn't understand the announcer at all. The speaker system was muffled and there was a slight echo. Needless to say, much of my scoresheet is blank expect for period, team, and time.
• The Austin fans were a little more respective than the San Angelo fans (maybe because it was a Sunday afternoon game). I liked it.
• I didn't notice a net above the seating area above the goaltender.
• I liked the Laredo away jerseys. Blue with brown horns.

Travis County Expo Center

Here's the outside of the arena. Looks different than most ice hockey rinks I've been to. Not bad; just different.




This is what you saw when you walked into the arena. Excellent job at displaying the Texas, U.S., and Canadian flag. They did not, however, play the Canadian National Anthem. This photo shows the metal benches on the second level.




One other 'different' thing I noticed at this arena that I had not seen before.

The home bench and penalty boxes were on one side of the ice (above the Bud Light and Guaranty Bank signs). The visitor's bench was on the opposite side of the ice (you can see players 14, 21, and 27 watching the action in this photo).


Game Six - Travis County Expo Center
Ice Bats vs. Bucks
Score: Bucks 6 - Ice Bats 2