The first time Bridget and I traveled to Mankato was 1998. It was UNO Hockey's first season of play. We had little idea how the program would transform and evolve in the intervening years. We were young -- in our early 20s -- and the world looked a lot different back then.
One thing remains true after 17-some-odd years. We still love UNO Hockey. We still love following the team on the road. And we still love getting to cheer on the Mavs with our fellow fans.
Mankato is a great trip. Not only is it the closest destination, the overall series has featured some great matchups -- regardless of the final score (and there were several occasions when we struggled against the "Purple Mavericks").
The series on Oct. 9 and 10 was no different. Considering where these programs came from, it is fantastic to see them both ranked near the top of the polls. It is a testament to both institutions.
This series was particularly special since it marked the first time this season that fans have been able to watch the team play. A rarity because the team typically gets a tune-up exhibition against a Canadian team.
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Pre-game warmups at Mankato. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Schellhardt.
(You can check out Lindsay's full album of photos from the weekend series here.)
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So there we were, chomping at the bit after our surprise run to the 2015 NCAA Frozen Four, ready to watch this year's incarnation of pucksters take the ice.
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Avery Peterson takes a faceoff for UNO.
(Photo courtesy of Lindsay Schellhardt.)
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UNO celebrates Saturday night's game-winning goal by Jake Randolph.
(Photo courtesy of Lindsay Schellhardt.)
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UNO's Jake Guentzel in front of the Mankato net.
(Photo courtesy of Lindsay Schellhardt.)
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Mankato's Verizon Wireless Center has undergone some changes. The most noticeable change to me was the fact that they replaced the blue and red seats in the arena with purple seats to match MSU-Mankato's color scheme. (I guess the seats finally mated and produced the right color).
It looks much better, and makes empty seats less noticeable. It also makes the overall feel look less "community arena," and instead look more like a home for their hockey program.
Our fans represented in terrific numbers. We'd like to thank MSU-Mankato's John Eckstein for securing a block of group tickets for our followers. Not only did it allow us to save money on "face value" tickets, it also allowed us all to sit together.
And I must say, it was fun to see the gang of UNO faithful decked out predominately in black (our newly ordained "dominant" color), cheering on the team.
UNO swept the series -- something few predicted would happen. MSU-Mankato -- under the skilled tutelage of Head Coach Mike Hastings -- has proven themselves to be a tough foe in their home arena.
I look back at the first time Bridget and I traveled there in 1998, and it is interesting to note how it all has changed. Not only are we NOT two of the youngest Mav fans in attendance these days, we had a nice student representation (and recently graduated student representation) in the building showing up on behalf of the crimson-and-black. That's something we wouldn't have seen a decade ago.
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UNO Hockey fans filled section 200 and spilled into 201 and 300 at the Mankato Wireless Center.
(Photo courtesy of Susie Dunn.)
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@Mavpuck @UNO_Hockey don't forget about this crew!!!! pic.twitter.com/JJHG8juZJb
— Alex (@XanderMan131519) October 11, 2015
(When one of our long-time bus trippers remarks, "Jon, I didn't recognize you from behind, you need some 'Just For Men'," you know you've been a fan for a long time.)
They yelled and cheered, and even led us in the UNO fite song after goals (and Bridget didn't have to hand out "lyric cards" like she did a decade ago).
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Scoreboard at the end of the game on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015
(Photo courtesy of Lindsay Schellhardt.)
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This, my friends, is what building tradition is all about. This is all part of the evolution of our program.
Things might be different than they were 18 years ago (heck, things have changed rapidly in just the last five years), but the ability for a wide-range of fans to commune at the "Altar of UNO Hockey" is what makes it all the more special as time moves on, and creates a depth and texture that wasn't there before.
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The front page of the Sports section of the Mankato Free Press on Sunday, October 11, 2015.
(Photo courtesy of Jon Brooks.)
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