Hockey Happy Hour!

                                    Not your typical Border showdown..KU vs. MU Hockey!!

One of my very best friends from highschool, Amy, and I have decided to start a new tradition of getting together for happy hour in KC (most Thursdays)! Of course I am thrilled about this and can't wait to share my experiences and adventures with you all! A couple weeks ago I received an email from KU promoting the athletics department and came across a link for the club hockey team, who plays at the Independence Events Center in KC, and were scheduled to play MU in a border showdown. Growing up as a competitive ice skater, I was always at the rink practicing, and the hockey players practiced right after my private lessons. I remember watching them skate so fast and fierce as I would wait for my parents to pick me up from practice, and I enjoyed the thrill of their scrimmages and I won't lie..those hockey players are pretty good looking too! ha, but honestly I really enjoy winter sports and especially hockey..the quick pace of the game/excitement of the crowd/fights and enthusiasm of the players! not gonna lie, but Mighty Ducks was one of my all time fav movies growing up! A couple months ago when Johno and I were in Boston, we tried to get tickets to an NHL game, Boston Bruins, but it didn't work out. I have been wanting to go to a hockey game for a while, and was hoping I would make it to at least one of the KC Mavericks games..but when I discovered this game, I thought what a perfect opportunity!! Since I am ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED with everything Jayhawks, this was just another awesome way I could show my team spirit..right?!! I just knew right away that Amy would wanna come along to the game with me, as I remember attending her brother's hockey games in high school and knowing she loves the Jayhawks too! 

We started our evening on the Plaza at Kona for some happy hour drinks! Kona is definitely one of my all time favorite bars, especially for happy hour! Not only do they have great happy hour drinks- martinis/margaritas/wine/beer, but they also have appetizers and sushi to die for! (calamari is yummy and personally, I think the sushi is the best in town!) And reverse happy hour is always nice if ya wanna head back for round two or just get a late start! Amy and I had cosmos..which were quite tasty! 

After our drinks and enjoying the atmosphere at Kona, we headed to Independence for the hockey game! Dressed warm in blue and red we were ready to cheer on our Jayhawks! Tickets to the game were inexpensive for good seats, which is always a nice deal! We even got on the 'Jumbo'-tron 'Smile Cam' while watching KU score two goals in the first quarter! Even though it was MU that ended in a victory, overall, I would say it was a fun experience! The game and environment was really kid and family-friendly and very interactive with the audience, which I always like! For example, they had the fans 'dance for dinner' and receive a meal from the three 'cows' or chick-fil-a mascots. They also had activities between periods for kids/audience members to win prizes and held a 'throw-a-puck' activity to win prizes with donations going to the Ali Kemp foundation. At first it was kind of hard to follow the game because it is so fast pace, but I got the hang of it after awhile and really had a fun time! Also, we were handed a little booklet/newspaper with information about each of the hockey teams, current events in the hockey world, and hockey 101..where I was able to read up on some lingo and basics about hockey! Did you know that the hockey puck is made of rubber, but must be frozen before entering play to make it bounce resistant?! 

Overall, I really enjoyed the game and experience! Rock Chalk! I look forward to hopefully making it to a KC Mavericks game as well! 

                                          Quack Quack Quack Quack Quack, Mr. Ducksworth!