It’s 639
miles from San Francisco to Boise, Idaho. At 60 miles per hour, it’s about a 10½
ride. Given that there will probably be a stop or two and if you’re riding a
fully loaded bus with your teammates, once that big bus hits the mountainous elevation,
it will slow down a bit, so let’s say about 12 hours. That’s a long time to
spend on a bus. You get to know your mates really well on a trip like that. You
get to know who has holes in their socks, who’s a chocolate fiend and who
snores the loudest. But you also become closer as a group, especially if the
ride back includes an amazing come-from-behind-win.
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| Boise, Idaho |
The Bulls played
two games against the Idaho Steelheads. Idaho is a great team. They are fast,
talented and capable. At 69 points, they have the third best record in the
Western Conference behind Ontario and Alaska.
The first game
was a loss, 3-2, though the Bulls tried their hardest to overcome throughout
the game. New Captain Scott Langdon lead
the team with the first goal of the game, but a few seconds later, Idaho scored
to even it up. Then the Steelheads got another goal and were up 3-1. Jordan
Morrison in the last five minutes of the game, but San Francisco wasn’t able to
tie it up.
In the
second game, The Steelheads scored first. They actually scored twice, taking a 2-0 lead.
But then, 59 seconds after Idaho’s second goal, Alex Tuckerman scored San
Francisco’s first, making it 2-1. It was Tuckerman’s trademarked Gonzo Hockey
style, fighting to get the puck past the goalie and into the net. It’s not
artistic, but effective.
Idaho scored
once more, but Peter Sivak also scored, making it 3-2, with the Steelheads still
in the lead. In the third period, Rob Kwiet scored, tying the game. The Kwiet
scored again, allowing the Bulls to lead for the first time in the game. Kris
Belan snagged the puck into the net and the game was 5-3. Sivak, after a few
tries, hammered the nail in the proverbial coffin with an empty-net goal,
making the final score 6-3.
It was a
long, tiring ride home for the team, but a happy one. Captain Langdon brought
his guitar and tunes wafted from the back of the bus keeping sleepy heads
positive all the way back to California.
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| Michael Tam & Jason Lockhart |
Because the
team’s bus arrived from Boise early in the morning, it prompted a last minute
Bulls Weekly at Pedro’s Cantina this evening. Jason’s guest was defenseman Michael
Tam. This was a great chance to hear from a player who has spent time in both
the ECHL and AHL.
I urge all
of you Bulls fans to go to Bulls Weekly at Pedro’s, even if it’s only once.
They’re a lot of fun. You get to listen to Jason’s broadcast and a hear from a Bulls
player, as well as meet them and hang out with other Bulls fans. Plus, the food
and drinks are great.
 |
| Marlon Mendieta, Michael Tam & Arlene Empleo & the kids! |
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Next home game is Sunday, February 17th. It's also Pucks & Paws Day, where fans bring their dogs, so it should make for an interesting evening.
GO BULLS!
Next home game is Sunday, February 17th. It's also Pucks & Paws Day, where fans bring their dogs, so it should make for an interesting evening.
GO BULLS!
