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I am sure a topic similar to this has come about in the past but it seems as if the general atmosphere as a whole has not been as good as years past.

The key word being general.

I am curious to hear everyone's opinions as to what arena has been the loudest/best atmosphere so far this year. While I am slightly biased, I believe it is hard to beat a sold out crowd at Pagel with everyone leaning over the railing on the wrap around track. I am sure the East/Rapids game was insane as well.

Just want to hear everyone's opinions on what they believe the best atmospherical moments have been thus far.

White Bear vs Hill-Murray at Aldrich with the band playing. Don't think it was a sell-out but it was a cool atmosphere...felt like a sectional game...

Fishin' for compliments are we? You got it!

Pagel was rockin' for the BSM game last week for sure! It's a rare treat when a big time rivalry game delivers like that game did. Best regular season I've seen. BSM side of the crowd was out in force and LOUD!

Of course that would change in a hurry if a team like, hmm... say Duluth East were to go up 4-0 in the 1st on the Skips.

And yeah, I'm hoping Tonka redeems themselves after that Schwan Cup spanking.

There are a lot of great places to watch hockey, but to be one of the best you have to have:

1) Seating on both sides of the arena (everyone on one side is sterile to me.)

2) Fans that are passionate if their team is great or not

3) A tradition of the place to be

Here are some of my favorites:

Roseau
Grand Rapids
Braemar
East
Fogerty

East??

GTTN wrote:East??

Duluth East, Located in Duluth, MN, the nose of the wolf head of Lake Superior on a map. Current enrollment, approx: 1500. One of two high schools in the city, the superior school in terms of athletics.

Roseau vs Bemidji

Great game with play-off atmosphere.

Duluth 4 wrote:Duluth East, Located in Duluth, MN, the nose of the wolf head of Lake Superior on a map. Current enrollment, approx: 1500. One of two high schools in the city, the superior school in terms of athletics.

Too bad the Curling Club burned down...there was some great atmosphere.

East is not an arena. Are you talking Heritage? Amsoil?

East is not an arena. Are you talking Heritage? Amsoil?

GTTN wrote:East is not an arena. Are you talking Heritage? Amsoil?

Heritage

Benilde vs Cooper

Bronc wrote:There are a lot of great places to watch hockey, but to be one of the best you have to have:

1) Seating on both sides of the arena (everyone on one side is sterile to me.)

2) Fans that are passionate if their team is great or not

3) A tradition of the place to be

Here are some of my favorites:

Roseau
Grand Rapids
Braemar
East
Fogerty

Heritage is nice and new, but it does not meet #1 or #3.

I'm talking about this year specifically. What have been the top games so far. I agree the BSM/Tonka game was exciting. I also have to say the Edina Classic at Braemar was very entertaining.

What student sections have been the best?

Hibbing Memorial Arena is a pretty great place to watch a hockey game. You can pack 4,500 people in there. The 7AA playoff games there were unbeatable back in the day, but it still has a lot of charm even with the smaller crowds of today.

mulefarm wrote:Benilde vs Cooper

Hahahahaha....

You just made my day; thanks!!

mulefarm wrote:Benilde vs Cooper

Oh you wanna go there? I sat through half of the Benilde/Spring Lake Park game - I honest to god had to ask if I was sitting in the right side of the facility at the posted start time. I could have talked to coach Pauly from my seat without raising my voice.

Rapids/East was a tremendous atmosphere. The only thing missing from that game was the excellent Grand Rapids Band. It's that excitement that makes high school sports so much fun to watch.

The Hibbing Memorial Building was tough to beat during the 70s and 80s for the Region 7 final. You'd have fans from both teams intermixed in the stands and while one fan was berating the referee, another would be berating that fan. Hodgins-Berardo in Coleraine was a fabulous building to watch hockey, especially when Hibbing or Rapids came to town. You were right on top of the action and because there was only one penalty box, you might see a fight continue from the rink and into the box. Met Center was a great place to watch Section hockey, especially when Hill Murray and WBL regularly met there. And one of the most beautiful sights to a hockey fan was taking in the brilliant colors and pageantry of the teams, cheerleaders and honor guards at center ice when the National Anthem was played before a state tourney game at the Civic Center in St. Paul.

blacklung wrote:

Bronc wrote:There are a lot of great places to watch hockey, but to be one of the best you have to have:

1) Seating on both sides of the arena (everyone on one side is sterile to me.)

2) Fans that are passionate if their team is great or not

3) A tradition of the place to be

Here are some of my favorites:

Roseau
Grand Rapids
Braemar
East
Fogerty

Heritage is nice and new, but it does not meet #1 or #3.

Have you never been there or...

The topic is "Best Atmosphere"

So this definitely rules out Pagel, Eden Prairie, and Osseo. Some of the worst in the state.

Any full building has a good atmosphere. Some sold out buildings are better than most (ie. Grand Rapids, Heritage, Hibbing, or any arena with seating on two sides).

If we're adding criteria like fans, sell-out, etc. - thats a different story.

Blaine's fans are always outnumbered until sections - especially this year. Not sure how they made someone's list. When their stands are full, it's one of my favorite places to watch.

Alot of the big time northern hockey games with plenty of tradition would be my answer, espically when both teams in the game are having successful seasons.

Am I the only one who thinks that the size of student sections has declined greatly since the 80's and 90's? Is it because of the new reputation hockey players have in their schools? Opinions?

The best atmosphere this year will be at Amsoil Arena for the 7AA Semi-finals. 4 top 20 ranked teams, including of course #1 Duluth East. It will be topped if Rapids and East meet in the final. I can't wait for that weekend. The atmosphere for the playoffs in Duluth is so much better than Mariucci. Mariucci for the 2AA and 6AA finals is brutal and sterile by comparison.

starmvp wrote:Am I the only one who thinks that the size of student sections has declined greatly since the 80's and 90's? Is it because of the new reputation hockey players have in their schools? Opinions?

Agreed, but I think the economy, and the price they charge the students to get into the games has a lot to do with it. My kid can get a sports pass to all other games except hockey for about $20 bucks.