We’re always talking about the “events” we put on at the hostel. Since Hockey is Canada’s National Sport we get tickets to the games played at Toronto’s Ricoh Center. It’s considered the fastest game in the world and it’s not a sport for the timid.
Toronto is home to the Maple Leafs, the most successful franchise in all of the National Hockey League (NHL) in terms of revenues and and fan support. Just imagine their success if they were a winning team – which they are not!
But a ticket to an NHL game at the Air Canada Center can run upwards of $150 and can only be purchased from unscrupulous “scalpers” since every Maple Leaf home game is sold out. It really is cost prohibitive for the average backpacker.
The Toronto Marlies are a professional hockey team with the American Hockey League. It is what is known as a “farm team” for the Maple Leafs. Should a Maple Leaf player be injured (which happens a lot in hockey) or fail to perform (which happens a lot with the Leafs); he is replaced by a Marlie called up to the NHL team.
You will see a lot of NHL “Scouts” with laptop computers prowling the arena at game time evaluating the performances of the players. And players are all waiting for their shot at the NHL where the multi-million dollar paychecks are. Unlike the bottom dwelling Maple Leafs of the NHL the Marlies are leading their division in the AHL!
As a result, the AHL is the place to go to watch fast, exciting, hard-hitting games punctuated by the occasional fist fight.
The athletes play their hearts out for their chance at the “big time”. A ticket is a mere $18 and the fans are the winners as a result.
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At the Ricoh Arena waiting for the “war” to begin.
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Game time!
Pearcey with the Marlies Dance Team.
haha pearcey looks ‘enlightened’ damn i miss the hostel!!