The penultimate column of the regular season, and yet again more ramblings from myself. After talking about the probable play off matches in last week's edition, this week we have another interest topic to talk about. This week I'm going to mention my three favourite away rinks. Some of you will agree, some of you won't.
So who makes the top three? Read on, they are in no particular order mind...
1. Odyssey Arena, Belfast.
I really do love the "O", and it will always be the "O" to me and I'm sure the Giants fans I know (and there are plenty of them too) still call it that. I'll never call it by it's corporate naming right name, sorry but I won't. The views are like second to none with no obstruction in sight. Then there's the bridge which is usually my favourite spot in the actual arena. If I don't end up in Boomerang Corner which houses the Giants noisy herberts, then I'm usually found on the bridge.
Belfast also has the wonder that is Rockies which is just hockey heaven. It's pure magical and absolutely "dead on" as the locals would say. If you haven't been to Northern Ireland for hockey yet, you're missing out.
2. Fife Ice Arena, Kirkcaldy.
For sentimental reasons I have to put "The Auld Barn" in this list. It's a good old fashioned hockey venue which harks me back to those early days when I was a bairn watching the sport in the old Billingham Forum. Crowds are literally on top of the players and that creates an atmosphere which is so hard to replicate in the modern arena environment. You can literally taste that tension, and it makes for a hostile place for your team to get a result in.
Some might not like it, some players don't like playing there but I just love it. It's all about the nostalgia factor and I hope they don't lose this if they have to revamp the venue.
3. NIC, Nottingham.
You probably didn't expect me to include this did you really. But despite being the home of our nearest and dearest, I quite like the place to be honest. Like the "O", the bowl design means you have a good view of the action wherever you sit but the steepness of the seating is not the best thing to encounter if you have had a few sherbets or so. It does not have the bridge type concept which makes the Northern Irish venue so unique for watching a hockey game.
With two good bars less than 100 yards away in either direction, Nottingham certainly has a hockey town feel about it. It certainly does bounce when it comes to play-off weekend, and is the best venue around for this particular tournament.
Those are my three and it was hard to choose them all the same. Special mentions to Manchester for it's intense atmosphere, Braehead for their superb supporters (the arena's singular entry and exit is a major flaw) and Cardiff for being the vision of the future: it'll be even better when they sort the damn wi-fi out and not use one entrance for all ticket holders. Are you listening Messers. Kelman and King?
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