Winnipeg

Saturday February 3rd, 2018

	1st	2nd	3rd	Final
COL	0	0	0	0
WPG	1	0	2	3

The fourth annual Canada Hockey Trip sent us out west to Winnipeg, Manitoba. This was an amazing trip on so many levels, and not just because the temperature was below zero the whole time we were there.  It’s shocking how cold -15 degrees F is. I had forgotten what that feels like since I have lived in Virginia for the past 24 years.

Once again I was joined on the trip by the two most annoying Pens fans I know, my sister and her husband. Not only do they insist on wearing their Pens gear to every city we go to, I have to listen to them tell me how the Capitals will never win a cup.  But what are little sisters for, if not to annoy older brothers.

Our previous trips to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal were all day trips. Winnipeg was logistically more challenging. We ended up driving to Toronto on Friday to catch an Air Canada flight to Winnipeg. We spent most of Friday traveling and searching for food around our hotel which was located a mere three blocks from the Bell MTS Place. Oh, and I had the extra pleasure of watching the Caps get pasted 7-4 by the Pens that night, all the while being tormented by these two the whole game.

Saturday we did some walking around and found the Forks Market as well as the Manitoba Parliament building that we were able to go inside and look around. An amazing building and very friendly security staff. Saturday night we were at the game, which Winnipeg won, beating the Avalanche 3-0. The Bell MTS Place is another great arena to watch a game. Our seats were in section 321, all the way to the top (just how we like it) and near the blue line. It was a great vantage point and we could see everything at both ends of the ice. One small drawback was the extremely intoxicated young girl who sat next to me (no not my sister, the other side of me). She did not stop talking the whole game and was double-fisting drinks during each period.

Anyway, Sunday we caught a flight back to Toronto and drove the 3 1/2 hours back to my sister’s house in Erie, PA. We watched the Super Bowl and I was back in Virginia by Monday afternoon. Another great trip in the books and another Canadian hockey town checked off the list.

After navigating the logistics required to get to Winnipeg, we are now confident that Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver will be no problem. We are hoping to do Edmonton and Calgary next year on the same trip, but the NHL schedule will dictate whether that can be accomplished. A weekend home-and-home would be nice, just sayin.

Until then, we will spend the next few months warmly remembering our frigid time in #thePeg.