More Free Hockey

Last night Janna and I went to the Griffins game against the Toronto Marlies. It all started back on Feb 7th when the Griffins played Syracuse. The Griffins were offering discounted tickets in the lower bowl for $5 and we decided to go to the game. What we didn't know is that the Griffins had another deal by which if they win their games on Wednesday nights everyone gets a free ticket to the next Wednesday night game. The Griffins won on Feb 7th, then they won again on Feb 21st, then they won again on March 14th and again on March 28th. Because there were no more Wednesday night home games, everyone got a ticket to last nights game, which they of course won. Needless to say, we parlayed $5 tickets into five games, and the Dutch and Jew in us rejoices.
Last night was perhaps the best night of all, it was Steve Yzerman night. Yzerman was my favorite player growing up and sadly I wasn't able to get tickets to his number retirement in Detroit earlier this year. But this wasn't a bad makeup for that disappointment. Yzerman spoke briefly, thanking the Wings fans in West Michigan. Yzerman was humble as he always is. Of all the players a kid could look up to, Yzerman is definately one that parents would want. He's humble, puts team first and from all accounts is a respectable family man off the ice.
I usually hate mascots, especially minor league mascots. But I will have to say that Griff amuses me. He's one angry looking bird and he flys in the face of all these silly mascots that have goofy smiles on their face, as if everything has to be smiley and fun. One of the teams the Griffins played had a logo of a smiling skull, I mean come on now. Griff is ridiculous but at least he looks annoyed.
The game ended with a 4-0 Griffins win. Jimmy Howard looked playoff ready in net last night and here he is saluting the fans after he was named #1 star of the night. (Matt Ellis was #2 and my boy Kip Miller #3) After the game I took Janna to the Sierra Room for desert. Sadly the Sierra Room is closing at the end of the month, so this was our one last chance to stop in. Janna got the Creme Brulee sampler (chocolate peppermint, espresso and vanilla) and I got a cheese sampler. (parmesan reggiano, an aged American cheddar and a wonderful goats milk cheese called midnight moon) In any event, we planned on sharing both of our deserts and share we did. We both agreed that the chocolate peppermint and espresso creme brulee's were excellent and the vanilla wasn't very good. I am not a fan of cheddar but Janna said it was very good. We both agreed midnight moon was excellent, it had real depth of flavor with subtle hints of brown butter. The parmesan reggiano was excellent as well.

And thus ended a fine evening in downtown Grand Rapids. How I can't wait to take Stuart to his first hockey game next season. Did I mention we're excited about taking him to Chicago for his first Cubs game in June? Good times, good times.