This evening I got to go to a hockey game at the new Ford Center in downtown Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City Blazers hosted the Lubbock Cotton Kings.

OKC started out strong, scoring the only goal in the first period. The Cotton Kings scored the next four; three on power plays, one while shorthanded. As long as things were even strength, Lubbock never scored.

During a power play in the 3rd period OKC scored, then seemed to score again 20 seconds later only to have goal #3 waived off by the referee. Apparently the puck had been played while above the crossbar. We couldn’t see it on replay. With two minutes to go, OKC pulled their goalie, and Lubbock scored goal #5. The Blazers lost by that count, 5-2.

OKC played pretty sloppily during the last two periods, and they killed themselves with penalties. Lubbock’s team featured one line that significantly taller and heavier than anything OKC put up; they were the goon squad.

First picture is from my nice camera; the rest from my phone camera:

Ford Center

The venue of the Oklahoma City/New Orleans Hornets and the Oklahoma City Blazers, taken from the 19th floor of Oklahoma Tower, where I’m teaching.
Hockey Practice

We got pretty decent seats at Ford Center. Lubbock in white, OKC in red.
Cowboy Rides a Zamboni

This can only be seen in Oklahoma or Texas: a cowboy riding the zamboni.
Valentine Signing Telegram

A barbershop quartet solicited customers for singing telegrams sung on Valentine’s Day. Apparently someone contracted them early to sing to an employee.