playoff-bound WHL hockey in a haounted house
by Paulie on 3/18/25Veterans Memorial Coliseum - PortlandRating: 4 out of 5I'll start with a PSA: Some seasons, going to the Winterhawks can be better than others. I have seen some games where the hockey product is poor and the kids fight a lot. It has been a few years since I've seen that, but look at the team's record before you go, so you know. If they're losing a lot, you'll see more fights which might be what you're after.
Hockey:
This year, the Winterhawks are in the playoffs and they are playing well. Seattle played a more controlled game, but they made mistakes which Portland capitalized upon. Good game.
Between Periods:
Unlike the seemingly endless circus at a TrailBlazer game, when the play was whistled dead, there was no chaos, just some background music before the puck dropped again. Between periods, there were dancers on the ice before the Zamboni resurfaced. Considering they were dancing in shoes on ice, they were rather impressive. Not Brent Street, but again, they are on ice.
Memorial Colosseum:
I respect that the Memorial Colosseum is a Portland landmark and I respect the vet's who are honored by the memorial below the entrance. Whether in that light or in spite of it, the place needs a facelift in a major way. Everything is poorly-lit, dirty, dingy or stained. The seats are clapped out and the beer lines need to be deep-cleaned. The bathrooms are scary. It is a dive-bar treatment applied to a large venue: $13 Coors Light that smells funny.