Towel Power - Playoff Game 1 Vancouver Giants vs Spokane Chiefs

So one of my volunteer friends messages me on Facebook to see if I wanted to go with her to watch the Vancouver Giants in the first game of the playoffs against the Spokane Chiefs.  Of course I said yes.  She normally volunteers for 50/50 at the Giants game and that was her night off.  So I met her outside the Canucks Outlet Store on the corner of Hastings and Renfrew in Vancouver.  From there we headed on up to the Mooshead Pub for some food and drinks before the game.

At the pub, we ran into some familiar volunteers who were there to grab a bite to eat before the game as well.  The pub was packed with Giants fans and volunteers apparently.  Ian Thorpe from Breakfast Television was there on the microphone giving away drink tickets thru trivia quizzes.  As we enjoyed the trivia and the 80's hair band music, we also ate our full till it was time to walk on over to the Pacific Coliseum.  As we walked over to our section we ran into, you guessed it, more volunteers we knew who were running the 50/50 program.  Once we all got acquainted again, my friend, Leslie-Ann and I, headed over to our un-ushered section and took our seats.

The starting line-up.

 The place was packed and everyone who walked thru the door was handed a white Vancouver Giants playoff towel.  The lights dimmed and the refs came on the ice first followed by the players of both teams.  The first period wasn't very eventful.  Just a bunch of bad reffing that gave the Chiefs 3 straight powerplays which they couldn't convert on.  With 2.6 seconds left on the clock in the first, the Giants get on the board with their first goal of the night.

Here's a shot of the Spokane Chiefs bench looking on during play.

 The second period is where a lot of the goals were scored.  The Chiefs were down 3-1 at the end of the second only to come back swining in the third.  They were able to keep the game close as the Giants scored another pair.  The fans were really into the game as well.  Endless chants of "Engeeeeeel" were heard. Mac Engel, the Chiefs goalie played two periods on our end of the ice so it was very vocal where I sat. Unfortunatley, the Chiefs managed to get three quick ones as well to make it 5-4. The Giants managed to score a couple more and end the first game on a winning note 7-5.  It truly was a fun game.

We capped off the night with a walk up to Starbucks for some Chai tea and coffee to warm up with. Game 2 of the series is played tomorrow night at 7pm.  Go down and support your Vancouver Giants if you can.  Its totally worth it.

I won't be there as I have commitments with the Vancouver Whitecaps from 4pm-til end of game organizing and Team Leading my Club Ambassadors as the Whitecaps will be taking on DC United also with a 7pm start.  Our beloved Vancouver Canucks will also be playing the Colorado Avalanche also with a 7pm start.  Its going to be a busy night in sports for sure.  Good Luck to all the Vancouver sports teams!