Over the weekend I went to the Philadelphia Flyers hockey game for my friend Marissa’s birthday. I am a big Philadelphia sports fan, but I never really got into the Flyers, or hockey, at all. I have been to a couple games before with friends, but this was the first one where I had good seats and really paid attention.

We sat in the lower level, about middle ice, and about 15 rows from the ice, so needless to say, we had pretty great seats. The game started with the Flyers’ mascot, Gritty, welcoming fans and getting everyone pumped for the game. Next, the Flyers took the ice for a small warm-up as the announcers introduced the starting players.

During the first period the Flyers scored, and the crowd went wild. Next, the Columbus Blue Jackets scored and tied it up, obviously followed by a round of boos. We went into the second period with a tied game, but that changed quickly as the Flyers ended up scoring two goals and the Blue Jackets only one. One of the Flyers’ goals went under review, as there wasn’t a clear view if the puck fully went over the line. After the refs discussed it for a full five minutes, they ultimately decided it was indeed a goal. The third period started with the Flyers up 3–2, so the Blue Jackets pulled their goalie, which led to an easy Flyers goal from the opposite end of the ice. By the end of the game, the score ended up being 5–2, with the Flyers getting a fifth consecutive win.

One of the most exciting parts of the game was the fights — there were a lot. Some of them were on a smaller scale, quickly broken up by refs and the other players on the team. There was one big fight where both players dropped their sticks and took off their gloves and threw actual punches. They both took turns jabbing the other back and forth, but the the fight ended, and they both got ejected from the game.

I had a great time and will definitely be back for another one this season!

— Mary Melnick, social media and editorial coordinator