Christmas was great. It was nice being with my family again after perhaps my busiest academic month yet. Sure, I got some nice things, and I surprised a few people with their presents, but now more than ever I’m shunning the materialistic side of Christmas. Ironically, immediately following my downplay of material greed, I’m going to focus on a present.

My sister got her and me tickets to see the Minnesota Wild play the Detroit Red Wings. I was quite elated, not only because they were great seats (Section 117, Row 12 in the Xcel Energy Center), but that I’ve never been to an NHL game before. A good chance to bond with my sister, too.

The game was great, and so was the arena: If you’ve never been to the Xcel Center, I recommend going just to stare at the vivid, arena circumscribing screens. Wow. If you go to the Wild web site, you can listen to the goal-alert fog horn. However, the tiny clip does no justice to the true sound. Attend a game and be amazed; Whenever the Wild score a goal, a light house lights up, smoke machines pour their vapors, and the horn blares a pair of earth-shaking roars.

The game ended tied after overtime at 3 (quite an improvement from the last Wild – Wings meeting). What a blast. I hope to return soon! Untill then, I plan to see the minor-league Indianapolis Ice in January with my Fraternity brothers. Perhaps that will tide me over until I return to the State of Hockey.