I was at the game Wednesday night in Atlantic City. Although the Ice Dogs scored first, the Boardwalk Bullies came back and maintained a scoreless third period to win 4-2.

The crowd was sparse - just under 1500. It's a crime; Atlantic City has a great arena and a hard-working, likeable team.

What's with the ugly Ice Dogs uniforms? There should be a law against mixing silver AND gold on any team uniform.

And the Ice Dogs had a Jarome Iginla-lookalike, with a Russian name, who was born in Milwaukee.

I got to sit right behind the Boardwalk Bullies penalty box. If it wasn't for the glass, my knees would have been against the penalized player's back. Sweet.

The two teams play again tonight in Atlantic City. I'm not sure if I'll go. The Phantoms are home also....

I'd love to check out the Boardwalk Bullies some time. What town are the Ice Dogs from? I'm sure it's not the Ice Dogs that Adam goes to see in Long Beach....wait, looking at a prior Adam post, they ARE! How the heck does Long Beach play in the EAST COAST hockey league??? wink

We'll have to fit some hockey discussion into Sunday's football frenzy at the Bike Stop.

[ November 27, 2004, 08:42 AM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

Yep, it's my Long Beach Ice Dogs on a roadtrip to the East Coast. I don't understand why they're in the ECHL either, but it includes the San Diego Gulls and the Anchorage Aces, amongst other teams who have no reason to be in anything connected to the East Coast, but they are.

Long Beach won last night, if I'm not mistaken (it's almost impossible to find news on them in any local paper.)

~Adam

The Atlantic City team that played the Ice Dogs, the Boardwalk Bullies, are being sold at the end of the season. The new owners will move the franchise to Stockton, CA. Ted P., catch them while you still can! (Hmmmm...I wonder if they've got any games I could fit into my schedule? Maybe Presidents' Day weekend?)

Bullies crap out in Atlantic City

[ February 01, 2005, 12:34 PM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]

Stockton, Ca??!!?? Well, I guess that makes as much sense as there being hockey teams in Fresno and Bakersfield. If they get a new name (there are no boardwalks in Stockton) I hope it references "The Big Valley" in some way.

~Adam

The Boardwalk Bullies name was, of course, meant to mimic the "Broad Street Bullies" nickname of the Flyers. Considering how fighting and brawls still has some hold over some people here, the fact that the AC team isn't drawing many fans is a little surprising.

I'm sorry I've been too busy to reply!

I'm bummed out by the Bullies leaving Atlantic City. But there just hasn't been the attendance needed to support them, despite a beautiful building and a likeable, hard-working team.

The Bullies haven't really been much for fights. You'd probably expect more brawling in the ECHL, but the games I saw in AC this year didn't have much.

What this year's Bullies DO need is some scoring. Their captain, Luke Curtin, is on loan to San Antonio of the AHL...and it seems like nobody can score without him. I saw them play Peoria on the 2nd of this month, and they lost 2-0. I wore my Oilers jersey into Bally's casino afterwards, and one of the casino employees asked me if I'd been to the game and how it went. I gave him the details, and he confirmed that the team has seemingly forgotten how to put the puck into the net.

Atlantic City is really a small metropolitan area anyhow, with lots of seasonality and casino workers who work irregular shifts. I guess it's not a good sports town. But I've enjoyed the Bullies, and I'll try to see them a few times before they go.

I'm still pondering a trip to AC for the upcoming 3-day weekend, since they have Saturday and Sunday games. So if it works out I'll let you know in case you can go to a game. I assume that I wouldn't have to buy tickets in advance since they aren't drawing well. wink

Joe