Going into this, I fully understood the trip from Connecticut to Anchorage would be long. After making the journey yesterday I can say with conviction that it has lived up to expectations. From New Haven to LaGuardia to Chicago to Anchorage was 15 hours all told. It was dusk upon arrival, but we saw snow on the mountains from the air. Was dead asleep 10 minutes after checking into the hotel, and it's still pitch black here at 7:30 a.m. Sunrise isn't for another hour. Makes for a great sleep environment, but how does anyone ever get up for work on time around here?
The forecast is for rain today, tomorrow and Saturday, so my hope of finding a few hours to explore some of the last frontier and spot a grizzly, moose or bald eagle might be challenging.
Quinnipiac has arrived safe and sound. I know because I was on the same flights. The team is excited and ready to open the season. One thing to note is last season's run hasn't made them a household name just yet. They answered plenty of questions from fellow travelers in airports and on the plane, most starting with "what is Quinnipiac?" Doubtful Michigan or Boston College get those queries. The players are used to it by now.
Atlantic Hockey sent out a press release yesterday confirming Air Force has been cleared to fly out here, so the Kendall Hockey Classic will continue as scheduled. Air Force plays Alaska-Fairbanks Friday at 5 p.m. (9 p.m. EST) and Quinnipiac takes on the host Alaska-Anchorage at 8:07 p.m. (12:07 a.m. EST). That's good news for the Bobcats. Alaska-Anchorage, with a new coach, is coming off a four-win season. Alaska-Fairbanks should be a much tougher test, which would have been much stiffer had it been able to rest up for their Saturday game. Now, Air Force can soften them up a bit first.
In case you missed it, here's my season preview for Quinnipiac that ran in the Register today. I have a column on new goalie Michael Garteig set to run tonight. Check back all weekend for updates.
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