UTICA. In the United States, in the middle of the state of New York is the Mohawk Valley, whose original inhabitants were the Mohawk Indians. We are in a small town of just over 65,000 inhabitants, where hockey is a big deal.
Both women’s and men’s varsity teams play in Utica. Currently, the city is enlivened by the women’s World Cup tournament, which will be played for the fifth time in the United States.
The games are played in the home hall of the New Jersey Devils farm team Utica Comets, which can accommodate 3,860 spectators. The WC teams train in connection with it in the hall of the University of Utica, completed less than two years ago, where the training camp of the new women’s PWHL professional league was held in December.
Dan Connors has been a hockey fan since I was knee high. He has come from the nearby city of Syracuse to watch the games and has seen all the preliminary series matches in the hall.
– It’s unbelievable that we got the games here. You don’t see the world’s best players every day in your backyard, says Connors.
Also playing in the Canadian team Danielle Serdachnyn father Steve says that in order to increase the international popularity of women’s ice hockey, it is good that the games are held in many different cities.
– The USA has a strong puck tradition. The new women’s PWHL league continues to raise the level of players and coaches. It’s great to see how competitive the games have been.
The PWHL league started in January. It currently has six teams from North America.
One of the future PWHL players might be 8 years old Madison Congdon, who plays in the local junnuli league. He was watching the Canada-Finland game and also watches NHL matches.
– My favorite team is Florida Panthers and my favorite player is Alexander Barkovsays Madison.
Mika Nieminen is at the games cheering on her daughter Petra Niemiwho scored Finland’s only goal against Canada.
– The whole team has now played better. I also follow with satisfaction how my own daughter’s career has developed into a successful hockey player and I am proud of her achievements.
Petra was only two years old when her father took her to the ice and started coaching her. Nieminen, who started in Tappara’s junior team, now plays in Lulea, Sweden.
A frenzy in the fan area – half-empty stands in the hall
The city was preparing for the competition for months, and it can be seen everywhere: competition posters decorate shop windows and roadsides. Flags of different countries are hung in bars where games can be watched on TV.
The competition village next to the hall is an event center for competition tourists and hockey fans. Inside, there are games for both children and adults, a shop for competition products, food, drinks and concerts. There is a ferris wheel outside. Hosted by Fanikeskus Michael Lehrwho is the marketing manager for the Utica Comets.
– We wanted to build an interactive gathering place around the Women’s World Cup. We didn’t know in advance how popular the center would be. It has exceeded our expectations, because the place has been full every night, Lehr rejoices.
The organization of the games has been handled in an exemplary manner and the safety of the spectators is not compromised. Numerous police officers are patrolling in front of the hall, next to the front doors and in the corridors.
– Even though this is a small town, the puck business is well taken into account, Nieminen praises.
The stands have been half-empty in the first-round matches, when there have been mainly players’ families and a few supporters. The USA’s opening game against Switzerland was a crowd success as the hall was full of school children.
– There should be more people in the stands. I thought there would have been more supporters here. Let’s hope it gets better towards the end, just like Finland’s game, hopes Nieminen.
Utica at the center of events
The weather did not favor the first race week. When the record-breaking winds subsided, the freezing back winter began with snow, sleet and rain. The area was shaken by the strongest, 4.8 magnitude earthquake in a hundred years on Friday morning local time.
In addition to race tourists, a mass of public is expected in the area next week to watch the solar eclipse on April 8. Parking areas are marked on the roadsides leading to Utica specifically for blackout tourists.
The city is located in a narrow zone in North America where the total eclipse is best visible. The natural phenomenon repeats itself in the same part of the Earth on average only once every 375 years.
The phenomenon, which lasts for a couple of minutes, happens exactly at the same time when Finland starts the battle against Switzerland on the ice in its last match of the preliminary round.
The female lions will face Switzerland on Monday evening at 22:00 Finnish time. Finland is still winless in the tournament: the losses have come to the Czech Republic 0–4, to Canada 1–4 and to the United States 3–5.