While InsideVandy.com, the online home of the Vanderbilt Hustler, did a terrific job covering the nuts and bolts of last weekend’s games versus the Louisville Cardinals, the publication failed to note one of the key drivers in the ‘Dores victory on Friday, 2/4.
Or should we say two drivers.
Pictured with Sophomore Mackie Anderson, Junior Brenden Oliver, and Freshman Jordan Zauderer are Logan and Justin, the VU Hockey Club’s youngest and most passionate fans. Residents of the greater Nashville area, the two boys showed up at Friday’s opener ready to volunteer and ably serve as the Commodores’ water boys, penalty box operators, or, were they needed, scoreboard operators. (If you’re asking, “Seven-year-olds manning the scoreboard? Really?,” just remember that they are likely more proficient at operating a computer than you are.)
The boys faced challenges, of course. The height of the boards hindered their ability to see the game’s action unfold. Then there was the evening’s start time of 10:15pm, well past their bed times, which could have easily lead to lethargy or, even worse, crankiness. Thankfully, Logan and Justin had their fathers Chris and Carl close by to offer support, encouragement, and even a reprimand or two (e.g., “Logan, you can’t go out on the ice buddy!”). In a game that found the Vandy club short-handed from the start, Logan and Justin were just the spark the black and gold needed to pull out the W.
An Unofficial Parents’ Weekend
The club would like to thank all of the family members who flew in to Nashville for last weekend’s games, including:
- Junior Tom Trepanier’s parents and grandfather
Sophomore Kyle McCann with father Tim - Junior Brenden Oliver’s mother
- Sophomore Kyle McCann’s father
- Freshman Zach Abelman’s parents and grandmother
- Freshman Kyle Stachowiak’s girlfriend’s parents
- Coach Bernstein’s father and wife
As was mentioned following Saturday’s thriller, the weekend’s action was purposefully orchestrated to provide the maximum possible amount of entertainment value for those making the trip to Music City. Why else would a team dig itself into an 0-4 hole in such short order?
We hope you enjoyed yourselves and look forward to seeing you back on campus for either the March 26th I-40 Face-off at Bridgestone Arena or for a game next season. In the meantime, thanks for your tremendous support!
The Last Official Game of the 2010/11 Season
In a matter of hours the ‘Dores will face-off against the #7-ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Game time is at 10:15 so grab an early dinner and head over to the rink for what promises to be a great conclusion to the club’s regular season and the seniors’ last home game of their Vanderbilt careers!
