Denver BroncHos

My first trip to Big Sky country! My HoGear team played in the Flying Mules Hockey tournament in Missoula, Montana as the Denver BroncHos. One of the original Hos (pictured front left) moved there about five years ago and we kept threatening her that we'd come for a visit. Easy Like Sunday Morning Ho (EZ Ho, for short) finally got her wish as we invaded her town last weekend, and she was a humorous and gracious host.

I must say that I didn't know what to prepare for at all. EZ Ho told us not to expect too much out of the surroundings, knowing what we are used to - rinks with two or three sheets of indoor ice with warm, cozy locker rooms. Even the indoor rink in Missoula wasn't heated and the locker rooms were just places where we sat, shivering on a bench with four plywood walls built around, trying to muster up the courage to strip down to put on our gear. Then there is the outdoor rink where they play, we heard rumors, even if it's ten below zero. We feared the outdoor rink like we fear breast cancer. Our whole strategy was based on how not to end up playing outside in the finals.

But what I found out about Missoula folk is that they are just as cold as the next person, but they kindly and quickly adapt. Case in point, who wants to drink beer on tap when you're standing around, freezing at an ice rink? The Missoulans don't think twice about it and simply bring an extra-thick glove for their beer-drinking hand, and a very warm hat. Mingling through the crowd after the games was like mingling through a bunch of Ralphie's younger brothers but everyone seemed happy and content. The men and women playing in the tournament weren't sure what to make out of the Hos, wearing our pink jerseys and bras on the outside. They pronounced the name "Ez Ho" instead of "E-Z Ho" at first, but it didn't take them long before they were cheering for Back Ho, DynaHo, and our newly anointed High Ho (for obvious reasons). They were coming up with Ho phrases left and right and anxious to tell us when we got off the ice.

They got it.

Even when our strategy failed and we found ourselves at the dreaded outdoor rink on Sunday morning at 8am, hungover from the previous night's player's party and dragging ass, it wasn't that bad. We looked around to see that a few people of Missoula had turned out to cheer on their team and we even picked up a fan or two. In Denver, NOBODY and I mean NOBODY would be there to cheer on anyone at 8am on Sunday on an outdoor rink.

I was the first Ho to get a penalty in that outdoor game and was shocked when I opened the door to the penalty box to realize that I was in the parking lot. I didn't notice the close proximity because the glass was all iced up, much like your windshield on those icy mornings. When I yelled back to my bench that I was, in essence, sitting in the parking lot, I was offered a beer by no less than three people that were at their cars, one can assume, getting an early morning start on the tailgating.

That's when I finally got it.

Missoula has all the quaintness and friendliness of a small town and hockey is not only an athletic activity, it's a big social activity. It's a reason to get together and cook chili in the parking lot and tap a keg. It's like our fall football game season, only much colder. In short, the Hos fell in love with Missoula and although we placed at the bottom this time, we will return next year to get on top.

Oh and as it turns out, two minutes in the box is REALLY not long enough... to drink a beer, unless you're from Missoula.