Texas Stars vs Ontario Reign Hockey Game Dec 29, 2018

For a Christmas present Victoria got me tickets to the Texas Stars vs. Ontario Reign game. I've been to a Dallas Stars game before, but never the Texas Stars. The Texas Stars are the farm team for the Dallas Stars. The great thing is they play right in Cedar Park, which is a suburb of Austin. Victoria and I headed to the game and got parked.

Night highway driving view with blurred lights and traffic ahead on multi-lane interstate Blurred highway sign illuminated at night with taillights visible on road H-E-B Center at Cedar Park building exterior illuminated at night in parking lot Modern entertainment venue building lit up at night with decorative string lights on trees Trees wrapped in white string lights creating festive illumination in outdoor plaza at night H-E-B Center at Cedar Park main entrance facade with large illuminated signage and crowd gathering outside

We made it through security and then walked inside. We ended up walking to the wrong end of the arena and had to walk the whole way back around. I didn't mind since I could get some pictures along the way.

Crowd of people entering through glass doors at H-E-B Center venue entrance View through entrance doors showing H-E-B Center at Cedar Park signage above entrance Dense crowd of attendees entering H-E-B Center through main entrance doors Close-up of H-E-B Center at Cedar Park signage with red lettering on building exterior Texas Stars hockey team branding visible along railing with crowd in concourse area Texas Stars decorative logo emblem mounted on terra cotta colored wall Crowded venue concourse with fans wearing hockey jerseys and event signage visible Independence Brewing Company banner display in crowded concourse with fans in Stars jerseys Large Bud Light Brewed Deep in the Heart advertisement on wall above crowd Packed venue hallway with crowd of attendees during event ABC Home & Commercial Services advertisement display above 50/50 raffle screen with holiday donations table Craft beer concession stand with attendees browsing during event Busy concession stand counter with red and white decor serving customers Beer and shakes concession stand with vintage motorcycle decoration and TV screens Large H-E-B logo sign mounted above exit doors in venue concourse Directional wayfinding sign showing Amy's Ice Creams, Chick-fil-A, and Bahama Buck's locations with section numbers Venue concourse with crowd of hockey fans and sponsor banners hanging from ceiling Arena concourse with Bud Light Brewed Deep in the Heart advertisement and fans milling about Crowded concourse area with large Bud Light advertisement banner and television screens Austin Unity Radio banner suspended from ceiling with crowd gathered in concourse below Busy concourse showing food concession stand with fans waiting in line

We were hungry so we stopped by Rojo's Mexican Hideaway. Victoria got a quesadilla. I got what caught my eye, Texas Poutine. I mean poutine is big in Canada and so is hockey so it only seemed appropriate! The funny thing is Victoria thought the Ontario Reign was a Canadian team, but we found out they were from Ontario, California. I also got a beer to wash things down.

Rosa's Mexican restaurant concession stand with red neon signage and corrugated metal awning Fans in Stars jerseys ordering food at Rosa's Mexican restaurant counter Digital menu board displaying Mexican food items including De Pollo Basket, nachos, tacos, poutine, and snacks with prices Opened aluminum beverage can resting on stainless steel counter surface Basket of red and white tortilla chips served with salsa and sour cream in small containers Texas-style poutine with french fries topped with chili and melted cheese

We went to out seats. It was amazing since we were front row right by the glass! I watched the Zambonis go as I ate my Texas Poutine.

Empty hockey rink view through protective glass showing center ice logo and overhead scoreboard before game Hand holding loaded chili cheese fries with hockey rink visible through glass in background Empty hockey arena from spectator seats showing H-E-B Center scoreboard and freshly zambonied ice surface Packed hockey arena during game with American flag displayed and full crowd in attendance

Soon the refs and teams came on the ice.

Hockey players skating during pre-game warm-ups on ice with crowd in background Live hockey game action through protective glass with players skating and arena packed with spectators Hockey players on ice near goal with protective netting visible and fans watching from stands Hockey game action with Texas Stars players in green jerseys competing on ice during live game Live hockey game view through protective glass showing players skating and spectator in foreground Hockey goalie crouched in defensive position near net during game action Large mascot figure walking through arena seating section entertaining fans during hockey game

Ringo, the Texas Stars mascot came by to get the crowd going. The game was underway!

Texas Stars players lined up at center ice during intermission with H-E-B Center scoreboard overhead Hockey faceoff with players from both teams clustered around referee at center ice Hockey game in progress showing scoreboard and players spread across ice surface during play Hockey goalie defending net with attacking players nearby during close game action Goal area view showing goalie and multiple players battling for position near net during game Center ice faceoff with hockey players positioned and ready for puck drop Victor E. Green Texas Stars mascot playing drum and entertaining fans in seating area Texas Stars alien mascot posing with fan holding phone while crowd watches from seats behind Victor E. Green mascot performing with drum for crowd at Texas Stars hockey game Ice maintenance worker using shovel to clean ice surface during intermission at hockey game Person in bright yellow chicken mascot costume entertaining arena crowd during hockey game Close action shot of hockey player skating along boards with protective glass visible

It was Ringo's birthday so a bunch of other local mascots were there to wish him a happy birthday.

Hockey fans seated in arena including person wearing inflatable alien costume

The game kept going until intermission. I had to go to the bathroom and got another beer. Victoria took a few pictures in between when the mascots were playing dodgeball. I came back just in time to enjoy my beer.

Hockey goalie defending goal with offensive players attacking during fast-paced game action Motion-blurred hockey action shot showing players skating at high speed during game Arena scoreboard displaying MAKE SOME NOISE crowd prompt during packed hockey game Intermission entertainment with multiple mascots in colorful costumes on ice including fans participating in on-ice activities Various mascots and participants gathered on ice during intermission game with crowd watching from stands On-ice intermission activity showing mascots and volunteers participating in entertainment between periods Close-up view of Toyota truck front grille and bumper at ice level during hockey game Hand holding clear plastic cup of beer with hockey rink visible through protective glass behind Hockey game action with H-E-B Center scoreboard displaying game footage overhead and players on ice Hockey players lined up on ice with scoreboard showing game replay and score during break in play Goalie standing near empty net visible through protective glass during hockey game Wide view of hockey rink during stoppage in play with teams and crowd visible in background Glass-side view of Texas Stars players on ice with Happy Holidays message visible on upper concourse Visiting team players celebrating on ice near goal following apparent scoring play

The next intermission the mascots played musical chairs

Purple dinosaur mascot and other characters on ice participating in intermission entertainment activities Participants lying on ice in organized formation during intermission game or activity Intermission activity participants including mascots positioned on ice with crowd watching from seats Fans and mascots spread across ice surface participating in between-period entertainment Multiple mascots and Texas Stars players on ice during intermission activities with Pizza Hut sponsorship visible Mascots entertaining fans near glass partition during intermission from glass-side seating perspective View from ice level looking up at H-E-B Center scoreboard during hockey game Scoreboard displaying Happy Birthday Ringo message with Texas Stars mascot celebrating, score shows Stars leading 3-0 Zamboni ice resurfacing machine smoothing ice surface during intermission with spectators in background

The Texas Stars and Dallas Stars had the same scores!

Arena scoreboard displaying Dallas scoreboard with Red Wings 0, Stars 3 in second period with 3:34 remaining

The third period commenced.

H-E-B Center scoreboard displaying large GET LOUD! crowd encouragement message Arena scoreboard showing KEEP IT GOING STARS FANS motivational message with Texas Stars logo Scoreboard displaying illuminated Texas Stars team logo in green and white Scoreboard showing game action replay with GOAL text indicating Texas Stars scored to make it 4-0 Hockey players lined up on ice during stoppage after goal with referee at center ice Scoreboard displaying animated GOAL celebration graphic with colorful effects and 4-0 score Texas Stars players in green jerseys and opposing team in white positioned on ice during game break Texas Stars players celebrating and gathering near goal with referee after scoring Texas Stars players including Gleason #6 conversing with referee near boards during stoppage Referee dropping puck for faceoff between Texas Stars and opposing player at center ice Victor E. Green alien mascot standing on railing entertaining fans with championship banners visible above Victor E. Green mascot performing animated dance routine on railing for crowd Victor E. Green mascot in mid-dance move entertaining spectators from elevated railing position Victor E. Green mascot wearing Stars jersey #12 posing on railing with packed crowd behind Rear view of Victor E. Green mascot's oversized alien head watching game action from glass-side seat

T-Bone from the San Antonio Rampage was in attendance for Ringo's birthday. He did a heck of a job getting the crowd going to cheer on a fellow Texas team and was very entertaining while doing it.

Close-up back view of Victor E. Green mascot head with Heroes message displayed on arena scoreboard View from behind the glass at a hockey arena showing the ice rink and a person in a gray jacket at rinkside Child wearing a gray bull mascot costume and Texas Stars jersey number 02 sitting at rinkside watching a hockey game Close-up of hands gesturing and pointing at the glass during a hockey game with players visible in the background Gray bull mascot in Texas Stars jersey celebrating with both arms raised at rinkside during a hockey game Gray bull mascot standing next to an adult spectator at the glass watching a hockey game Gray bull mascot at rinkside during a hockey game with players gathered on the ice and referee nearby Gray bull mascot interacting with young fans including children in the stands at a hockey game Gray bull mascot celebrating with arms raised at rinkside during a hockey game with crowd visible in background

A Stars fan tried to get T-Bone to wear a Stars' jersey. That didn't go too well.

Hockey face-off at center ice viewed from behind the glass with players positioned around the circle Gray bull mascot and person wearing Texas Stars jersey at rinkside, mascot appears to be signing or autographing an item Gray bull mascot pointing from rinkside seat during a hockey game, slightly blurred motion Person in Texas Stars jersey gesturing at the glass during a hockey game with players visible on ice Person in Texas Stars jersey holding a hockey stick at the glass during a game with players on ice

The Stars ultimately won 5-1. It was constant goal after goal after goal!

Hockey game action shot showing multiple players on ice during gameplay with referees Wide view of hockey game in progress showing the full ice surface with players positioned across the rink Texas Stars hockey players skating on ice in celebration after the game Hockey teams lined up on ice for post-game handshakes with players from both teams Arena scoreboard displaying final score of 5-3 with Texas Stars logo, showing game concluded at H-E-B Center

I can definitely say I had a great time at the Texas Stars game. The tickets are pretty cheap overall and it's very close to where I live now. I'll have to catch a few more games while I'm at it! I'm glad they won in such a blowout game!

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