Losing is never easy. The Vanderbilt Ice Hockey club learned this the hard way two weekends ago when it suffered its first two defeats of the season to Florida and Georgia. It was a rough weekend as Vandy was outhit, outshot, and (worst of all) out-fedora-ed. The gap between games has not made this reality any easier to deal with.

“For two weeks now, my nightmares have been haunted by fedoras,” said sophomore defenseman Mike Nisbet, who then broke down and could not continue the interview.

But why this sudden two game skid when all seemed to be well in the world of Vanderbilt Ice Hockey? When asked about the team’s difficulties last road trip, a devilishly handsome junior forward wearing a number 8 jersey (who requested to remain anonymous) pointed to what many have been thinking. “The ‘Last Commodore Standing’ competition at the end of practice has been neglected of late and I think this has definitely hurt our performance. How am I supposed to score on a breakaway if I’m not one-hundred percent confident that I’ll look really good while doing it?” This valid concern will certainly be something the team addresses in its practice this week. And maybe the power play too if they can get to it.

With two big games against Louisville this coming weekend, the Commodores will finally have an opportunity for the redemption they have been craving. Some may be wondering if fans will be treated to another wounded gazelle-like collapse a la Chris Sperandio, but this is unlikely. (FYI – Sperandio will be out of the lineup until second semester, when he will hopefully be making his much anticipated return to the ice.) Vandy will also be returning to the Centennial Sportsplex for the first time since opening weekend against Memphis, likely to be greeted by their usual sea of adoring groupies and fans.

Game times are 10:15pm on Friday, 11/4, and 8:15pm on Saturday, 11/5. The team cordially invites you to join the action as they look to “get off the schneid” as they say ( … they being the proverbial “they” and not the players themselves; the players have no inklings of the origin of the turn of phrase, only that Tim McCarver and Joe Buck use it very liberally during baseball broadcasts in the summer). Count on two great battles and a lot of fun at the rink!

Since the dawn of time, a handful of events have radically shifted the course of human history. Last weekend’s trip to South Carolina sure looked to be one of these species-defining moments as the Vanderbilt Ice Hockey team commissioned a bus for the first time in club history. (Our former transportation method of choice, the team van, was rendered useless when Peter Dignard, the only one certified to drive it, graduated.) The ‘Dores won two close games during the trip, but the real question that was on everyone’s minds following the weekend was, “Is having a bus for road trips really a good thing?” In an effort to elucidate this question, I have resorted to writing a pros-and-cons list.

	More rest. Riding in a bus affords players a great opportunity to get some sleep before games. By sleeping on the bus, the players’ bodies are also contorted in such a way that they have already more or less stretched by the time they get to the rink.
	Lack of intensity. Riding in senior net minder Brenden Oliver’s car and listening to the same Taylor Swift CD on repeat five times in a row was a very effective way to build just the right amount of rage necessary to play an aggressive, physical game.

	Sans Taylor Swift listening time, Oliver seems less likely to be strangled now.
	Oliver is not that much less likely to be strangled.

	Being together in the hours and minutes leading up to the game seemed to bring the team together.
	Being separated across the length of the bus (front to back) in the moments leading up to our celebratory Chick-fil-a stop led to a harried, divisive rush to the cash registers. The damage may be lasting; only time will tell.

	Having televisions and being able to watch Youngblood, Mystery Alaska, and Workaholics.
	Having televisions and being forced to watch the Mighty Ducks.

	Having a bathroom on the bus.
	Having a bathroom on the bus.

Final verdict? The bus was OK but Mr. Charles was awesome so I guess the prospect of reserving another charter in the club’s future gets my seal of approval.