Hitchhiker's Guide to

Lynah Rink, Ithaca, NY

Mike Schafer
Brief History of Cornell Hockey
2007 Schedule, 2007 Scoring & Goaltending
2006 Schedule, 2006 Scoring & Goaltending
2005 Schedule, 2005 Scoring & Goaltending
2004 Schedule, 2004 Scoring & Goaltending
2003 Schedule, 2003 Scoring & Goaltending
2002 Schedule, 2002 Scoring & Goaltending
2001 Schedule, 2001 Scoring & Goaltending
2000 Schedule, 2000 Scoring, 2000 Goaltending
1999 Schedule, 1999 Scoring, 1999 Goaltending
1998 Schedule, 1998 Scoring, 1998 Goaltending
1997 Schedule, 1997 Scoring, 1997 Goaltending
1996 Schedule, 1996 Scoring, 1996 Goaltending

The building is now close to fifty years old, and it protrudes from the cosmetically-correct alabaster of the Field House like the wart-encrusted nose of a witch with substandard hygiene As you enter, you are overwhelmed by the twin engines of Lynah's peculiar dankness: the subterranean lighting and the dull, gray cement skeleton.

Though the seats slant down at such a terrifying angle that the last row feels closer to the ice than the first of most buildings, there really isn't anything exciting until you look up at the rafters and see the banners. And as you read them... think of what beneficent combination of grace and design brought you on those nights to Boston, Lake Placid, and Albany.  This history belongs to us all. And it's still happening!

Where You Sit!  You should know this already, but... non-students can get season tickets through the Cornell Hockey Boosters in Sections C and N. The band sits in Section A, off the right post of the visitor's net, and students stand, the entire game, primarily in Sections B and D. Section O harbors the few brave visiting fans, abused good-natured, albeit incessantly, throughout the game.

Stop By and Say Hello:  Section C, row 8, seats 7, 8, and thereabouts.

Crowd participation.  More cheers, more noise, and more energy than in all other buildings combined. "Good evening, hockey fans." The Band. "RED!" The Cowbell. "...We Want More!" The Tubas. "Which team is the winning team?..." The center-ice salute. There is no finer crowd in any sport, in all the world.

Radio.  Usually WHCU 870 AM.  Occasionally WVBR 93.5 FM.

Website.  http://cornellbigred.ocsn.com/sports/m-hockey/corn-m-hockey-body.html

Area recommendations.  The Statler Hotel, located on campus and within spitting distance of Lynah, is usually too expensive to even consider. If your means are limited, consider staying at one of the motels on Route 13. Or, if you're really cheap and your standards are low (or the CTML is booked), try the Hillside Inn on Stewart Ave. We did this in November and realized that although the place is dilapidated, you can't come much closer to sleeping at the Chapter House, and the Hillside staff is very friendly. There are also prissy B&B's scattered throughout the Ithaca area.

For breakfast, you can't beat the Cosmo, on College Ave. For lunch, Ruloff's is also going strong. (Try the chowder, excellent even by the exacting standards of this San Francisco/ Boston transplant -- GRB). The Ithaca Sports Bar is tucked away four blocks west of Center Ithaca (three blocks down from The Haunt) and has lousy bar fare.

For dinner, if you want live and occasionally non-lethal music and deep dish pizza, go to The Nines (also on College Ave.) on a Friday or Saturday night. If you'd prefer a quiet atmosphere and round pizza, there's The Chariot on Eddy St. Both places serve superb pizza. You'll often find 12-20 of us hanging at one of these two sites around 5:30ish on game night.

Walk down Stewart Ave behind the UHalls at 1 a.m. on a cold, snowy night and you may still see the Hot Truck. (If you don't see it, mourn the passing of a legend -- rumors abound that it will soon cease to operate.)

The Hot Truck has been the metaphysical nexus of West Campus culture for the past twenty years. If you have no idea what we're talking about, just bring a big appetite to the surreally-glowing white van parked (illegally) across from the Comm Arts building and order a WGC (if you like garlic) or a PMP (if you don't). Be patient. They'll do the rest.