Minnesota Swarm (6-5 H 1-3 A 5-2)
	Portland LumberJax (5-5 H 2-3 A 3-2)

Friday, March 17, 2006
Portland, Oregon
Attendance: 5,487

The Swarm and the numerous Swarm fans who showed up had a great weekend in Portland. Numerous players had relatives to watch them play. For example, I met Riley Kemp's mom who was waving her Swarm flag in the crowd. I met Ryan Ward's oldest brother, Paul (I sure hope I remembered correctly), who says he is the secret behind his youngest brother's success.

A special thanks to Eliuk and his wife. The first ever Swarm season ticket holders made the trip from Hawaii to see the Swarm. They moved to Hawaii in the offseason and they were very helpful. For instance, they let me know where the Swarm were staying in Portland. Not to mention, they also have strong opinions about the Swarm, they let me know about them and it was enjoyable and informative to listen. They have trouble watching the games on B2 because of the time difference but they are definitely following the team.

Portland seems to always be overcast but it is a nice place to visit. Three light rail lines which cover the city rather well. It may not be New York or Chicago in rail transit but it does a good job. The Twin Cities needs to catch up. Portland seems to have a different feeling to it than the Twin Cities. It looks a bit older, maybe European, but it is a good look. The downtown area is vibrant especially on St. Patrick's Day. All in all, Portland is a great town to visit.

The Rose Garden has a different look than the X. The X is better lit inside compared to the Rose Garden. The X is more spacious but you still have the feeling of closeness. The Rose Garden just has the closeness. Inside, the X wins hand down, but the Rose Garden has a very nice plaza next to the arena for fans to congregate before and after the game and the light rail stop is right there. This the X doesn't have and I am not sure if it will considering the location. However, the bars are easy walking distance from the X while you have to take the light rail across the river in Portland to get to the bars which still isn't too bad.

I am not sure if we need a mascot, probably not, but I think the Performance Team would look good coming out in a Swarmmobile like they have in Portland. Even though the crowd was small, smaller than I thought, they were into the game and the PA announcer help keep them pumped. They all got up and cheered when they scored. However, I and the Swarm fans around the arena had a lot elbow room to cheer when we scored especially in the fourth. I sat next to a couple who were from Victoria who were neutral in team choice but they were very nice and gave me good information about summer box.

I sat in section 101 about halfway up. This was right in the center in the arena behind the benches. I originally thought the tickets were behind the penalty box but I was mistaken. This is the first time I have seen a game at that vantage point and it was pretty good. I got down to the Swarm bench before pre-game warmups and said hello to Nick Patterson, Matt Disher and Kyle Ross as they waited for the rest of the team. I slapped them high fives as they came out the tunnel for pre-game warmups. I think they may have been a bit shocked to see me but they were great. I was wearing my Jamie Taylor shirt, he gave me a thumbs up but he got scratched. The shirt sure didn't work as well as Chad Culp's on February 10th.

Finally to the game. The Swarm sure got behind early. A man down defense was woeful and we just couldn't get it going. Nick was struggling and Mark was losing faceoffs early. I think Kelly Hall scoring on the power play just before the half to make it 4-6 was key. The Jax played better but the Swarm were able to keep it within two.

The Swarm stepped it up to begin the 3rd period. They tied it at 7, but the Jax came right back quickly to get a 9-7 lead. Goals were traded right up to the big fight of the game. Sean Pollock stood up to Damian Davis and Sean wanted to go and he did. Davis looked like he got a good start but Sean kept on coming back and then took advantage. Sean got a good uppercut on Davis and kept on him. Eventually, Sean drew blood on Davis and the fight was stopped. As Davis went to the locker room to get stitched up, bleeding a river, Sean was pumped and still ready to go. Even though, Ryan Powell scored to make it 11-8 at the end of the third, the Swarm had decided to show up finally.

By this time, I think all the Jax fans sitting around me were getting a bit weary of me cheering and yelling on the Swarm. Wildheadtatt knows what I speak of. Of course, I probably would have been skinned alive in Philly in pre-game.

Thinking back on the game, it has a eerie similarity. The coaches and many of the players for the Jax used to play for the Anaheim Storm. On April 9th, 2005, the Swarm were down by three goals going into the fourth, 5-8, and were struggling throughout the game. But in the fourth, the Swarm caught fire and tied up the game at 11 to end regulation where Jamie Taylor eventually won it. In that game, Ryan Ward scored four in the fourth and tied it with two seconds to go in the 4th quarter. Ryan Ward was the catalyst for the comeback. He took the mantle as the Swarm's go to guy that night. Friday night, Ryan Ward continued that legacy.

Ryan's play was fantastic in the fourth. He scored a goal and assisted on three. He, like against Anaheim, tied the game in the fourth. And just like in Anaheim, Ward put the dagger in the Jax's heart. Ryan is our Grant, our Tavares, our Doyle. Many don't think we have a superstar player; however, they are wrong because Ryan is now consistently showing everyone the great player he is and the great thing is, Ryan can still be even better.

Ryan is coming into his own; however, in this game compared to that game in Anaheim, Ryan may have put the dagger in, but we also now have players to pound the dagger in with him. In the fourth, those hammers were Mark Miyashita wth two goals and coming in clutch on winning face offs. It was Brock Boyle who never gave up on the breakaways who finally cash in on the game winner. It was Kasey Beirnes who continued to work near the crease to put the biscuit in the basket. It was Michael Kilby who came to Culp's defense and told the Jax to stick it. It was Nick Patterson who got back into the groove late in the game to shut the door on the Jax. They were down but they got together and said enough of this crap and came back and shoved it down the Jax's throat. It sure was a great thing to see in person as the tide turned.

This is the Swarm. These are guys going forward and they are putting it together, they're taking names and dishing out the punishment. They're growing into a young and dangerous team before our eyes. Veteran leadership be damned. They have always had the team leader on this team and his name is Ryan Cousins. Some may think he just runs around in circles on the floor but he has the support of this team because they believe in him. Watch him and you will soon appreciate his efforts.

We have four of five at home to end the season. We are right in the middle of the playoff chase. We got some big guns coming into town but we are ready to take them on. The first is Buffalo as we are back home finally on Friday. Damn it, get the word out and get to the X. Get behind the Swarm and go nuts in your support of the Swarm.

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