Soccer and hockey take center stage on vacation / Sports Scene

By Andy Nystrom • February 15, 2019 9:30 am

When you’re on vacation, you might as well pack as many vital activities into your schedule as you can, right? Sometimes, the docket lengthens as events arise, seemingly from out of nowhere. You keep your eyes open, and if possible, wedge an international friendly soccer match in there. Kick things up a notch.

After arriving in San Jose, California, on Feb. 2, my wife and I were driving our rental car out of the airport toward Coleman Avenue and then to our friends’ house to begin our vacation. We usually hit the In-N-Out Burger joint nearby, and this time we noticed a bunch of people milling about near the Avaya Stadium, some draped in Costa Rican flags. A quick glance at the marquee and we found out that a men’s international soccer match between the USA and Costa Rica would be starting in about an hour and a half.

Following a visit to the drive-thru for a burger and a five-minute drive to our friends’ abode, the plan was set. We were going to the match, in addition to our already planned hockey venture to the Sharks vs. Coyotes game at the SAP Center across town later that night.

Let’s make it a sports twofer while it’s within reach. We can rest later.

So, we were the super sports fans around town and our crew witnessed a pair of great contests. First, standing behind one of the goals at the soccer match as the USA defeated Costa Rica, 2-0, and then perched in the nosebleed seats as the Sharks downed the Coyotes, 3-2, in overtime.

We managed to mix in some fabulous barbecue dinner at Henry’s World Famous Hi-Life and even caught the Sharks’ organist putting in a performance at the Poor House Bistro after the game. The wins kept on coming.

Soon, Seattle will be sporting a pro hockey team and we’ll be stoked to get to watch our beloved Sharks in town. Perhaps there’s a budding hockey player in the area skating away at the Sno-King Ice Arena in Kirkland who might don a Seattle uniform someday. Keep the stick to the puck, ‘cause you never know what’s up the ice of life.

On the Eastside this summer, the U.S. Club Soccer’s 2019 National Cup XVIII Northwest Regional will kick off at 60 Acres Soccer Complex in Redmond. Tons of talented players will be making their mark on the pitches and just might be headed for the big time someday.