A change in opinion

Now that incredibleIce, the Florida Panthers practice facility in Coral Springs, has opened its newest practice rink for business, it was time to revisit its hockey-hounding capabilities. Moody, Hound Central 5.0's roving Southeast correspondent, shares that it's still worth a trip, though different methods need to be employed.

Early indications still ring true that conditions once affording easy hounding opportunities inside the facility no longer exist. Limitations that restrict access to the players do, indeed, remain:

This barrier maintains a 30-feet buffer from the players' locker room entrance. Yes, it could be possible to call over players, but it seems like a stretch to expect them to make the trip. And, please, don't be a fool and cross the barrier. Why ruin it for everyone?


The facility, however, offers this viewing room where hounds and fans can take in practices in a climate-controlled environment. Remember, this being South Florida, that's a big factor. It can get warm outside during the season.

Moody also reports that the viewing room is used by local sports media to conduct interviews for television broadcasts. This affords the only in-person opportunity for autographs inside the facility.

Thankfully, at least for South Florida hounds, it doesn't mean that it's impossible to get autographs. All it takes is a willingness to catch the players outside the facility. For visiting teams, and Moody's hoping to conduct a field trip soon for verification, the front entrance might be the best place to score autographs from players.

Unless a team's bus parks in the gated lot, and conditions do allow for this, players may likely follow last season's drill and walk along this sidewalk -- near the front entrance to the facility -- before and after practices. If this is the case, it represents the best opportunity to score some autographs.

As for the Panthers, Moody reports most of the players use the facility's rear entrance. In this visit last month, he got autographs from David Booth (shown stopping to sign in the top photo), Scott Clemmensen, Michael Frolik, Nathan Horton, Ville Koistenen, Jordan Leopold, Bryan McCabe, Steve Reinprecht and Tomas Vokoun.

Those who used the front entrance were Bryan Allen, Dominic Moore, Rostislav Olesz, Cory Stillman (who parked in the public lot by the front door) and members of the coaching staff.

Keep in mind, though, that the rear entrance, which no longer utilizes a security guard, provides no protection from the sun and heat. Remember to wear sunscreen (don't forget a towel to wipe off your mitts, too) and bring plenty of fluids to maintain some level of comfort.

Not the best news

Hockey hounds in South Florida know that incredibleICE in Coral Springs, the Florida Panthers practice facility, is the best place to score autographs. But, now that the facility has expanded -- adding a third rink and a gated parking lot for players -- it could increase the degree of difficulty in adding to your collection.

As work on the new rink nears completion, it's easy enough to see how hounding will pan out as the Panthers and visiting NHL teams practice there, reports Moody, Hound Central 5.0's roving Southeast correspondent. See what he means:

Teams will practice on the third sheet of ice, next to team offices. Dressing rooms are at the end of the hall with a private entrance. As a result, fans will have no access to teams. The player’s parking lot is private, too, and has a pair of gated exits. Yes, sports fans, those would be obstacles.

Word, too, is that visiting team buses will pull into the lot. However, if team buses park in front of incredibleICE, that offers the best opportunity for autographs.

At best, hounding at incredibleICE will be tricky, becoming a cat-and-mouse game inside or outside at the parking lot gates. Over time, though, hounds will find a way to get their autographs. We always do.

Two more looks from inside the new rink:

Prospects within the Florida Panthers organization run through drills on the new sheet of ice.

Here's a nice touch -- Comfy front-row seats to watch the practices rather than cold bleachers on concrete slabs. They look too low to be useful, don't they?

Perfect conditions

If you're a hockey hound living in South Florida, it's well worth your time to take a trip now over to incredibleICE in Coral Springs, the Florida Panthers practice facility, says Moody, Hound Central 5.0's roving Southeast correspondent.

How good is it? Moody added 52 autographed cards in a single visit to the facility earlier this week. Among those taking part in the informal workouts and signing were Nathan Horton, Kamil Kreps, Steven Reinprecht, Cory Stillman (who signed five cards), Jeff Taffe, Stephen Weiss, Bryan Allen, Jordan Leopold, Tomas Vokoun, Evgeny Dadonov and Anthony Stewart.

Beyond an awe-inspiring number of autographs, Moody reports the construction work on a new rink, and the resulting precautions, means that players taking part in precamp workouts don't have an exclusive parking lot -- just yet -- and have to walk through the arena to get to the new sheet of ice.

When the facility is complete, the players will have their own gated parking area that has two separate entrances/exits. The bad news, though, is the new locker rooms are set up so the fans don't have access to players as they come off the ice. At best, hounds should expect to only get autographs outside.

Up next? The Panthers rookie camp from Sept. 7-10. The NHL club opens its camp Sept. 12, but immediately heads to Nova Scotia.