Those of you who have attended a hockey game at the Air Force Academy this season have obviously seen the new box seats located at each end zone along the concourse. There are six on each side, and they are the brainchild of Chris Peludat, former ticket operations manager at the Academy. Peludat left last spring for a similar position in the athletic department at Purdue. But his idea came to fruition this summer, to the overwhelming delight of all of those who have leased the boxes this winter.
"I came up with the idea," Peludat said on the phone from his Purdue office. "We had thought about it for a few years, starting I think after we won the first (Atlantic Hockey) conference championship. Then prior to last season, we really started thinking about it again. We went through a couple different variations. We needed to do something to make them stand out, and wanted them to look like a penalty box. We thought about doing it at ice level, but had some concerns."
Logistics and other things doused that plan. Had they put them at ice level, the Academy could have only used the north end. At it is, they decided to move up to the concourse and construct the boxes behind both goals. Once that was decided, "Then we needed to determine how big, and how many people in each," Peludat continued. "I drew it up, presented it, and got pricing."
The end result are the twelve boxes, each with a table and four stools. Each box sold for $1,000.00 for the season, which came with a $100.00 credit toward food or merchadise. Each end even gets hostess service, performed by Brianna and Jenae, both students at UCCS.
"Everybody's been great. They follow the rules. It's been great," said Bill Applebee, a sales associate in the athletic ticket office who oversees the boxes on game nights. "Everybody has a one-year deal. They obviously have first rights for playoffs, and first rights to renew for next year."
Asked if they sold out quick, Applebee added, "Yes. I have a nice little waiting list of season ticket holders. There's a great deal of interest."
One of the box owners on the south end is Jeff DeLaurell, father of Kyle DeLaurell, who leads the Falcons in scoring this year. "I was at my computer when the email came through. I jumped on it right away. I didn't care what they cost," Jeff DeLaurell explained. Jeff chose a box on the south end because, "I wanted to see that scoreboard." He means the scoreboard and big screen behind the north goal. Asked if he has brought a lot of different people along with him, DeLaurell said, "Oh yeah. I've brought family and various friends, either from here or coming into town. They love it. It's so exciting." DeLaurell, who has lived here for six years now, also plans to keep his box after Kyle's time with the Falcons is over, "Oh yes. Absolutely."
Also owning boxes at the south end are couples Michael and Mary Kay Cook, and Chuck and Marina Lynn. "We love it," Michael Cook said. We've been season ticket holders in Section FF for the last couple years. We came to the Burgundy and White game (the preseason exhibition game of the Colorado Avalanche). I said, 'I betcha they're going to be selling these.' We made some inquiries at the ticket office, and this was the last one."
"We really like this end. We've got the screen, and Air Force attacks this end in the first and third periods," Chuck Linn added.
The boxes all have names. On the south end, they are named for previous Falcon All-Americans, including Chuck Delich, Eric Ehn, and Jacques Lamoureux. The north end boxes are named for Falcon championship teams, such as the 2011 Atlantic Hocky Champions box.
"That was the idea behind it," Peludat said. "If we do this, what are we going to call them. Without the team's success in recent years, obviously they wouldn't be there."
And so a really neat idea has come to be, adding a really cool look to the venue. "I'm really proud of them," Peludat concluded. "They add a little something to the rink without being obtrusive."
Blue Lines
Air Force traveled to Canisius for a rare Sunday-Monday series. The Falcons won Sunday's contest 3-0, with goalie Stephen Caple getting his second career shutout. Monday's game ended in a 1-1 tie, with Jason Torf getting the start in net for the second time since returning from a groin injury. The three points boosted the Falcons into a tie for 3rd place in the conference with Niagara. Air Force is two points behind league leader RIT, who the Falcons will host this weekend. Friday's game will be televised on CBS Sports Network, and will begin at 8:00 pm. Faceoff Saturday will be at the normal time of 7:00 pm.
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