Pipe Dream was on hand this weekend as the Broome County Memorial Arena hosted the AHL All Star Game. Matt Hogan was there covering it all; these are his thoughts.

Saturday, 1:16 p.m. ‘ I just got back from picking up my press credentials at the Binghamton Regency. I was given an All-Star shirt, an All-Star puck and a white envelope with who-knows-what inside. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning as I opened up the envelope and tore into the folder with the AHL logo on the front. Inside the folder was a list of scheduled events for the media, a few maps of the area for those who aren’t familiar with it and my ‘golden ticket,’ a press pass with my name on it. Right now, I’m still taking everything in as it all seems a bit surreal, but I’m enjoying it nonetheless. I won’t be doing much more today other than planning out what lies ahead. I have a big couple of days ahead of me, starting tomorrow with my first trip into the locker room at 4:45 p.m.

Saturday, 11:27 p.m. ‘ I have just finished writing the last of my questions for the players I plan on interviewing tomorrow. I really don’t know what to expect, but after just having watched the NHL All-Star Skills Competition on television, I’m sure I can expect the best. I’m looking forward to the relaxed atmosphere that encompasses such a game, and just like those first-time All-Stars, I can only wait with a sustained anticipation until tomorrow.

Sunday, 4:16 p.m. ‘ I have made my way to my own personal seat in the press box. The arena, for the moment, is empty, with the exception of myself and a few other reporters from some major networks. Within the hour I will be entering the locker rooms to interview a few players, an experience that I’m sure will shoot more chills down my spine.

Sunday, 6:32 p.m. ‘ I have survived my first trip as a journalist into a professional sports locker room. My first steps into the Planet USA All-Stars locker room were similar to my first steps into the classroom my first day of kindergarten: I didn’t know anybody and I was sweating like Shaq at the foul line. My first interview was with Tuukka Rask, a goalie for the Providence Bruins, and it was an interview that I will never forget and as the interview went on, I saw how easy this would be. The next player to interview was Brian Lee of the Binghamton Senators. I felt like I was a pro already. By the time I got to my third player, Brett Sterling of the Chicago Wolves, it was like I was talking to an old friend. I then ventured into the Canadian All-Star locker room and it was a breeze; although I may have still had a few jitters and stuttered on a few questions, it was a great learning experience. The locker rooms were a great chance to see how things work at events such as this. I spoke with other journalists as well and they told me how things were done. Oh, and there was a free media buffet ‘ can’t beat that. Well, the Skills competition is about to start and so I must watch the best the AHL has to offer.

Sunday, 9:51 p.m. ‘ The Skills competition lived up to its name. The players enjoyed themselves quite a bit, as the Planet USA All-Stars defeated the Canadian All-Stars 15-9. I had a great time watching the competition take place, as did all of the Binghamton fans. It was an amazing experience. After the competition ended I watched the fans crowd the ice for autographs from their favorite players, and the players were more than happy to oblige. After snapping a few pictures, I headed to the locker room yet again, for my second encounter with the players; needless to say it was much more relaxed. I talked to goalie Tuukka Rask again and asked him what he thought about his first All-Star experience, he answered by saying, ‘I was actually just trying not to pull my groin.’ Not quite what I expected, but interesting nonetheless. The players were having a lot more fun with one another, ragging on each other for messing up during the competition and joking around with the other reporters. It was a great night overall and I am looking forward to what tomorrow night will bring.

Monday, 6:31 p.m. ‘ I’m back in my seat in the press box and player introductions are about 30 minutes away. The player interviews went even better today. There was a real relaxed atmosphere in the locker room and the game will most likely have the same feel to it. I’m adapting pretty well to this lifestyle of interviewing and writing. I might still be the little fish in what seems to be an ocean, but soon enough I’m sure I’ll grow into a bigger fish and this ocean won’t seem so large. After the game I will have another chance to interview the players. I anticipate the locker rooms being very similar to that of an insane asylum, but I look forward to seeing the players after their All-Star experience is done.

Monday, 8:34 p.m. ‘ The game has about five minutes left in the second period and the crowd is responding amazingly well to these players. It is already 5-5 and it appears that the game will see many more goals before this one is through. Speaking of which, Brett Sterling of the Chicago Wolves has just made it a 6-5 game.

Monday, 10:13 p.m. ‘ Well, it’s all over for me. The game itself was an unbelievable experience. The Canadian All-Stars won in a shootout 9-8. As soon as the MVP presentation was finished I rushed down to the locker room through a sea of fellow reporters to do my interviews. After squeezing my way through the other reporters and talking to the players that I needed to, I took one last look at what I had just accomplished and headed for the exit. On my way out I ran into my new friend Dan who writes for several papers near the Springfield area. A good way to view the relationship I built with Dan over the course of the past two days would be to look at him as the seasoned veteran and myself as the rookie with potential. Dan was a great guy and I learned a lot from him over the course of the past two days. When looking back at my first professional sports experience I really don’t know how to explain how amazing it was, so I’ll let my interview with Manitoba Moose goalie Drew MacIntyre sum it up; ‘It was a lot of fun. It was something I’ll never forget, something I feel blessed and privileged to be a part of, and hopefully not my last one.’ Well said, Drew.