Chirps from Center Ice

I was actually able to get inside the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins Team Store / Practice Facility today and take some nice pictures.

I took them on my iPhone 4. Disclaimer: I am not a professional photographer.

More after the jump…

There are actually two entrances to the Coal Street Complex. An entrance to the actual skating rink / complex and the entrance into the Team Store. I chose the Team Store. The Store is actually quite spacious compared to the last two team stores. In fact, you’d probably be able to fit the last team store and the one before it in this current one.

They had the home / road / alternate jerseys from last year hanging at the front of the store, but with the windows tinted an actual picture of that would not have come out right so I opted for these three jerseys hanging from the ceiling as soon as you walk in. Hint to any Pens staffers checking out my blog, the home / road / alternate jerseys would look better hanging here…but I am no interior decorator!

A nice touch is that the Team Store actually doubles as a hockey pro shop. As you look to your left, they have an array of skates for sale. (Sorry, I didn’t check prices)

To the right they have an assortment of jerseys for sale in all sizes. You can get authentic or replica jerseys. The team store offers personalized lettering name plates and numbers for an additional cost.

Take a few steps forward and look to the right and there is this. A wall of sticks. These are all for sale. The ones on the left are not issued for the players (I think they call them pro stock) the ones on the right are in fact players sticks. Very cool. (No, the framed jerseys are not for sale)

Yes. That is actually a stick made for Paul Bissonnette. A staffer told me that if you buy a stick with the name on it you will also get an letter of authenticity from the Penguins. Once again, I have no idea on prices.

Turn around from the sticks and they have goaltender equipment and helmets.

On the extreme right wall they have gloves and pads. These are all new. I don’t think the City of Wilkes-Barre’s Health Department would allow for used ones.

You can even come in and get your skates sharpened! Very cool!

That is pretty much it for the tour of the Team Store. They are still moving in and I expect they will have many more items available for purchase. I didn’t notice any hats, skull caps or otherwise. I wasn’t really looking, I was more in awe of the surroundings.

Now let’s move onto the actual practice facility / skate complex…

There is a skate rental. Hockey skates are on the center / left and they also have figure skates. They have many sizes.

They have an open locker area where you can store your shoes and benches where you can sit and lace ’em up.

Fireplace and comfy chairs. At the time I took this picture there were people to the left of me chatting about important hockey stuff, so I didn’t want to ask them to move. It’s a nice setup.

Concession area. There wasn’t a menu posted that I saw but I am sure it’s your usual hot dogs, pretzels, candy, soft drinks and popcorn. Very nice.

If you turn around from the concession area, they have this setup. I like the flat screen TV. If the Pens do indeed videotape their practices, this would be a great place to watch. Either practices or replays of games.

Step thru the doors from the lobby area and the practice rink is here. Below is the hallway. You can’t walk around the rink, as there are no bleachers on the other side. In those cubbie holes are weight equipment. In the office looks like a meeting room. I didn’t spot any whiteboards or TV equipment so I don’t know what the Penguins have in store.

This is just another meeting room which is right next to the one above. The reflection of the rink (and me) are in the windows.

Finally these are shots of where all the work for this upcoming 2010-2011 season will be done. Zamboni driver was flooding the ice at the time.

More of the ice. That is a scoreboard in the upper right hand corner.

Truly a beautiful complex. Center Ice. Where you will find me this year.

I hope you enjoyed the tour. Truly a first class facility. It is going to be a great year. I can’t wait to get going. I don’t care if you use re-use these pictures on your blog or wherever. Just please leave the “nafsnep.wordpress.com” mark on the picture.

Let’s Go Pens!