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Day 3 Blog: Exploring Missoula

Posted by Lauren Lackovich at 10:05 p.m. MT
Hi everyone! We were very excited to explore more of what Montana had to offer during our second day here. After a practice at the Grizzlies' gym, we were invited to check out the Sky Box where the VIP Griz fans go before home games to check out the stuffed grizzly bears on display. The Sky Box seemed to be locked up today, so we saw a fraction of a gigantic grizzly bear attacking a tiny mountain goat through the glass doors. The excitement only increased from that point when we were told we were headed to a hot spring for a relaxing soak.

During our lengthy ride through scenic Montana, we watched classic movies like “Major League” and “Borat” on the built-in DVD players in the Suburbans. I guess the drivers happened to be memorized by the picturesque landscape because after an hour or so we found ourselves lost in Idaho. I don't know how three Suburbans could take a wrong turn to end up in a different state, but apparently it can be done. After a U-turn and quick trip back over the Montana border, we arrived at a beautiful opening surrounded by large sculpture-like rocks and lush pine trees where the spring was located.

The majority of the team wanted to soak our sore muscles after two weeks of preseason so we hopped in looking to relax. After about five minutes of sitting there, we decided to have some handstand and chicken fight competitions in the pool along with the team favorite, categories. During our game playing in the water, Jess Stackhouse managed a textbook belly flop. We dried off and continued to explore our remote location by hiking up toward some teepees that were scattered up the nearby hill. Since we were all thinking ahead and only brought flip flops, our hike was cut short.

We were starving after our afternoon of swimming and hiking and since it was our assistant coach Pete's birthday, we were excited to see what special birthday plans Coach Hummel had in store. After a delicious dinner of pancakes and other breakfast foods at Perkins, we were able to surprise Pete with vanilla cupcakes. He is extremely picky so we were confident Pete would be okay with the plain vanilla. He was definitely okay with the cupcakes, but Pete said our rendition of “Happy Birthday” was somewhat tragic. We made it a point to have an early night to prepare for our game against Gonzaga Friday where we are expecting victory!

Posted by Matt Lozar at 2:10 p.m. MT
Bear with me here, this entry needs some background to make some sense.

Here's the background on Steve's Capitol Barber Shop. Adam Noto, our graduate assistant in athletic communications, is the radio play-by-play voice of the Canisius College women's basketball team. Last year, the Griffs made a trip to Missoula for the Lady Grizz Holiday Classic.

Adam, who loves exploring new towns, made a trip to Steve's Capitol Barber Shop. If you don't know Adam, he is very outgoing and makes new acquaintances quickly. At Steve's, numerous college pennants were on the wall. Not wanting Canisius to be shorted, Adam vowed to send Steve a Canisius pennant. Eventually, Adam sent Steve a Canisius polo, a pennant and a media guide. Steve sent Adam back a photo with the pennant and wearing the shirt.

Therefore, when Adam learned that I was going to Montana with the Canisius volleyball team, he wrote Steve a letter informing him that I was coming to Missoula and was going to check on the Canisius pennant. At the volleyball's team first practice on Wednesday, I was in the gym and this older man comes looking for the “Canisius sports info guy.” He tells me that when I go to Steve's, to “be on the attack” and don't let them push me around. This older man informs me that Steve received the letter and was awaiting me.

Now, I had to go to the barber shop.

During the team's practice on Thursday morning, I ventured into downtown Missoula. It was a pretty walk over the river, and I eventually found Steve's Capitol Barber Shop. Adam failed to warn me that the sign always says closed. I learned from Steve that's because he doesn't want random people walking into his barber shop.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time and haircut in the barber shop. I saw the Canisius pennant, among dozens of others, all over the walls. I saw the photos that Steve took of wearing the Canisius polo. I listened to Steve tell a number of stories. I took a photo of the Canisius pennant and had a photo taken of me and Steve. He even had the Canisius women's basketball media guide that Adam sent him last year!

Steve felt that Adam should have a different first name. With the last name of Noto, Steve believes that Adam's name should be Tony. Since he's on radio, Steve has coined him Tony the Voice Noto. We'll see if it sticks around the Koessler Athletic Center.

Anyway, we're on our way to the Hot Springs as I'm posting this from the front seat of our Suburban.

We'll have another guest blogger later today along with photos from the day.

P.S. Congrats to men's basketball assistant coach “Adi” for getting Cameroon to the gold medal game in the FIBA African Basketball Championships!

Posted by Matt Lozar, 8:20 a.m. (MT)
An early-morning post providing another angle about the trip, and this blogger for that matter.

Traveling with athletic teams, or on business for that matter, leads you to a number of different cities and hotels throughout the year. That has made me somewhat of a hotel snob.

I'm not talking about needing to stay in a five-star Ritz Carlton or anything like that. Although the Crowne Plaza in Worcester, Mass. holds my number one spot for Canisius athletic trips so far. We'll see what women's basketball brings to the table this year after I've traveled with the hockey team the last two seasons.
However, being a hotel snob means you learn to analyze a hotel. Not just how good the bed is or how many TV channels, but the little things of a hotel.

Things like
  • Shower's water pressure, which is average at best in this hotel.
  • Layout of the room and bathroom. The room is set up well, but our bathroom's lack of counter space and weird design leave something to be desired.
  • Number of and accessibility to electrical outlets... VERY IMPORTANT. We've had to search for them here, but they are in the room.
  • Breakfast. This hotel has a complimentary, hot buffet breakfast for all of its guests, which earns major points in my book. The only thing I wish they would have along with the wide variety of foods is some fresh fruit. As I said, hotel snob.
  • Quality of the iron, haven't had to venture there yet.

    Overall assessment about Ruby's Inn and Conference Center ? can't complain.

    It was a quiet and restful night, something extremely necessary after the long travel on the way out here. Off to grab some of that hot, buffet breakfast and head over to campus. Hope to have a great story for you later today!

    P.S. Happy Birthday to assistant coach Pete Harenda!
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    Players Mentioned

    Lauren Lackovich

    #10 Lauren Lackovich

    S
    5' 9"
    Senior
    Jess Stackhouse

    #13 Jess Stackhouse

    L
    5' 8"
    Senior

    Players Mentioned

    Lauren Lackovich

    #10 Lauren Lackovich

    5' 9"
    Senior
    S
    Jess Stackhouse

    #13 Jess Stackhouse

    5' 8"
    Senior
    L