Even though the Monsters were no where near the playoffs, I dont care. Just to see hockey back in Cleveland was rewarding enough. It was marketed well too cause it was good to see that I wasnt the only person on a thursday night who wanted to see a hockey game. Even though these guys dont have the skills yet of NHL players, they someday will and I can say I saw them first. Just like Jonathan Cheechoo of the Sharks. I remember his first season here in Cleveland, and now he has lead the NHL in scoring. I also think Gilbert should get more credit cause with the Monsquad, that mc guy, and Sully, Gilbert succeeded in making the game entertaining for a family not just us hockey fans. He really cares about this team and this city and I will continue to come to games next year.

I agree, it's been a fun year, hopefully next year will be better. I'll see you all there.

TO ALL THE HOCKEY FANS: You guys were amazing. I was part of the MonSquad and it was just sooo much fun meeting you all and having your help cheering on the team. I really loved being a part of the team and we couldnt have done it with out you guys. I hope you all had a blast and cant wait till next season! thank you all! amanda a.

To the fans, the Monsquad, Sully, Johnny Keys, The announcer, the MC, and especially the team, the upper brass, and everybody who made it all possible, thank you. As a season ticket holder who made every game but two there was not a night that wasn't a good time. Sure there were ups and downs but name me one team in the history of sports who didn't have any in their first year. I deffinately look forward to sitting in the same seats, harrassing the same refs, and trying to knock the same rivals off of their game next year. Welcome back hockey I hope you stick around for a long time.


Thanks again,

Superfan. AKA, Cotton Eye John.

this year was good, good to see hockey back and hope it stays for a LONG time. season had its troubles but was eventful and next season should be better, can't wait.
the monsquad girls were fantastic, although they shoulda let them don the skates which almost every other team has, but fun nonetheless.
sully, is the best mascot ever, i mean come on a freakin seagull, AWESOME!
one thing i would like to see improve is the refereeing. ahl refs stink, they should adopt the two ref system like the nhl.
overall good first season and can't wait to see em next year in my new seats, we checked em out for the hamilton game and they are awesome.

i clipped this from an ahl press release:

Average attendance at the 40 games played over the final weekend of the regular season was 7,446... The first-year Lake Erie Monsters drew three of the top four single-game crowds in the AHL this season, including a season-high 15,408 for their home finale on Saturday.

that is great to hear, now the team needs to back it up with some more wins, next season should be good.

I must admit at the start of the year I didn't give this team or this organization much credit. Especially on here and to other hockey fans. I am a huge hockey fan and have been a season ticket holder both for the Barons and the Youngstown Steelhounds. I am also an avid Cleveland sports fan, so this was all a natural fit to me. But from the start something just didn't seem right. It wasn't the product on the ice, I can live with bad teams. Like I said I am a Cleveland sports fan. It was the circus that took place around the game. I understand Mr. Gilbert's and his team approach and reasoning to get the families in the door and get them interested in the Monsters, but it just wasn't doing it for my wife and I. We went to about 5 games early on in the year, and again I'll admit we gave up on it quickly. As a hockey fan I just didn't have any interest in what was going on around me and it all seemed to take away from the experience of the hockey game itself. I've contiued to follow the Monsters both through the media and on here, and remained a fan of the team itself. My wife and I wanted to attend fan appreciation night, becasue thats just what we do, one final goodbye to hockey until next year. I was impressed when I stepped to the ticket window early Saturday afternoon and had to actually discuss what seats were available. The game itself was even more impressive. The crowd was amazing, and to all of you that filled that place, thank you. It was great to see an NHL caliber crowd at The Q. The overall all experiece was better in itself as well. My wife commented several times how it just wasn't as annoying as in games past. The game itself kept our attention, and the timeouts and stoppages were full of fun things to watch and be a part of. We had the most fun we'd had at a hockey game all year, Columbus, Cleveland, or Youngstown. We both walked out of The Q that night with new hope for this team and this organization. To the Monsters staff, the MonSquad, and even Sully (who I complained about greatly earlier on) Thank you all for a great experience, and for bringing hockey back to Cleveland. You might have just won yourself a new season ticket holder.

hockey ,becoming a family sport, when did that happen is beyond me! i really don't care for the signs, getting your hair painted or all that other stuff. we went to one game and all these kids wanted to do was to get their stupid signs on the jumbotron WHILE there was a fight going on. it felt like i was watching wrestling with all the signs going on.
yes it was great to see an nhl sized crowd in the stands which comes to another point, if we could get that many people to come and watch a minor league team, technically we should be able to get the same or even more with an nhl team in town, not to mention the fact that their are a couple in the vicinity of cleveland
(detroit, columbus, pittsburgh, buffalo, chicago) so the crowd would certainly be mixed but... i dont know i like the monsters so.. but it would be nice to have an nhl team in town.
cant wait to see what happens next season.

Why would you want an NHL team? Sure you get good crowds and a great energy but the ticket prices would be 3times the amount they are now. And I really dont like the signs and face painting just to get on the jumbotron either but you have to look at it from the business standpoint cause your selling a ticket. Trust me, they'll be better next season if they get some decent defenseman.

i'd be torn if cleveland had an NHL team. I can't imagine supporting someone other than the red wings (although watching the playoffs, i do frequently in short bursts).

why would i want an nhl team in cleveland? hmmm... why not! granted i like the monsters and cleveland in some form has been associated with the ahl since its inception and that is fine, i am not saying i don't like the ahl at all.
ned, if we had a nhl team i would be torn too, as i am a red wings fan but if we had a team i would have to side with cleveland first, but it would be hard.
yes ticket prices will be alot steeper and as for an nhl team im cleveland i am just SPECULATING that is all, i know it's never going to happen again but it is nice to dream.

I don't want an NHL Team.
Just too expensive. Our seats now are affordable and we enjoy the games. To have more of the expense, we'd need 10cent dog and beer nights to be able to sustain any weight because I couldn't afford the groceries.

First things first, people, and that is putting enough behinds in the seats to keep a hockey club in town. Whether we partake of the antics around the rink or are there for the game itself doesn't matter as much as the Monsters' staff reaching enough paying bodies to make this thing work.

And they have been.

If the play continues to improve, this franchise is going to just get better. As it is, it was a lot more fun to go to games this season. See you all next October.

EZF118...Well said!!!!