Verizon crowd enjoys 'Ice Wars'

An American skating squad barely edged out its multi-national counterparts last night in the hard-fought "Ice Wars: USA vs. The World" at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester.

The four-person American squad topped Team World by a score 587.0 to 586.7 in a close competition that saw plenty of cheering and jeering from the audience filling the arena's lower deck.

The mostly female crowd was more polite than one might see at a hockey game, perhaps, but it didn't hide its feeling at all. Attendees booed their disappointment when 1995 national champion Nicole Bobek scored just a 47.8 on her technical program.

Fans also didn't like when past Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton received a 48.2. Hamilton, a crowd favorite, was wildly cheered throughout his performance.

The gathering agreed with judges when it came to Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano and Ilia Kulik. Kulik, of Russia, did well with a 49, while Boitano stole the show with a 49.3. Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski performed well, too, posting a 48.9.

Team World took a half-point lead into the intermission, but it was in the artistic program when the USA roared back with Boitano scoring an incredible 99 points. Hamilton, the veteran of the tour, incorporated a golf club into the final performance and registered a 99, putting the U.S. over the top.

The event was a hit with the diehard skating fans present, who applauded the skaters from the introductions until the finale.

"I follow any competitions that come to the area," said Donna Janowicz, of Lowell, Mass. "I'm a diehard fan, especially of competitions. I'd go anywhere."

Janowicz was especially a fan of Hamilton, Kulik and four-time world champion Kurt Browning of Canada.

Hamilton also had a fan in Amy Maurice of Manchester. She described his skating as "awesome."

"There's no words to describe it," Maurice said.