Here's a beauty of a story:
BUFFALO -- After a two-hour wait to cross the Peace Bridge Tuesday, Andrea Perry thought the worst was over as she headed to the Canada-Czech Republic game at the HSBC Arena.
Then it was time to park.
As the Niagara Falls hockey buff pulled into a lot near the arena, she was shocked by the sign charging $40. Having been to several Buffalo Sabres games over the years, she has never seen the rates go past $15.
It turns out she got a bargain. After parking by the exit, the sign changed to $50. Then, as hundreds more Canadian vehicles arrived about an hour before game time, it went up to $60. World junior hockey fans already flustered over the border delay were furious.
"Some people were yelling at the parking attendants," she said. "They said, 'Tickets are only $70 and you're charging us $60 to park?'
"They knew we were going over to support (Team Canada), as opposed to the U.S. games that are pretty much empty."
Sure enough, as she headed back to the car after Canada's 7-2 victory, parking for the U.S.-Slovakia game later that night cost $10.
It made for some more angry Canadians.
"When people were walking out, they were looking at the signs and yelling stuff at (the attendants)," said Perry. "They just said their boss told them to do it.... The one guy said he knew it was ridiculous."
"They ought to give you a (hockey jersey) for that amount," Ottawa's Wayne Edwards told the Buffalo News.
It was the same story at every parking lot near the arena, where the World Junior Hockey Tournament continues until Jan. 5. Parking lots two or three blocks away from the arena were in the $30 to $40 range, but only for the Team Canada game.
Management for the Pay 2 Park lot on Michigan Ave. near the arena was unavailable for comment.
Perry wants to warn people driving to watch other Team Canada games.
"Some people don't bring that much money to park," she said. "We thought that was just gouging and taking advantage (of Canadians). They can't fill their arena with American fans, so they have to gouge us."
There are alternatives.
"We considered parking at the mall and taking a cab," said Perry. "A couple from Guelph actually did that and they said it only cost them $30."
Despite the gouging and border delay, Perry went back for Wednesday's game.
"The atmosphere was so good, it was a lot of fun," she said. "(But) if the Canadians weren't there, I don't know what the attendance would be at this place. They said 65% of the tickets for the whole thing went to Canadian addresses."
Maybe ya could step up production...help us out a little. 
