Two ice hockey fans go on a blind date

JOHN L.: 70 / semi-retired real estate developer

WHEN HE IS HAPPIEST: Coaching kids in hockey

WHO PLAYS HIM IN THE MOVIE: Al Pacino

7 P.M. TRIDENT GALLEY & RAW BAR, HINGHAM

COLD START

Michaeline: I enjoy reading the column. When the link appeared to submit an application, I clicked it. I honestly thought that Cupid would never reach out.

John: I saw it in the Globe, and thought, This sounds interesting. I’m not a timid person.

Michaeline:I was early. He was 20 minutes late. I was in the process of deciding whether or not to leave.

John:I was 15 minutes late. Before the date, I coached my grandson’s hockey game, and when I came off the highway, it was a parking lot.

Michaeline:He came to the table and apologized. He explained that he was caught in traffic on the way back from coaching his grandson’s team. Any excuse involving grandkids is a “get out of jail free” card in my book.

John:I thought she was pretty, blonde, and dressed well.

THE WARM-UP

Michaeline:I was already nursing a glass of wine when he arrived, and he ordered a scotch.

John:We drilled pretty quickly that we were from the same background — she lives around the corner from me now, and I grew up in South Boston and she has roots in South Boston and Dorchester. We had a very similar upbringing.

Michaeline:We have roots in South Boston and Dorchester. “What’s your parish” is Boston-speak for “What street did you grow up on?” Naturally, there was a smattering of “St. Brendan’s versus St. Williams” and we discovered we had both been taught by St. Joseph nuns.

John:I played hockey at BC, and she is a big hockey fan. The night before, she had gone to the BU game, and the coach is one of my best friends. When I mentioned I had Bruins season tickets, she was like, Wow.

Michaeline:We talked about his grandson’s upcoming playoff games. I talked about my niece’s kids’ hockey leagues. Conversation flowed.

John:The food was delicious.

Michaeline;We had fried oysters, lobster rangoon, sauteed mussels, and shared a salmon dish. We easily agreed on the menu choices.

John;I could see getting romantic with her.

Michaeline;Conversation was easy. I looked at the time and realized several hours had passed. At that point, I thought, This person is engaging — I like him.

John;We closed the restaurant.

ON THE BOARDS

Michaeline;He walked me to my car and both agreed it would be fun to catch a movie or hockey game sometime. Both sounded good to me. I’d probably throw in a meal, too. The date ended naturally, and I’d say optimistically. I think we were both surprised to have met someone who shared a lot of common experiences.

John;The fact she lives so close to me is kind of good.

Michaeline:We hugged goodnight.

John;I gave her a peck on the cheek.

SECOND DATE?

Michaeline:I think so! He was good company.

John:Yeah, we’ve exchanged contact info.

GRADING THE DATE

Michaeline: / A

John: / A

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