11 days!

[lawman56]

In 11 days, my favorite time of the year will arrive. HOCKEY SEASON! Just curious to know how many other hockey fans are out there. I'm a Detroit Red Wings fan from the early 80s, even though I grew up in Northeastern New York. I'm pretty sure that having Detroit's minor league affiliate, (at the time), the Adirondack Red Wings playing 5 miles from my house may have influenced me somewhat! 

So who else is a fan? Name your team, if you dare! 

[uncletony]

Red Wings!

[rhallinger]

I grew up near Philly so I've been a Flyers fan since 1969, but I like any hockey, regardless of who's playing.  I went to school and now live near Hershey, PA, so Joe, I've actually seen the Adirondack Red Wings at the Hershey Bears old Park Arena, one of the oldest buildings in the AHL (sadly, replaced by a nondescript McRink named after a supermarket chain).  I saw Adirondack a couple of times around 1980.  Back in those days NHLers did not get paid like other pro athletes, so many continued to play in the AHL after their NHL careers ended.  I remember seeing Pete Mahovlich playng for Adirondack once.  He was so much taller than everyone on the ice (the AHL players were smaller back then, and Pete was very tall for his era!).  Good memories!

Regards,

Bob   

[Ernie]

Living next to Manitoba, I have to support the Jets.  As a boy, I was a Canadiens fan,
only for the fact that my Dad was always for the Leafs.  Now I wouldn't wish that
on anyone!

Cheers,
Ernie

[Bluesfan]

It's not only the NHL you know, for some the hockey season has already started... A short holiday in Finland next month will just happen to coincide with three home games

Mark

[LindsayT]

I'm a Flames fan, who seem to be doing their level best to become the Leafs of the west. I've fallen out of love with the NHL recently, though, and getting much more into WHL junior hockey. Go Blades Go!

Lindsay

[rhallinger]

I tend to agree with you Lindsay.  Maybe I'm just getting old, but I liked the NHL better in the 60s, 70s and 80s.  I go to local minor league games now (Hershey Bears and Reading Royals), where I can just enjoy the hockey for a reasonable price and great seats. 

Cheers,

Bob

[lawman56]

Where I currently live in North Carolina, we have the Carolina Whalers, I mean the Hartford Hurricanes, I mean the Carolina Hurricanes, about 45 minutes north, or I drive 30 minutes south and watch a local team called the Fireantz of the SPHL. I prefer the latter. Usually we scrape up a dozen or more friends and family, sit center ice about 5 rows up from the benches and have a great time! The minor, minor teams are much more spirited in my opinion! Plus the price is right!

[TomR1981]

Even though I'm British I love hockey too. My team is the Whitley Warriors, you won't have heard of them but Mike Babcock played there for a year in the 80s before going on to bigger things.

Incidentally hockey in England started off in Durham not far away during the war, where there was an RCAF base. I think they flew Halifaxes. Famous players like Bobby Bauer played there.

Tom

[IanB]

They have ice hockey in England? Funny how one can spend their whole life somewhere and still not know something like that! Oh well...
 I suppose I should be a Bruins fan, living near Boston, but I can't bring myself to respect a sport where players throw off their gloves and start fighting when they don't agree with something....not very sportsmanlike in my opinion....

Ian

[Ernie]

I never was a fan of fighting and general gooniness in hockey which takes away from the flow of
the game.  I was lucky enough to watch Wayne Gretzky play at quite a few games in Edmonton
and what he did on the ice was magic.  Funny thing, things in N.American hockey, the set-up is
almost gladiatorial, with all the blood & gore (hopefully in lesser extent than old Rome ) on the
ice.  There is virtually none of the nasty scenes of football supporters whacking each other after
a match.  Before I get jumped on for bad-mouthing football (soccer to the heathens over here ),
let me say that is my game and I enjoy it to no end.  Thus ends my mini-rant.

Cheers,
Ernie  

[pepperman42]

Geez only ten posts into a thread and mud gets slung at my Leafs twice already...The only concern I have with NHL hockey is the aftermath of a good, clean, hard body check. It always results in retaliation, which, if unresolved, results in the two enforcers going on the ice and having a circus fight. Deliberate body contact in  Ontario minor hockey has been eliminated up to the major peewee level. It does get introduced later on. I hope this results in player development in the skating/puckhandling aspect of the game and we can return to a game where there is hitting but fewer brawls. As far as better hockey in the 70' and 80's - The Broadstreet Bullys never did it for me. As the father of a goaltender..well thats another story....the season has begun. Love OHL hockey - go Colts go!!!

Steve

oh - and part of Gretzky`s greatness was due to Dave Semenko on the wing.....

[Ernie]

Semenko was exempt.  He was an overgrown guardian angel...and misunderstood.

Cheers,
Ernie

[pepperman42]

His reputation, backed up by the occasional performance, kept people in line. That was the respect in the game I think is missing now. He stayed in the background like a tethered Rottwieller. Now the hounds are allowed to run wild....and last nights Leaf/Sabres "game" was terrible. Clarkson coming off the bench was the lesser of ALL the evils. Kessel should be ashamed of the cheap, dirty, backstabbing slashes he gave Scott. Its ok to be non fighter - step back and let the bigger guys take care of biz. To let the guy that attacked you get tied up and then hack him across the back of the legs was cowardly. Goalie fights are just stupid......Your point taken here!!

Steve