Hockey Fans?

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Just out of curiosity, how many NHL (or other hockey) fans do we have on here? Since I played a lot of hockey when I was younger (played goalie) I've always been a fairly consistent watcher of hockey. I hadn't paid much attention the last 3 or 4 seasons, though, so I'm kind of skewed on who is on what team these days. Now that Hockey is back though, I find myself watching it everytime I get a chance. I suppose it was withdrawls from no last season, or something, haha. The shootout is real fun to watch.



So, how many others here are watching hockey now that it's back? One thing I gotta say is what happened to ESPN? They used to air at least two or three games a week. I haven't seen a single game on ESPN or ESPN2 this season. I guess they'd rather air hot dog eating contests, or bull riding.

[protour_chevelle]

Dion Phaneuf is my hero. Only because I went to school with him for 3 years. He is quite the hockey player. His 1 timer slap shot is finally getting perfected. In WHL it was hit and miss. Now its the game winning goal!

He's a cool guy to boot!

-Matt

[Hemi Nova]

This born and raised Florida boy loves the game.
I've had season tickets for the Tampa Bay Lightning for the last 10 years. The 2004 playoffs and Cup finals was the most exciting and painful two months of my life.
I don't think they'll get back there this year though.
I also have Center Ice and watch a couple games every night.
I must say that the new rules have really opened up the game and have made it fun to watch.

[colt zantop]

Ive watched it pretty regularly since Ive been about 14, I was born in Michigan so of course detroit RED WINGS are my team!

[trapin]

Ralph...the reason you're not seeing games on ESPN or ESPN2 is because the NHL opted to sign a TV deal with OLN instead of ESPN. OLN was offering more money, but I still think the NHL made a mistake because they will suffer the loss of exposure that they would have gotten on ESPN.

Myself, I've been a fan for almost 20 years now. I started watching when Jacques Demers took over the Red Wings. I didn't watch much the last 2 seasons leading up to the strike but now that it's back I've been glued to just about every game. I am a Hockey junkie. I also play the game. Been playing about 15 years now. The new rules have really opened up the game. I'm glad it's back, but I can do without all the bandwagon Red Wing fans that jumped on after we won the cup in '97.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Ralph...the reason you're not seeing games on ESPN or ESPN2 is because the NHL opted to sign a TV deal with OLN instead of ESPN. OLN was offering more money, but I still think the NHL made a mistake because they will suffer the loss of exposure that they would have gotten on ESPN.

Myself, I've been a fan for almost 20 years now. I started watching when Jacques Demers took over the Red Wings. I didn't watch much the last 2 seasons leading up to the strike but now that it's back I've been glued to just about every game. I am a Hockey junkie. I also play the game. Been playing about 15 years now. The new rules have really opened up the game. I'm glad it's back, but I can do without all the bandwagon Red Wing fans that jumped on after we won the cup in '97.

I thought I saw something about the NHL being on OLN. Too bad I don't get OLN, or do I...hmm.

Heh, looks like you're going to have more fans jumping on the bandwagon this year. Detroit is real strong it seems, I haven't seen them play, but their record is impressive. I think Ottowa is going to win the cup, though. The absolutely man-handled the Islanders last week. It was like watching an NHL team play against a varsity HS team (well maybe not that drastic). Isles lost 6-0, and it would've been worse, but Dipietro (sp) is a damn good netminder. Ottowa is real fun to watch.

[ALLFAITH]

I do not enjoy the new NHL now-been a fan for 25 years, Islander then Ranger after I got dumped for an Isalnder by an ex-girlfirend

Game is too soft now, you cannot push a player away from the net like the old days without a penalty. It seems like they call everything to open up scoring. I liked it better with some grit.

Brad

[Rybar]

Another Hockey fan here, I'd say most Canadians rate hockey as thier #1 sport.

Canucks are my team, I hope they actually do something in the playoffs for once this season.

Good to see some other fans here, I didn't miss it too much during the lockout, but now that it's back I've been watching it alot.

[paulk68]

I am starting to watch more hockey now that i work at ESPN i watch all the hightlights and they are pretty good to watch. it seems like the fans are goming back.

[BonzoHansen]

I can't believe it is the 2nd week in November and I can still say How about them 1st place New York Rangers!

[dropit69]

love it too ..i got to as many blackhawks games as i can..just got me a dish too and they do show alot of games on oln..lots of new rules and alot of player switching teams ..still trying to find out whose playing for who now..

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Game is too soft now, you cannot push a player away from the net like the old days without a penalty. It seems like they call everything to open up scoring. I liked it better with some grit.

Brad

This is the only rule I do not like. I really wish they'd let the defense get more physical, and maybe ease up on a few of the "grey area" calls (I've seen a few bad calls the last few games I've watched).

[BonzoHansen]

No! More offense. Ever since I watch world cup, and saw the open ice skating, I was hooked. I can't watch devil-styyle trap-n-clutch anymore. I want to see the real skill guys like jagr do their thing.

[paulk68]

We do not have the rights to hockey anymore because the ratings just suck. we still show highlights during Sports Center. I think OLN has the hockey rights. we are trying very hard to get nascar back however.

[AAW]

Ralph
Here's a story for ya. My mother is a die-hard Philadelphia Flyers Fan. She went to every game she possible could back in the 70-80's when they were referred to as the "Broad Street Bullies". (Bobby Clark, Bernie Parent, Gary Dornhoffer, The Watson Brothers...some of the names from back then)

At one game, she had what she thought were "great seats" - eye level to the protective glass. As she's watching the game, she sees a puck come flying at her. Instinctivley, she puts her hand up over her face - and thank goodness she did. The puck was just over glass level and had she not put her hand up, she would have goten hit right in the eye!

As it turns out, the puck broke every bone in her hand. Security escorted her out and she spent the night in the hospital.

This happened before sports was just business and the players actually cared for their fans. The Flyers organization sent her flowers, cards and candy. They even got an NHL puck & mounted it on a plaque and inscribed "Welcome to the Loyal Order of the Unducked Puck Club". She still has that plaque proudly displayed in the family room of her house.

She was an artist. The injury ruined her career - but the last picture she painted was of Bernie Parent. She asked him to autograph the painting - which she also still has.

She shows off the scars on her hand like old battle wounds.

[Dagger]

I've been a Tampa Bay Lightning fan for the past 6-7 years. I typically make 8-10 games a year. They're a little disappointing so far this year, I would have thought the new rules really would have benefitted our style of play. Oh well, I'll keep on watchin' regardless.

[toofun]

Im from Boston, the true Hockey town!! Seen the likes of Terry O Reilly and phil esposito as a very young kid, to the likes of Bourque, Neely, Moog, Lemlin,byers,and the rest in the 80's and now todays bunch as well. Hockey has definately changed over the years. Cant beat the old style of hockey.CAN YOU SAY "SLAPSHOT THE MOVIE" MUCH MUCH MORE PHYSICAL. Now its turned into a Finesse game with too many penalties called for minor girly crap!!

Call me sentimental but something about O'Reilly going over the glass and knock down blood beaten battles on the ice just seem to bring a tear to my eye!!!! GOD I MISS THOSE DAYS!!! I will say that kid CROSBY from Pittsburgh is definately the real deal!! Man can he stick handle!!

Mark
TOOFUN

[trapin]

I'm from Boston, the true Hockeytown!!

HA!!!!!

....you're gonna need evidence to back that up my friend.

[toofun]

Are you kidding me???? Some of the toughest players ever to step on the ice... O reilly and Neely... THE two BEST defensemen to EVER PLAY THE GAME Bobby ORR and Ray Bourque... The banners, the tradition,the world famous GARDEN!!! Sorry but besides Montreals claim to fame for stanley cups what other town has a better pedigree and MORE hockey tradition than that?????

[trapin]

Try Detroit.

O'Reilly and Neely were tough as nails, but so were 'Terrible' Ted Lindsey, Gordie Howe, and Vladimir Konstantinov. If Konstantinov hadn't had his career cut short (like Neely) he would have been a shoe-in for the Hall Of Fame. People forget what an amazing player he was.

Bobby Orr and Ray Bourque were great players. But are we forgetting our great players? Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom (one of the greatest defensemen to ever play the game) Alex Delvecchio, Ted Lindsey, Sid Able, Terry Sawchuck.

Banners? You want Banners? Try 10 Stanley Cup banners hanging from the rafters of Joe Louis Arena. More than any other American team in NHL history. That's not including the countless League, Division, and Conference championship banners as well as the Presidents trophy banners. Come to Joe Louis Arena sometime...you can't even see the steel girders up there anymore.

58 players in the Hall Of Fame that either were inducted into the Hall as Red Wings or played for our team for an extended period of time. Detroit's Hockey roots stretch back to the beginning of the 20th century (1926) and for the past 15 years our games have been complete sell-outs. This town eats, sleeps, and sh*ts hockey. Watch any Red Wings game that is played out-of-town and the stands are always littered with Red Wings jerseys.

No offense to Boston but I spent a week there last year in October and all I saw were people wearing Boston Red Sox garb. In Detroit, Red Wings merchandise is everwhere, and every Tom, D*ck, and Harry is usually wearing a cap or a jacket emblazened with the 'winged wheel'. In fact...Red Wings merchandise has been near the tops in sales in the NHL for about 10 years now.

Pedigree? We got pedigree, brother. Lots of it.

Hey, Boston has great Hockey tradition...I'm not trying to dispute that. Cam Neely is one of my favorite players in history. And I just about cried like a baby when Bourque finally lifted Lord Stanley over his head in Colorado. But Boston can't match Detroit in tradition. Sorry. We wouldn't call it Hockeytown if we didn't have the evidence to back it up.