For the Record
Although many do not consider the NHL season under way until their home team plays as all hockey fans and Canadians a like know it did OFFICIALLY start over the last weekend in London, England between the Los Angeles Kings and The Stanley Cup champions the Anaheim Ducks. It was during Saturday’s game I realized that I am not over my Bertuzzi crush in any way shape or form even if he is playing for an expansion team and YES I know Vancouver is also an expansion team but I mean ones like in ANAHEIM for example where it is like WARM all year and stuff. I sat drooling over the TV while Adam said something about it being ok or expected or something I was distracted. Even though in 1998 he came to Vancouver at the expense of Trevor Linden, at the time it was love at first bone crushing hit. It actually gave me a reason to start paying more attention to the Canucks because I’d been living in Vancouver for two years at the time and was feeling sort of lost and alone with my love for hockey.
Lost because even though we left Ontario when I was at the wee age of seven, and as most of you would know headed to the snowy North of B.C. we watched Toronto teams, sort of, once in B.C I know we did branch out slightly but don’t tell any of my sports loving relatives that. There was always Blue Jays baseball on and there was always Hockey, NHL, World Cup, World Juniors etc. but when it was NHL it was the Leafs or the Oilers. I grew up crushing pretty hard on Doug Gilmore, the Pert Plus commercial he did was such a treat because he had his teeth in. But in 1991 thanks to the Canada Cup I fell in love with Eric Lindros and even bought two of his hockey cards. [I can not stand him now, no love for Lindros] This was all after the era of Wayne Gretzky when he was still ALL Canada’s and playing for the Edmonton Oilers, if you were old enough to remember it, it was a very sad day for Canada when in 1988 he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. BUT at the end of the day it always came back to the Leafs.
I learned pretty fast that Vancouver Canucks fans are not fans of Toronto Maple Leafs fans and that Toronto Maple Leafs fans aren’t fans of Vancouver Canucks fans and I knew I was in trouble. I don’t know if it is because I grew up in very small towns or because I was getting older and had my own opinions and could talk hockey with the boys but I have never been accepted as a Leafs fan living in Vancouver. I may as well be some sort of mutant. Now this doesn’t bother me, I can take the heat, not only can I take it, I can laugh at and join in on it as clearly displayed by this post. I’ve openly admitted that at one Canucks vs Leafs game I did take my Leafs jersey off but only one I’ve seen them play the Leafs more than once.
So I guess my point is that I simply consider myself a hockey fan first, NO I’m NOT going to become an Anaheim fan now but if they go for the cup again of course I will be watching because I watch HOCKEY I honestly don’t care what team it is, I’m Canadian, it is in my blood, I don’t care if it is WHL, NHL, Olympics or World Cup. I LOVE HOCKEY. Thankfully the Leafs and the Canucks haven’t played for the cup against each other, if that were to ever happen, which actually makes me chuckle to even write, then I would be in some serious trouble.
October 4th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
I know what you mean about hockey, all my son talks about is his Red Wings and the Islanders. It’s killing him that my cable company doesn’t offer the hockey package.
October 4th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
i believe that this is the THE picture of ours truly. everything you need to know is in there.
i hope that big head Todd does good this time. i really do.
also, this and that wants me to lightbulb a guestpost.
October 5th, 2007 at 12:09 am
I saw that too, in London of all places… I can see it already:
“Hey mate, what’s a zamboni?”
I’m soooooo ready for the NHL Season.
Cheers
October 5th, 2007 at 5:31 am
It started in London?? I live in this country and this is the first I’ve heard of it. How could they kick of Hockey season right in the middle of the Rugby World Cup?? It doesn’t make sense to me. Both teams must have been really jet lagged…and does the UK have a hockey team in the NHL? Or would it be the IHL?? So I google “NHL in London” and the first article It shows is from a newspaper in TaiPei! But aside from that everything else says it was well received. Strange old world! I’m actually looking forward to the Rugby this weekend…Scotland Vs. Argentina - should be excellent.
October 6th, 2007 at 3:38 am
My wife likes the big B as well, though he is an enemy to the people of Detroit in some simplistic ways.
As a man who lives in the Detroit area, one of the very few American cities where hockey is actually more popular than football (and, in certain demographics, more popular than basketball), I can relate to the fish out of water thing as I’ve never been accepted as a fellow who can’t hold his end of a hockey conversation. I know, that’s different in that you can talk the talk but no one wants to hear it because of your percieved alien bias, but I’m searching here.
Anyway, I can only pray my wife is around to help me out if the talk turns to the cold sport.
October 7th, 2007 at 9:18 am
i know it is so sad that even stupid racing cars are bigger than the NHL in the States, yet without looking it up i can’t tell you the last time a Canadian team held the cup. im glad i do have some readers/blogging buddies that are in hockey cities or i’d go in more insane i think.
October 8th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
this might be a little off topic, but i don’t get into sports. my first husband was a nut about sports (still is) and we had hockey tickets all for the years. i went, but it just never really thrilled me. i also couldn’t understand why so many people got so worked up over a team or a game or a player. my second husband was crazy about the NBA. we spent a lot on court side seats. again, it just never “moved” me the way it does some people. i mean, i get the excitement of a game, of the competition and the sport, i respect it. but nothing more. people say it is because i am a woman, but you are proof that isn’t the case, i think it is merely just not my thing, and i am tired of other people saying to me “what do you mean you don’t like hockey?” and looking at me like i have three eyes.
PS oddly i know it was Montreal in 1993 (the last Canadian team to win the cup)…
October 8th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
sho nuff i won 5bucks that series!
October 9th, 2007 at 8:34 am
There was an article/picture in the Washington Post this week of a couple who made their entire basement into a small replica of the Capitol’s rink. Although I would never do something like that it actually looked really freakin cool. I totally thought of you! It was a cool looking party/hockey watching room.
October 9th, 2007 at 9:51 am
j’adore le hockey season.
i especially enjoyed Sat’s game (even with my strep throat) I LOVED watching the leafs not only catch up to the habs at 3 - 1 to 3 all, with that brilliant assist from Sundin on the 3rd goal, but to then kick the habs ass in overtime to take a 4 - 3 win just made my night.
love your leafs jersey, as you know!
October 9th, 2007 at 11:26 am
one can always tell when it begins - because you disappear.
which is cool.. i mean - you have to have a life.
COME BACK!!!
October 9th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
HOCKEY IS THE THIRD BEST SPORT E V E R!!!!!!
The second being Motorsport (every kind except Indie Car, Go Karting, NASCAR, and any other crap circular style racing……. Drag racing is fine.)
The first being Naan Bread Throwing.
A sport only 5 days old yet taking the world by storm…
… I say it’s the best because I am the current WORLD CHAMPION!!! IN YOUR FACES WORLD LOSERS!!!! I ROCK @ THROWING NAAN BREADS ON DATES*!!!!!
(*Date as in the thing guys o on with girls, not as in the fruit.)
October 9th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
(*Or go on as opposed to o on, depending on the region of course…)
October 10th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Hockey is played on ice and ice is cold and cold produces snow and snow falls in the winter and winter is when CHRISTMAS happens.
You love it.
October 13th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
I was actually watching a bit of the season opening game on my wedding day. It was kinda weird. Sorry of hear about your affinity for the Leafs. Hopefully you’ll get over that habit someday:)