Any good personal story about hockey?
611465
Actually, I have a story that might interest you. It concerns my Buffalo Sabres (who else?) and dates back to my freshman year at college. In taking a course in Public Relations I was given the opportunity to do an internship with the PR director of the Buffalo-based company that, ironically, owns the rival Boston Bruins (a Sabres nemesis but not in recent years because the Bruins suck! lol). As part of this program I was invited to meet with the PR director of the Sabres and follow him through a "day in the life" doing his job.\n\nIt was a very cool experience for a lifetime Sabres fan as I got to meet a bunch of players, both former and current, as well as several high-ranking team officials. I had access to parts of the building (this was the old Aud, btw, not the new HSBC Arena) I'd never been in before despite having been there so many times in my life. I watched that night's hockey game (we whipped the visiting Vancouver Canucks) from the press box, which was a real treat. During the course of the evening I also met several officials from other NHL clubs, including the former head coach of the Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames, Terry Crisp. He was a really nice guy and spent time discussing a whole range of hockey matters with me, which I thought was pretty cool. \n\nAfter the game I went in with the media to conduct player interviews in the team dressing room and then it was off to do the press conference with then head coach (and former player and childhood hero) Rick Dudley. He was his usual quiet but thoughtful self and even waited around to answer this humble student's questions, as well as that of the real media. I was pretty chuffed by that! ;)\n\nAll in all, it was a really great learning experience and, as a Sabres fan, just a whole hell of a lot of fun! That whole PR course and internship was extremely interesting and worthwhile but that day and night hanging out with the Buffalo Sabres organization was my favourite part of all the instruction I undertook. Just a great experience and a memory I'll always cherish. Thanks for asking, Moon! :)
1031652
Both...hockey is one of the best spectator sports and really have to be at the game to get the full effect and the awesome atmosphere
2622
Try hockeyfights.com. Seriously. Great site, they have lots of downloadable footage too.
626973
I started a company mixed softball team (I hope softball counts as baseball because where I come from its a big deal)\n\nWe were a small company of only 10 employees but we brought in some had some good young talent and I fancied myself a decent if older player.\n\nWell, when we arrived for our first game, we were in for a shock even before it started! The other team had full uniforms and matching bat bags and equipment bags.  They had team-colour batting helmets and every kind of equipment that you can imagine.   \n\nMy boss wasn't into company sport and didn't give us any money so we self-funded it.  It was just for fun anyway.  Right?  We thought that we had gone all out to get custom T-shirts and matching generic navy-blue sweatpants.  We were the laughing stock of the whole league.  \n\nIf I never hear another comment about pajamas in my whole life I will be happy.\n\nAnyway, the game's played on the diamond not on the fashion runway right?  Well we found out that we didn't just LOOK out of place.  I was playing left field and I just watched ball after ball sail over my head well beyond the home run fence.\n\nThe final score.  32-0.  The next week was a little better at 24-4.  At least we scored a few runs.  The whole season went that way.  We were the bad news bears and then some but we didn't quit we kept on going in our crappy uniforms and all.\n\nWe did improve a bit as we did have some good athletes but never before has the saying 'out of your league' been so appropriate.  \n\nAnyway in the last game of the season in the bottom of the last inning, the score was 7-2 against us.  I had played hardball many years before and I fancied myself a very good hitter.  I was the player manager and I had put myself in the number four clean-up spot.  \n\nThere was just one hitter and then we were back to the top of the order.  The first guy got out but then the\nnext three guys got on base so there I was bases loaded and stepping up to the plate.  \n\nI'll never forget that one sweet swing.  It was like all time had stopped and the universe was still and just waiting for me to finish my swing.  I hit the ball further than I had ever in my whole life.  It was my only home run of the season but it was probably just as far or further than the dozens of home-runs that routinely sailed over my head on defence.\n\nA grand slam in that situation was the most gratifying feeling in the world, now could we win the game?\n\nIt was now 7-6 against with one out and nobody on base.  I went back to coaching first base as I normally did after hitting.\n\nThe next batter got a single.  The next batter drove a hot ground ball to second.  The second baseman bobbled it a bit and didn't have time for the double play so he tossed it to first instead.  It was a close play at first but the Umpire called him out.\n\nI was standing at first and I could see that he was safe but what could I do, the ump had made his call.  My player who was standing at second could also see that the batter was safe at first so when the ump called him out, he complained bitterly.  He didn't say anything directly offensive but he obviously didn't accept the call.\n\nYou see we were on the verge of winning our first game after a very very dissapointing season and we were all very excited.  I think we would have won too if it wasn't for the Umpire's response. \n\nHe stuck to his guns.  He called the player at first out and he called the player at second out as well for arguing.  Thats the way the game ended.  A blown call and an ejection.  \n\nI would have liked to win the game but I'll still never forget that swing.  It was a single highly concentrated moment of glory within a larger context of great frustration.  Who says that baseball isn't like real life?
667945
Well, we have a critical game tonight and I'm pulling for my Sabres to win decisively and wrap up this series. My weekend is little different from other weekends, really. The NHL always has a full slate of games on weekends both during the regular season and playoffs. Before the game, I get out my Sabres paraphernalia (usually a jersey or t-shirt; something more elaborate if I'm going to the game in person -- not an option while living in the DC metro area), some beer and snacks (sometimes a pizza) and call my younger brother and anyone else who is coming over to watch the game.\n\nDo I feel anxious? Sure, it's natural enough given the high stakes. This is the Stanley Cup Playoffs, after all, and we've not even been in since 2001. Mind you, I feel confident my Sabres will win tonight in Ottawa. If not, we'll finish them off at home in Buffalo on Monday night. Again, I'll be watching at home, likely with my brother, we'll celebrate with copious quantities of beer and war whoops! lol...\n\nIf we don't win, as was the case Thursday night, well, we hang our heads briefly, discuss what went wrong, then pull our heads up off the floor and stand and fight another day! That's hockey. That's Buffalo. That's life. And that's me, too. I never surrender, never give up, always fight, ALWAYS. My Sabres are the same way. When you grow up in a tough climate like Buffalo (as I did ) or Liverpool (as my dad did), it builds your character and sense of resiliency. Only the strong survive, and that strength is as mental, psychological and emotional as it is physical. We're tough. We can take it. And by God, we can dish it out, too! So don't fuck with us! We are made of sterner stuff indeed! :)\n\nIt's almost game time. I'm ready. My little brother is ready. My older brothers are ready -- even my sisters are ready (we're all scattered about a bit but in regular contact). Most importantly, our proud Buffalo Sabres are ready! Let's Go Buf-fa-lo!!! :)
655519
Well, Moon, as it's still only the first round, it is far too early to tell. That said, I do like what's been happening so far. As correctly predicted here, the loathsome fat-cat red wings of dread detroit -- the #1 seed in the playoffs -- were unceremoniously dumped by the underdog Edmonton Oilers last night in six games! WOOHOO!!! Also, over the weekend, the Colorado Avalanche took out the hated dallas stars, another favourite, so again: WOOHOO!!!\n\nWhen my glorious Buffalo Sabres remove the utterly hateful philistinia floaters tonight (or Thursday night, either way, they go), the happiness trifecta will be complete and my three most hated NHL teams will have been eliminated in one fell swoop (I'll save that last WOOHOO!!! for later, lol). I love nothing more than to revel in the victory of the good and triumph in the defeat and abject humiliation of the evil -- and this applies to EVERYTHING! :)\n\nBut I digress... One reason these could be the greatest Stanley Cup playoffs of all time is that we missed out on ANY hockey all of last year because of the NHL lockout. Hockey came back in its full raiment of glory this season with rules changes which have directly correlated with a vastly improved on-ice product. Hockey has never been so good! Another reason -- indeed, THE reason! -- this could be the greatest playoffs ever is that my Sabres are so awesomely talented that they could conceivably go all the way and WIN Lord Stanley's Cup! Were that to happen -- and it's far too early to say now -- I would die and go to heaven on the spot! (OK, not literally... I don't even believe in heaven.) ;)\n\nAs for my expectations, well, I'm quietly confident my Sabres will continue to advance after defeating those despicable goon flyers tonight in their hellhole home in philistinia (Can ya tell I hate that godforsaken place and their truly horrible people?). But can they go all the way? In the East, where my Sabres play, Ottawa and New Jersey will be tough opponents and they may have to defeat both to continue (Carolina is struggling badly with Montreal and I'm not worried about facing either of them). If they can get out of the conference, I like their chances in the Cup Final, no matter who they face from the West. But again, all that is a long way away...\n\nLet's Go Buf-fa-lo!!! Let's Go Buf-fa-lo!!! Let's Go Buf-fa-lo!!! :)
239097
yea man...im from windsor ontario canada and everyone loves hockey...but my cities kibnda split between the red wings...cuz detroit is right there u can practicly walk there...and toronto cuz its th closest canadian team....it gets pretty heated,,,
21743
Check this out: http://www.active.com/story.cfm?story_id=8470&sidebar=597&category=icehockey
6815
go to espn.com,foxsports.com,cnn.com or nhl.com.they all have great nhl news
909880
The CBC broadcast a miniseries called Hockey: A People’s History.  10 episodes that showed the history of the game.  There is footage from as early as it gets.\n\nI watched quite a few of the shows.  Really well done.\n\nA 6 DVD set is available.  There is also a book.  See link below.
380280
Wow that brought back alot of old memories....I used to play knock hockey religiously when I was younger. To me it was the best game ever invented!....Thanks for the flashback!!!
943306
Play hockey because it takes guts and discipline, and those two qualities alone will take you far in the world.\n\nPlay hockey because it's a thrill, and fun because it's fast and dangerous and taking some calculated risks is good for everyone, male or female.\n\nPlay hockey because you will get closer to the people on your hockey team than any other team you'll be on in sports.\n\nPlay hockey because in life you need to stand your ground, and yield nothing, and go all out, and you'll learn all those things in one minute and fifteen seconds on the ice.\n\nPlay hockey because young women who participate in sports are shown in studies to have higher self esteem and better grades than those who do not.\n\nPlay hockey because everyone needs to have a sense of their own mortality and nothing like 60 minutes on the ice will do that for you.\n\nExcept maybe skydiving.\n\nPlay hockey because you already know how to skate and skating's half the battle.\n\nPlay hockey because it's a great litmus test for boys.  The ones who are intimidated aren't worth a second glance.  The ones who think it's cool are.  The ones who come to your games are worth your phone number, and any guy who grabs his gear and joins you on the ice is one you should consider hanging onto.\n\nPlay hockey because you'll love it.  Pretty much anyone who starts -- girls or boys -- winds up with hockey as their passion, and we all need a passion in life.\n\nPlay hockey because it will be different, and will open doors into new experiences for you.  You will learn things that girls who play tamer sports will never know.  Things like reall grit, real toughness, and that the bigger they are, the harder they really do fall.\n\nPlay hockey because if you ever choose a vocation like firefighting or the military, you cannot have a better starting point.  You will have already learned important lessons and skills vital to those kinds of jobs.\n\n(Maybe you better not tell your mom that last one, but it's true -- I've done firefighting and hockey both. ;) )\n\nPlay hockey because it's fun.\n\nGood luck with your mom -- as I've said to others here, maybe make a deal with her that if you play you maintain a certain GPA.  If you don't hold up your end of the bargain, you'll quit.\n\n**\nWith due respect to Zelda, I don't think checking means "exciting."  Women play a different, less physical game much of the time, simply because we have no reason to use our size when size isn't our best advantage.  Women tend to be fast, technical players.  They can also be aggressive, it all depends on the player.  But I've never seen or participated in a 'boring' women's hockey game.
623914
What kind of smack are you trying to start??\nI am a huge Ducks fan but would never disrespect the Sharks or the Oilers. Both are very tough teams who have bested us this regular season.\n\nThe Thorton/ Cheechoo line is one line I am truly afraid of.  It is really fortunate that Lupul, Penner, Marchant line is stepping up, and IMHO can take on the Sharks line.\n\nAs (Scott) Niedermayer said after we swept the Av's, its not over yet. We still have to win 4 more games before we can think of the Stanley Cup.  And, as our Captain and 3 time winner of the Cup, I value his quote and will remain a humble Ducks fan.\n\nAs for the Av's... it was a great sweep, so better luck next year.
1007143
I'm proud to say I've been a hockey boy since I was 4 years old. God I love this game....
797840
Rob Ray for the Sabres. In his day he was Buffalo's official thug. He was only on the ice to "take care of business." \n\nI've met him once at a charity event and he was the nicest guy. He use to do lots of work with the March of Dimes. He's a baby lover off the ice, but a real bruiser on the ice.
271728
Hockey by far. Have you ever ice skated? Prob. one of the most fun things ever. playing hockey is way more fun then playing basketball. Hockey is way more fun to watch. We've all seen basketball highlights-there all pretty much the same now, there isnt much left to create. Not much people have seen hockey highlights. The amazing deking moves, spactacular goalie saves, huge hits, THE SHOOTOUT or penalty shot. All of these things are hard to ever replicated. Anyone who is 6 something can Stuff a ball through a hoop in anyway pretty much. \nHockey takes way mroe talent to play then ball. Its alot harder. And who doesnt like the hockey fights. what other sport will the refs let 2 people go at it-or the whole team for that matter. (Excluding boxing and whatnot) \nI could go on and on but then nobody would read it because who reads long answers anyways.
840731
Actually Jesus Medoza is a good hockey player and we enjoy watching him play.\n\nCoach