NHL Season is here: 2019-2020

[Naperville]

I'm from the Chicagoland area and played AA and AAA ice hockey as a kid from 9 to 17/18, then reffed for a few years here in Illinois. Spent a few summers in Canada at hockey camp(CanAm at the University of Guelph, and another camp in Pickering). My brother who is 4yrs younger than I am started playing much younger than I had the opportunity to play at, went to Canada far more often to play, and played all through high school for the school team and AAA.

In any case, the NHL is back. Thank God above. I spend as much time as I can looking at news and knives in the off season, but I just love the NHL. I love all of it too. The skating, the stick handling, the hits...it's all good.

I usually make just two home games and a few practices here of the Blackhawks. It is not too expensive, but it involves a lot of time. You have to go early for parking, and sit in nose bleed seats unless you want to spend a ton.

I watch the NHL channel on YouTube. Not much of a "homer" I just like the NHL.

[Mushroom]

I've only ever played backyard and pond hockey, but never anything organized. I grew up in a big hockey town and have subsequently been surrounded by it for most of my life. Regarding the NHL, I've always cheered for the Bruins. When I was younger and didn't know any better, I would have considered myself a homer, but I know enough now to be critical when I should be. So far this season, the Bruins have come out to a hot start! :D

I'd consider myself an average NHL fan. I don't really have enough time to watch every Bruins game, but I'll try to catch them when I can. Same goes for the Celtics and the NBA. I cant catch every game, but I enjoy watching the ones that I can. I'll also do what I can to regularly keep track of stats and standings in both NHL and NBA but most of my sports fanatiscism is devoted to the Patriots and the NFL.

Back on the Bruins though, it was good to see them get another win today! They really seem to be playing with a chip on their shoulder, as they should be! I'm really hoping they can maintain this momentum.

[Naperville]

The Blackhawks won last night too, beating the LA Kings. It is too early in the season to know what these teams are going to do, but both of the teams are struggling.

Boston has managed to remain a meaningful team after winning the Stanley Cup a few years back, which is very hard to do.

[JD Spydo]

This thread about the NHL really takes me back. Because I used to be an avid Hockey fan many years ago. I first got into it back in the late 60s/early 70s when Bobby Hull, Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr and Henry Richard just to name a few were in the headlines. Then later in the 80s I really got into watching it when Wayne Gretsky and Mario Lemieux were headliners. I just lost track of the game completely in Wayne Gretsky's later years. He was so good that no one else's play in Hockey thrilled me anymore. But I do have some golden memories of those two time periods in pro Hockey.

[wrdwrght]

I grew up in California during the ‘50s-‘60s and knew nothing of hockey.

In 1975, I moved to Montreal and could not help but get hooked on les Canadiens. What a dynasty!

In the passing years, the Gerrit Cole-ization of professional sports has turned me off.

But now my 8-year-old grandson is playing hockey in Toronto, and playing really, really well on Select teams. What a joy to see hockey’s beauty—and the learning of it—stripped of its business crap.

Because my grandson intends to be a professional hockey player (at the moment), he talks and breathes hockey. I must now follow professional hockey to keep up with his conversation.

[soc_monki]

Go Predators!!

I'm a Blackhawks fan too, since my dad was from Chicago. And a bruins fan because my mom is from Massachusetts. And a ducks fan because I was born in California. Haven't watched much hockey lately, I need to though. Used to love playing street hockey, and wanted to play ice hockey but being in Mississippi makes that difficult!

[Naperville]

I grew up in California during the ‘50s-‘60s and knew nothing of hockey.

In 1975, I moved to Montreal and could not help but get hooked on les Canadiens. What a dynasty!

In the passing years, the Gerrit Cole-ization of professional sports has turned me off.

But now my 8-year-old grandson is playing hockey in Toronto, and playing really, really well on Select teams. What a joy to see hockey’s beauty—and the learning of it—stripped of its business crap.

Because my grandson intends to be a professional hockey player (at the moment), he talks and breathes hockey. I must now follow professional hockey to keep up with his conversation.

If you look at the Wikipedia page on the Stanley Cup, there is nobody in modern history like the Canadian teams. I wish very badly that a Canadian team would win the cup for 3 to 4 years in a row again...it's overdue, and it is a shame that it isn't likely to happen any time soon.

[Naperville]

Go Predators!!

I'm a Blackhawks fan too, since my dad was from Chicago. And a bruins fan because my mom is from Massachusetts. And a ducks fan because I was born in California. Haven't watched much hockey lately, I need to though. Used to love playing street hockey, and wanted to play ice hockey but being in Mississippi makes that difficult!

Watching a game takes a lot of time, and watching all of the games for one team is a real commitment. I watch all of the game highlights from the NHL on YouTube, and maybe 5 to 10 full games per year. I use to watch quite a few Blackhawks games with my brother...I'd supply the alcohol and he'd supply the game on a large screen TV. We had a blast, but since he's quasi moved in with his gf, those days are over.

Street hockey is a blast and anyone can play!

[bearrowland]

I love hockey! I've only ever been to one game, at Penn State, but I've been a Pittsburgh Penguins fan for decades.

[Naperville]

I love hockey! I've only ever been to one game, at Penn State, but I've been a Pittsburgh Penguins fan for decades.

That's excellent! The Penguins have been around for a long time.


Did everyone hear that Sportsnet's "Hockey Night in Canada" Don Cherry was let go? The guy has been on the air for 38 years!

[bearrowland]

No I didn't, but Don is an institution!

[Naperville]

No I didn't, but Don is an institution!

Don Cherry is Canadian Hockey.

He got in to a mess when he said "you people" referring to people not wearing the Poppy. Sportsnet did not allow him back on to retract the message and they terminated his employment. He said it live on TV, and then Sportsnet ran it two to three times taped within the next 24 hours!!! Then about 24 to 48 hours later the left attacked him for saying the two words. In interviews he claims to not mean people of color, but everyone not wearing a Poppy. I think they had it in for him for some reason. He seems like a decent man to me.

[Sharp Guy]

I somehow missed this thread earlier

Go Hawks!!!

[Naperville]

I somehow missed this thread earlier

Go Hawks!!!

I'm from the Chicagoland area too!!! Yes, GO HAWKS!

Will the Edmonton Oilers return to glory? I'd be very happy for them if a Canadian team pulled it off.

[Sharp Guy]

I somehow missed this thread earlier

Go Hawks!!!

I'm from the Chicagoland area too!!! Yes, GO HAWKS!

Will the Edmonton Oilers return to glory? I'd be very happy for them if a Canadian team pulled it off.

Yep! "Naperville" is a dead give away. I'm from the Fox River Valley a little farther north of you.

The last Blackhawks game I went to was against the Stars here in Dallas two years ago. There was almost as much red in the AA Center as there was green. Lots of Chicago sports fans here.

The most memorable Blackhawks game I went to in the UC was several years ago. Our seats were behind the bench and they had to kick Bobby Hull and Billy Ray out of them so my brother and I could sit down. :D



^ My girlfriend framed that ticket for me and it now resides on the wall of my office with all the rest of my Chicago sports stuff.

[Naperville]

The last Blackhawks game I went to was against the Stars here in Dallas two years ago. There was almost as much red in the AA Center as there was green. Lots of Chicago sports fans here.

The most memorable Blackhawks game I went to in the UC was several years ago. Our seats were behind the bench and they had to kick Bobby Hull and Billy Ray out of them so my brother and I could sit down. :D



^ My girlfriend framed that ticket for me and it now resides on the wall of my office with all the rest of my Chicago sports stuff.

The last Hawks game I went to was probably 3 to 4yrs ago. It was an LA Kings game and the Hawks beat them 4 to 1. The login screen on my system at home is a picture of the score board.

I like the game. I try to watch the YouTube NHL and Blackhawk channels. There are hard working guys like Ovi and Kane, and there are guys that are "chippy" like Marchand. I'm not too much in to the latter, but nobody can deny his talent.

[Naperville]

The Blackhawks played the Dallas Stars the other day in an away game and lost but it was really a great game. Dallas has won 13 of the last 15 games!!! I certainly did not expect the 2nd OT loss by just one point.

The Blackhawks play the Dallas Stars at home tomorrow. If both teams play as well, it is well worth your while to watch the game.

[JD Spydo]

The Blackhawks played the Dallas Stars the other day in an away game and lost but it was really a great game. Dallas has won 13 of the last 15 games!!! I certainly did not expect the 2nd OT loss by just one point.

The Blackhawks play the Dallas Stars at home tomorrow. If both teams play as well, it is well worth your while to watch the game.

I remember the Chicago Blackhawks really well. Back when I first learned about ice hockey and the NHL back in the late 60s/early 70s there was a guy named Bobby Hull who used to be a big star for that team. I heard that very few people could fire a puck as fast as he could during that era.

I also liked NHL Hockey when Wayne Gretsky played. When he was with the Edmonton Oilers that to me was probably the best team ever.

[Naperville]

I remember the Chicago Blackhawks really well. Back when I first learned about ice hockey and the NHL back in the late 60s/early 70s there was a guy named Bobby Hull who used to be a big star for that team. I heard that very few people could fire a puck as fast as he could during that era.

I also liked NHL Hockey when Wayne Gretsky played. When he was with the Edmonton Oilers that to me was probably the best team ever.

The Hulls were great hockey players.

I did not see many of the Gretsky games. I got in to an argument with my parents regarding their over emphasis of hockey over all else when growing up, and for at least 5 to 10 years did not watch any games.

I love the NHL, but I also completely understand the pressure and issues faced by child athletes aspiring to be in the Olympics. It's rough mentally. I would not wish it on anyone.