I am reading a book that I heard about over at The Goose's Roost. The guys there are reading and reviewing as part of a "Read With the Roost" series that they are doing. Since they talked it up, and I happened to have a coupon for 40% off at Borders, I made a purchase. The book is Gretzky's Tears:Hockey, America, and the Day Everything Changed by Stephen Brunt. I already read Searching for Bobby Orr, another great book by Brunt so I was thinking I'd enjoy this one as well.
I'm not quite done (got another 40 or so pages), but so far I really like the book. I will probably review it in more detail in a later post, but for now I want to point something out.
On page 200, it says "In the early part of the 1989-90 season he was closing in on Gordie Howe's career NHL goal-scoring record, a stunning achievement given that it had taken Howe 1,767 games to record his 801 goals, while Gretzky would hit the mark in just 780."
There is something very wrong with this fact. Gretzky did not score his 802nd goal until 1994- March 23, 1994, to be exact-- and I remember because I WATCHED THE GAME. I still have it on tape somewhere. It was during my first, fledgling season as a hockey fan. I came on to hockey during the all-star game and watched some games here and there before becoming fully immersed during the playoffs. We knew Gretz was getting close to the record, so we started recording games and we manged to get this one on tape. It happened to be against the Canucks (my first favorite team) and they stopped the game and made a huge presentation. (it was a big deal, but couldn't they have waited till the game was over?) I think the Canucks actually won the game, and I know that Pavel Bure scored his 50th goal, and the Canucks made an ironic show of being excited for him. Wild stuff.
What I think Mr. Brunt meant to say there was that Wayne was approaching Howe's point-scoring record, which he did break in 1989, against the Oilers. (his 802 goal took around 1, 178ish games to complete, still pretty amazing.) MAJOR difference there.. and I am really surprised that no editor caught that. I noticed it just from reading, then did some quick internet research to be sure that I wasn't imagining things.
I have a really good memory for sports-related things, especially when it comes to Pavel Bure and the Canucks, so I was pretty sure I was right about this one, and it turns out I was. Hmmm..
Showing posts with label memory lane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label memory lane. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
5 things
This post is inspired by the lovely and talented Diana Laurence, author extraordinaire and the partial inspiration for this blog. (she is the author of the former e-zine "Hockey Snacks", which I think I've referenced before) She recently wrote an entry listing 5 things that she is happy to have done and I think it's a brilliant idea. So brilliant, in fact, that I am going to emulate it- both here (hockey related things), and on my personal blog (livejournal), with a range of things I've done in my life that are not necessarily hockey related. :)
So, without further ado- 5 hockey-related things I'm glad I got to do: (in no particular order)
1. Skate on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa "The World's Largest Skating Rink".
My sis and I took a trip to Canada's capital back in March of 2007 for the sole purpose of skating the canal. We picked the perfect time to go, the weather was great and it was the last weekend the canal was open that season. We skated the full length (15.6 KM total) in one evening. It was a crazy workout and it was very cold but I'm quite happy to say that I have done it. I have since returned to the canal- the same sister and a friend and I competed in a Winterlude Triathlon there in 2009- we competed as a team, I skated 8km on the canal, Renee' (sis), ran 5km on the canal and Brenda (friend) did a 3km cross-country ski. We didn't exactly own the race, but none of us finished last in our category and we had fun. :)
2. Creating my own ice surface in my front yard.
I don't know how many of y'all follow me on facebook (if you don't, feel free to add me!) but if you do, then you will know of the trial it was to make this happen. A little bit of history is in order here. I moved to WNY in the late summer of 2003. I moved in with my sis and her family, who had just purchased a place out in the sticks- a tiny town called Delevan (about halfway between Buffalo and Olean, on Rt. 16) We've got a nice house and a decent bit of land- and a pond! I was very excited about the pond, because it gets and stays cold here for long periods of the winter. I was sure it would freeze and we could skate.. right? WRONG! The darn thing refuses to freeze properly and has been a thorn in my side for years. To make a long story short, I've given up on the pond. I tried a "jiffy rink" kit that I bought a Canadian Tire a couple of winters ago, but it never worked right. This year I decided to take matters into my own hands. I did tons of research and formulated a plan. It was January (typically the coldest part of the winter) and we had over a foot of snow on the ground. No problem. I cleared away the top layer of a huge section of the yard and prepared to work- the job was wetting down the snow that was left with the hose, then stomping it down into packed ice until I had a nice base. Then it was a matter of smoothing that out with misted on water in the cold of night. I worked on this for several freezing nights and it was coming along nicely (though hard hard work, especially since I had to drag the hose inside every night so it wouldn't freeze) Then I went to Dallas for the weekend, and it was in the 40s while I was away. I was a bit stressed but the snow was still here so I kept working on it the following week. THEN it rained for 3 days and ALL THE SNOW MELTED! I wanted to cry from frustration. But I had one more idea.
I had saved some old 4x4 pieces of wood from a fence with the idea of useing them to create a mini-rink. Then I tried the other plan but since that was done, and we were down to bare grass, I figured I'd try this one last plan and if it didn't work, I'd concede that it wasn't going to happen. So I bought a tarp from the hardware store (20x25') and laid out my boards, stapled the tarp to them to make a frame, then started filling it with water. Basically, after several days of filling and then having to add snow to level it out, I had ice. It was super bumpy and I had to go out with hot water and a shovel and do a bit of manual zamboni work, but I was able to create an ice surface in my yard. It was very small but still skateable. And now I know that this method can actually work here so next year I will make it bigger! I am still immensely proud of this accomplishment.
3. Attending the Winter Classic II in Chicago.
Sure, it wasn't Buffalo (couldn't make that one) but it was an incredible game between 2 teams I like with a fantastic rivalry. I went with my sister (who is my best friend and hockey buddy) and a great friend and we had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect, the game was intense, the fans were loud and crazy and it was everything I could have asked for. And the best part was that it was a surprise. I didn't know about it until 3 days before when my sis told me we were going. I will never forget that day. It was truly a special experience.
4. Teaching myself about hockey and how to ice skate.
I am a huge proponent of learning by doing. When I started to watch hockey, I didn't have a mentor guiding my every step, I didn't have anyone to ask, or even the internet to research things. I did it the old fashioned way- I went to the bookstore and bought every scrap of hockey literature (which wasn't much in Dayton, OH in the summer of 1994) I could get my hands on and started reading. I memorized players and stats and trying to soak up everything I could and counting the days till October. This zest for hockeyness has not left me. I still regularly read books about hockey- trying to learn as much as possible about what happened before my time, and I try to keep up with current news of the game. (it's much easier now, in Buffalo and with the internet, though I have less time to devote) Pretty much everything I know about hockey (and that's quite a bit, if I do say so), I learned on my own- by watching, and listening, and reading, and talking. I love the game, I couldn't live without it and I certainly wouldn't want to try. And I have an ownership in my fandom that I earned through lots of time and energy.
Along with the learning came a desire to DO. I knew that actually playing hockey wasn't really an option (not many teams in the area and whatnot) so I did the next best thing. I taught myself how to ice skate. I'm sure it was funny to watch. I was a very good rollerskater back in the day, but it had been some time since I had been on skates at all. I was 13 years old and I'm sure quite awkward, but I didn't care. My sister and I used to go to the open skate on Saturday nights and just have fun. I basically flailed around until I figured it out. It took awhile, but I was patient and I loved it. I watched the other kids (the hockey players of course) and tried to do what they did. I fell all the time but I didn't care. I used to race my sister's boyfriend from blueline to blueline. We went all the time and I got pretty decent at it. Eventually I moved on from awkward to an okay skater. I fell less and felt less out of control. But it never stopped being fun. I got figure skates for my 14th birthday (but I should have just asked for hockey skates, I dunno what I was thinking..) and finally got hockey skates for my 16th birthday. (still the best birthday gift I ever got and I still have those skates, they fit me like a glove) We still skated almost every weekend, all through high school. Soometimes friends would come and sometimes not, but it was always 'Nee and I. We had fun and it was a time to just exist and occasionally pretend that I was someone who could actually play hockey.
In college, I took a hockey skills class. It was awesome- counted for credit even. We did a lot of skating drills then actually got into the hockey. There wasn't much I didn't know already, though I was able to refine my skills in turning around and such, and I finally learned how to do a hockey stop. I took the class again the next year, and 'Nee joined me (even though she went to a different school) It was better the second time because the class as a whole was more advanced with the skating to start. We got into some strategy and did faceoffs and a few line changes even. (over the boards, I fell down on my first try jumping over. It was hilarious.)
I still skate whenever I can. I take my 4-yr old nephew skating about once a week, trying to share with him what I learned. I have rollerblades and try to get out on them fairly often when the weather is nice, but nothing is as great as the feel (and the sound) of blades on ice.
(phew, that got long)
5. Visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame
This may sound a bit lame, but the HHOF is super cool. I have been a few times, but could go a few more, there is something special about that place. And the neatest thing is how small the hockey world really is. I went to the HHOF in 2007 with my sister (of course, do you notice a trend here?) and as we looked around at all the displays, I kept running into names of players that I was familiar with. They change the displays often, but have equipment and jerseys and whatnot from minor leaguers of all levels and jr. hockey players as well. I found several items from players that I had met and known through my minor league hockey jobs and watching games at that level. It was kind of uncanny, actually.
And then there was the Kelly Cup (trophy for the ECHL) I worked for the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL in 2005-06. We got to host the Kelly Cup one night as part of a tour. Unlike Lord Stanley, Kelly came unaccompanied, in a plain box with scant literature or a lengthy history. (he was only about 5 years old at the time.) So the task fell to me to be the 'keeper of the Cup" for the night. I embraced it with relish, being the hockey nut that I am. I found a bit of info about it and made up some little fliers. I did not wear the nasty gloves (not clean and crisp like Phil Pritchard's) that came with it, instead letting my fingers leave marks. LOL Our coach and one of our players had won the Kelly Cup back in 2003 so their names were on there and that was kinda cool for our fans. It was a bit cheezy but I enjoyed my night with the Cup. I had some bittersweet memories about it, having seen the Greenville Grrrowl win it on MY ice in Dayton back in 2002 but that was just another story to tell.
Anyway so that was in the HHOF and I thought it was cool cuz I had touched it and knew some folks whose names were on it.. and then of course THE STANLEY CUP is there as well. You can get pictures with it and touch it and hear some history if you want to. Totally worth the trip right there.
I highly suggest you make the trip to Toronto and check out the Hockey Hall of Fame, if you haven't done so.
So there it is.. my rambling trek through memory lane, hockey style. There are many other hockey-related things that I am glad to have done or taken part in, but I think I've written enough for now. What about you?
So, without further ado- 5 hockey-related things I'm glad I got to do: (in no particular order)
1. Skate on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa "The World's Largest Skating Rink".
My sis and I took a trip to Canada's capital back in March of 2007 for the sole purpose of skating the canal. We picked the perfect time to go, the weather was great and it was the last weekend the canal was open that season. We skated the full length (15.6 KM total) in one evening. It was a crazy workout and it was very cold but I'm quite happy to say that I have done it. I have since returned to the canal- the same sister and a friend and I competed in a Winterlude Triathlon there in 2009- we competed as a team, I skated 8km on the canal, Renee' (sis), ran 5km on the canal and Brenda (friend) did a 3km cross-country ski. We didn't exactly own the race, but none of us finished last in our category and we had fun. :)
2. Creating my own ice surface in my front yard.
I don't know how many of y'all follow me on facebook (if you don't, feel free to add me!) but if you do, then you will know of the trial it was to make this happen. A little bit of history is in order here. I moved to WNY in the late summer of 2003. I moved in with my sis and her family, who had just purchased a place out in the sticks- a tiny town called Delevan (about halfway between Buffalo and Olean, on Rt. 16) We've got a nice house and a decent bit of land- and a pond! I was very excited about the pond, because it gets and stays cold here for long periods of the winter. I was sure it would freeze and we could skate.. right? WRONG! The darn thing refuses to freeze properly and has been a thorn in my side for years. To make a long story short, I've given up on the pond. I tried a "jiffy rink" kit that I bought a Canadian Tire a couple of winters ago, but it never worked right. This year I decided to take matters into my own hands. I did tons of research and formulated a plan. It was January (typically the coldest part of the winter) and we had over a foot of snow on the ground. No problem. I cleared away the top layer of a huge section of the yard and prepared to work- the job was wetting down the snow that was left with the hose, then stomping it down into packed ice until I had a nice base. Then it was a matter of smoothing that out with misted on water in the cold of night. I worked on this for several freezing nights and it was coming along nicely (though hard hard work, especially since I had to drag the hose inside every night so it wouldn't freeze) Then I went to Dallas for the weekend, and it was in the 40s while I was away. I was a bit stressed but the snow was still here so I kept working on it the following week. THEN it rained for 3 days and ALL THE SNOW MELTED! I wanted to cry from frustration. But I had one more idea.
I had saved some old 4x4 pieces of wood from a fence with the idea of useing them to create a mini-rink. Then I tried the other plan but since that was done, and we were down to bare grass, I figured I'd try this one last plan and if it didn't work, I'd concede that it wasn't going to happen. So I bought a tarp from the hardware store (20x25') and laid out my boards, stapled the tarp to them to make a frame, then started filling it with water. Basically, after several days of filling and then having to add snow to level it out, I had ice. It was super bumpy and I had to go out with hot water and a shovel and do a bit of manual zamboni work, but I was able to create an ice surface in my yard. It was very small but still skateable. And now I know that this method can actually work here so next year I will make it bigger! I am still immensely proud of this accomplishment.
3. Attending the Winter Classic II in Chicago.
Sure, it wasn't Buffalo (couldn't make that one) but it was an incredible game between 2 teams I like with a fantastic rivalry. I went with my sister (who is my best friend and hockey buddy) and a great friend and we had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect, the game was intense, the fans were loud and crazy and it was everything I could have asked for. And the best part was that it was a surprise. I didn't know about it until 3 days before when my sis told me we were going. I will never forget that day. It was truly a special experience.
4. Teaching myself about hockey and how to ice skate.
I am a huge proponent of learning by doing. When I started to watch hockey, I didn't have a mentor guiding my every step, I didn't have anyone to ask, or even the internet to research things. I did it the old fashioned way- I went to the bookstore and bought every scrap of hockey literature (which wasn't much in Dayton, OH in the summer of 1994) I could get my hands on and started reading. I memorized players and stats and trying to soak up everything I could and counting the days till October. This zest for hockeyness has not left me. I still regularly read books about hockey- trying to learn as much as possible about what happened before my time, and I try to keep up with current news of the game. (it's much easier now, in Buffalo and with the internet, though I have less time to devote) Pretty much everything I know about hockey (and that's quite a bit, if I do say so), I learned on my own- by watching, and listening, and reading, and talking. I love the game, I couldn't live without it and I certainly wouldn't want to try. And I have an ownership in my fandom that I earned through lots of time and energy.
Along with the learning came a desire to DO. I knew that actually playing hockey wasn't really an option (not many teams in the area and whatnot) so I did the next best thing. I taught myself how to ice skate. I'm sure it was funny to watch. I was a very good rollerskater back in the day, but it had been some time since I had been on skates at all. I was 13 years old and I'm sure quite awkward, but I didn't care. My sister and I used to go to the open skate on Saturday nights and just have fun. I basically flailed around until I figured it out. It took awhile, but I was patient and I loved it. I watched the other kids (the hockey players of course) and tried to do what they did. I fell all the time but I didn't care. I used to race my sister's boyfriend from blueline to blueline. We went all the time and I got pretty decent at it. Eventually I moved on from awkward to an okay skater. I fell less and felt less out of control. But it never stopped being fun. I got figure skates for my 14th birthday (but I should have just asked for hockey skates, I dunno what I was thinking..) and finally got hockey skates for my 16th birthday. (still the best birthday gift I ever got and I still have those skates, they fit me like a glove) We still skated almost every weekend, all through high school. Soometimes friends would come and sometimes not, but it was always 'Nee and I. We had fun and it was a time to just exist and occasionally pretend that I was someone who could actually play hockey.
In college, I took a hockey skills class. It was awesome- counted for credit even. We did a lot of skating drills then actually got into the hockey. There wasn't much I didn't know already, though I was able to refine my skills in turning around and such, and I finally learned how to do a hockey stop. I took the class again the next year, and 'Nee joined me (even though she went to a different school) It was better the second time because the class as a whole was more advanced with the skating to start. We got into some strategy and did faceoffs and a few line changes even. (over the boards, I fell down on my first try jumping over. It was hilarious.)
I still skate whenever I can. I take my 4-yr old nephew skating about once a week, trying to share with him what I learned. I have rollerblades and try to get out on them fairly often when the weather is nice, but nothing is as great as the feel (and the sound) of blades on ice.
(phew, that got long)
5. Visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame
This may sound a bit lame, but the HHOF is super cool. I have been a few times, but could go a few more, there is something special about that place. And the neatest thing is how small the hockey world really is. I went to the HHOF in 2007 with my sister (of course, do you notice a trend here?) and as we looked around at all the displays, I kept running into names of players that I was familiar with. They change the displays often, but have equipment and jerseys and whatnot from minor leaguers of all levels and jr. hockey players as well. I found several items from players that I had met and known through my minor league hockey jobs and watching games at that level. It was kind of uncanny, actually.
And then there was the Kelly Cup (trophy for the ECHL) I worked for the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL in 2005-06. We got to host the Kelly Cup one night as part of a tour. Unlike Lord Stanley, Kelly came unaccompanied, in a plain box with scant literature or a lengthy history. (he was only about 5 years old at the time.) So the task fell to me to be the 'keeper of the Cup" for the night. I embraced it with relish, being the hockey nut that I am. I found a bit of info about it and made up some little fliers. I did not wear the nasty gloves (not clean and crisp like Phil Pritchard's) that came with it, instead letting my fingers leave marks. LOL Our coach and one of our players had won the Kelly Cup back in 2003 so their names were on there and that was kinda cool for our fans. It was a bit cheezy but I enjoyed my night with the Cup. I had some bittersweet memories about it, having seen the Greenville Grrrowl win it on MY ice in Dayton back in 2002 but that was just another story to tell.
Anyway so that was in the HHOF and I thought it was cool cuz I had touched it and knew some folks whose names were on it.. and then of course THE STANLEY CUP is there as well. You can get pictures with it and touch it and hear some history if you want to. Totally worth the trip right there.
I highly suggest you make the trip to Toronto and check out the Hockey Hall of Fame, if you haven't done so.
So there it is.. my rambling trek through memory lane, hockey style. There are many other hockey-related things that I am glad to have done or taken part in, but I think I've written enough for now. What about you?
Monday, June 15, 2009
quick post
to let you know that I am, in fact, alive. I did not die of sorrow from the Wings not winning (trust me, if I was going to die of hockey angst, it would have happened in 1994, not 2009), I've just been busy. I even missed the anniversary of my first Game 7 and the end of my first season as a hockey fan. (and the first of many defeats) I will eventually expound on that in full, because I'm pretty sure I never have. (and there was no internet- to speak of- in 1994 LOL) Bits and pieces here and there, many teasers, but never a full recollection of my first season as a hockey fan. (I don't think so anyway, do correct me if I'm wrong- I write a lot of things here and in other websites, so I tend to get confused from time to time.)
Also, I keep alluding to it- and I will eventually write a real post, but I think it's gross that the NHL Awards will be in Las Vegas (yes, there is a hockey team there, I've even been to a game) this year. It just isn't a "hockey" atmosphere. I think it cheapens what our League represents and tries to make it too glitzy and glamor-y and that's not what hockey is. (to me, at least. what do YOU think?)
So more on that soon, but not tonight. It's been a long day on not much sleep and I am beat. And as always, I'm still taking suggestions for Hockey Separated at Births...
Also, I keep alluding to it- and I will eventually write a real post, but I think it's gross that the NHL Awards will be in Las Vegas (yes, there is a hockey team there, I've even been to a game) this year. It just isn't a "hockey" atmosphere. I think it cheapens what our League represents and tries to make it too glitzy and glamor-y and that's not what hockey is. (to me, at least. what do YOU think?)
So more on that soon, but not tonight. It's been a long day on not much sleep and I am beat. And as always, I'm still taking suggestions for Hockey Separated at Births...
Thursday, April 30, 2009
that was refreshing!
First off, my first round predictions were a little off.. LOL 3/4 in the East and 2/4 in the West. I was really pulling for the Blue Jackets and I'm sad that they lost. But there is no shame in losing to the Red Wings, it happens. I hear the show in C-bus was off the hook and that is good. They have now made it to the post-season, this is progress, and next season will be even better. Well done boys. :) Y'all have nothing to be ashamed of.
so I *finally* got around to watching a spot of playoff hockey tonight. I turned on the Blackhawks/Canucks with about 12 mins left in the 3rd. What a show. The 'Hawks scored 2, the 'Nucks scored 2 and the Canucks ended with the win. I think I should do this more often. I actually casually enjoy both of those teams so I certainly won't mind watching a bit more.
It was a weird feeling though, because the last time the Blackhawks and Canucks played each other in the playoffs was Round 2 in 1995- and the 'Nuckies got swept, much to my dismay. I vividly recall watching game 4 with my sisters. It was an afternoon game- Saturday I think- and the weather was nice so the windows were open. I'm glad we lived on a quiet street cuz any random passers-by would have been weirded out by the mad yelling that went on that day. It was pretty stressful. Weird how some things just stay with you..
Anyway it was cool to finally watch some post-season hockey. I feel like a total slacker, but in my defence, I have been stupidly busy since the playoffs started, and had things going on almost every evening. Then I was annoyed because they weren't showing MY teams when I could watch. Bastards. It was a little rude of the league to schedule without consulting me, don't ya think? LOL
A few parting thoughts..
*tomorrow I'm going to see Wolverine and I'm super excited!
*my sis and I have decided that Luongo is henceforth known as LuLu.
*I know it's been noted on many an occasion, but I will say again that Patrick Sharp is lovely. in fact, tonight I went as far as to call him "excrutiatingly lovely", because well, he is.
And he looks FINE AS HELL with a playoff beard. Very good look for ya, Patrick. Carry on my man, Carry on.
so I *finally* got around to watching a spot of playoff hockey tonight. I turned on the Blackhawks/Canucks with about 12 mins left in the 3rd. What a show. The 'Hawks scored 2, the 'Nucks scored 2 and the Canucks ended with the win. I think I should do this more often. I actually casually enjoy both of those teams so I certainly won't mind watching a bit more.
It was a weird feeling though, because the last time the Blackhawks and Canucks played each other in the playoffs was Round 2 in 1995- and the 'Nuckies got swept, much to my dismay. I vividly recall watching game 4 with my sisters. It was an afternoon game- Saturday I think- and the weather was nice so the windows were open. I'm glad we lived on a quiet street cuz any random passers-by would have been weirded out by the mad yelling that went on that day. It was pretty stressful. Weird how some things just stay with you..
Anyway it was cool to finally watch some post-season hockey. I feel like a total slacker, but in my defence, I have been stupidly busy since the playoffs started, and had things going on almost every evening. Then I was annoyed because they weren't showing MY teams when I could watch. Bastards. It was a little rude of the league to schedule without consulting me, don't ya think? LOL
A few parting thoughts..
*tomorrow I'm going to see Wolverine and I'm super excited!
*my sis and I have decided that Luongo is henceforth known as LuLu.
*I know it's been noted on many an occasion, but I will say again that Patrick Sharp is lovely. in fact, tonight I went as far as to call him "excrutiatingly lovely", because well, he is.
And he looks FINE AS HELL with a playoff beard. Very good look for ya, Patrick. Carry on my man, Carry on.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
oh Buffalo you hurt me so
I think we are discovering, more with each passing game.. that it is possible for something to be LESS than the sum of its parts. That would be the Sabres of this season. They make me ILL.
I watched pieces of Friday's game which wasn't so bad 'til the 3rd period. Can we just have a bye for the 3rd per? GRRRRR. Stupid stupid Briere. I hate you.
Last night I was not really around for most of the game. I checked the score and it was 4-1 after 2 so I decided to save myself the torture and didn't watch the 3rd period- instead we checked out "Mary Poppins" which is much much better. LOL
But see, missing the playoffs is not new to me. Hockey failure is something I'm quite familiar with. Let's take a trip down memory lane..
I started watching hockey late in the 1994 season. I was cheering the Red Wings for 2 reasons- 1. They were closest to my location of Dayton, OH and 2. My sis picked them and she started the hockey crazy so I was going with the Wings too. Then I discovered Pavel Bure and the Vancouver Canucks. Wooooweee but he was amazing. And magically, those Canuckleheads made it all the way to an improbable final against the "Mighty NY Rangers" lead by none other than the GreatestLeaderintheHistoryofProfessionalSports- Mark Messier. Well, anyone knew that those underdogs were no match for the juggernauts and they were due to go down and go down hard. But no- my plucky team of overachievers won the first game in OT at MSG and thrilled my heart to no end. Then they promptly lost 3 games in a row and the champagne was ready for game 5, back in NY. The Canucks won AGAIN and were greeted at home like heroes, where in game 6, they drubbed the Rangers 6-3 to force a deciding game 7.
It was more than my newly minted hockeyheart could take. I still remember that night, like was yesterday. June 14, 1994. I was all prepared to watch the game.. had the tv on, some snacks ready I'm sure, and my white towel all set to cheer for my 'Nucks. And I could not sit still. All through the game I wandered from room to room in the house, full of a nervous energy I didn't know what to do with. I had no frame of reference for this- I was new to this whole sports fandom thing. My team was 60 minutes away from winning it ALL.... and they lost. It was heartbreaking but Trevor Linden's 2 goals were just not enough to deny the Rangers their first Cup in 54 years.
I can't remember if I cried that night. I know I wanted to but I think the tears would not come. I know that my heart was broken but I was at once shattered and completely, utterly IN LOVE and my life was changed forever. That was the defining moment of my transformation to a full-blown hockey fan. I literally went out the next day and bought every hockey magazine and card I could get my hands on (which wasn't much in Huber Heights Ohio in June of 1994 LOL) but it was enough to get me through a summer and into the sport that would define my life for the next.. 15 years (and counting).
Why do I tell you all this? Mostly because I love a good story, but also to say that I know defeat in its many forms. I watched my glorious Canucks go from within one goal of winning it all to making the playoffs in 1995-losing out in the 2nd round by a Blackhawks sweep, while my other team, the Red Wings, went to the finals to be zapped in 4 by the Devils (which was the seed of the Marty love that took a few years to flower).. Then the Canucks followed that up with a first round exit in 1996 and no playoffs at all for several years (you almost get used to it after a while). Then Bure was traded to the Panthers in 1999. They made the playoffs (with him) in 2000- but lost in (I think) 5 games to end early once more. Bure never saw the playoffs again and once my favorite player retired (I don't like to talk about the time he spent with the gaghurl Rangers) I was sort of without a main focus.
(now there were some good times with the Wings in 97 and 98, I'm not going to lie but it wasn't the same because my favorite favorite was not among them)
I was there when my minor league team-the Dayton Bombers (whose players I knew personally) LOST the Kelly Cup (ECHL) in 4 games. It was dreadful.
I know that I don't have to justify it to Sabres fans, who know heartbreak all too well, but after a while, you almost expect to lose. Everyone makes such a big deal out of the way the sabres made the conference finals in the first 2 post-lockout seasons, but what they seem to forget is how they missed by.. what was it- 1 pt? the season before the lockout and hadn't made the playoffs since 2001? So it was actually an anomaly TO make the playoffs. Just sayin.
I have no idea what this huge ramble was about except a nice walk down memory lane.. (most of them painful LOL) I guess I have not fully given up on the Sabres- they are down but not.. quite.. let's stretch it out just a little more and make it REALLY sting... out yet.
And I want to believe.. oh how I truly, honestly WANT to believe but it seems as if the boys don't believe themselves so really.. how can we? Maybe it's about faith- you know, believing in that which cannot be seen or proven (the Sabres' ability to play 60 minutes of hockey.. in a row?) and if we all had just a little more faith, someone magical can occur? They don't seem to want us to have any magic.
And if they are okay with being mediocre (because that's what they are- neither good not terrible) then.. I guess that's what they will be. But they shouldn't be surprised if (when) their fans show up in mediocre numbers next season.
To borrow a few from Herb Brooks:
"You think you can win on talent alone? Gentlemen, you don't HAVE enough talent to win on talent alone."
"The name on the front is a HELL OF A LOT more important than the one on the back."
Play for some frickin pride boys. If you have any left. Go out kicking and screaming and MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO SEE YOU. MAKE US BELIEVE in you because we desperately, honestly want to.
Don't just expect us to keep coming back. Eventually we won't come back anymore.
Okay, I've (finally) run out of words. Don't know if that makes a lick of sense. (or if anyone took the time to read all that drivel. If you did, I applaud you.)
To close, I have 2 pictures that describe my feelings about the Sabres in general. Take of them what you will.
That expression says it all, I think.
AND
Perhaps they are trying to tell us something. Yes those are real Buffalo (well they are Bison but you know.. and yes, I took that pic. )
I watched pieces of Friday's game which wasn't so bad 'til the 3rd period. Can we just have a bye for the 3rd per? GRRRRR. Stupid stupid Briere. I hate you.
Last night I was not really around for most of the game. I checked the score and it was 4-1 after 2 so I decided to save myself the torture and didn't watch the 3rd period- instead we checked out "Mary Poppins" which is much much better. LOL
But see, missing the playoffs is not new to me. Hockey failure is something I'm quite familiar with. Let's take a trip down memory lane..
I started watching hockey late in the 1994 season. I was cheering the Red Wings for 2 reasons- 1. They were closest to my location of Dayton, OH and 2. My sis picked them and she started the hockey crazy so I was going with the Wings too. Then I discovered Pavel Bure and the Vancouver Canucks. Wooooweee but he was amazing. And magically, those Canuckleheads made it all the way to an improbable final against the "Mighty NY Rangers" lead by none other than the GreatestLeaderintheHistoryofProfessionalSports- Mark Messier. Well, anyone knew that those underdogs were no match for the juggernauts and they were due to go down and go down hard. But no- my plucky team of overachievers won the first game in OT at MSG and thrilled my heart to no end. Then they promptly lost 3 games in a row and the champagne was ready for game 5, back in NY. The Canucks won AGAIN and were greeted at home like heroes, where in game 6, they drubbed the Rangers 6-3 to force a deciding game 7.
It was more than my newly minted hockeyheart could take. I still remember that night, like was yesterday. June 14, 1994. I was all prepared to watch the game.. had the tv on, some snacks ready I'm sure, and my white towel all set to cheer for my 'Nucks. And I could not sit still. All through the game I wandered from room to room in the house, full of a nervous energy I didn't know what to do with. I had no frame of reference for this- I was new to this whole sports fandom thing. My team was 60 minutes away from winning it ALL.... and they lost. It was heartbreaking but Trevor Linden's 2 goals were just not enough to deny the Rangers their first Cup in 54 years.
I can't remember if I cried that night. I know I wanted to but I think the tears would not come. I know that my heart was broken but I was at once shattered and completely, utterly IN LOVE and my life was changed forever. That was the defining moment of my transformation to a full-blown hockey fan. I literally went out the next day and bought every hockey magazine and card I could get my hands on (which wasn't much in Huber Heights Ohio in June of 1994 LOL) but it was enough to get me through a summer and into the sport that would define my life for the next.. 15 years (and counting).
Why do I tell you all this? Mostly because I love a good story, but also to say that I know defeat in its many forms. I watched my glorious Canucks go from within one goal of winning it all to making the playoffs in 1995-losing out in the 2nd round by a Blackhawks sweep, while my other team, the Red Wings, went to the finals to be zapped in 4 by the Devils (which was the seed of the Marty love that took a few years to flower).. Then the Canucks followed that up with a first round exit in 1996 and no playoffs at all for several years (you almost get used to it after a while). Then Bure was traded to the Panthers in 1999. They made the playoffs (with him) in 2000- but lost in (I think) 5 games to end early once more. Bure never saw the playoffs again and once my favorite player retired (I don't like to talk about the time he spent with the gaghurl Rangers) I was sort of without a main focus.
(now there were some good times with the Wings in 97 and 98, I'm not going to lie but it wasn't the same because my favorite favorite was not among them)
I was there when my minor league team-the Dayton Bombers (whose players I knew personally) LOST the Kelly Cup (ECHL) in 4 games. It was dreadful.
I know that I don't have to justify it to Sabres fans, who know heartbreak all too well, but after a while, you almost expect to lose. Everyone makes such a big deal out of the way the sabres made the conference finals in the first 2 post-lockout seasons, but what they seem to forget is how they missed by.. what was it- 1 pt? the season before the lockout and hadn't made the playoffs since 2001? So it was actually an anomaly TO make the playoffs. Just sayin.
I have no idea what this huge ramble was about except a nice walk down memory lane.. (most of them painful LOL) I guess I have not fully given up on the Sabres- they are down but not.. quite.. let's stretch it out just a little more and make it REALLY sting... out yet.
And I want to believe.. oh how I truly, honestly WANT to believe but it seems as if the boys don't believe themselves so really.. how can we? Maybe it's about faith- you know, believing in that which cannot be seen or proven (the Sabres' ability to play 60 minutes of hockey.. in a row?) and if we all had just a little more faith, someone magical can occur? They don't seem to want us to have any magic.
And if they are okay with being mediocre (because that's what they are- neither good not terrible) then.. I guess that's what they will be. But they shouldn't be surprised if (when) their fans show up in mediocre numbers next season.
To borrow a few from Herb Brooks:
"You think you can win on talent alone? Gentlemen, you don't HAVE enough talent to win on talent alone."
"The name on the front is a HELL OF A LOT more important than the one on the back."
Play for some frickin pride boys. If you have any left. Go out kicking and screaming and MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO SEE YOU. MAKE US BELIEVE in you because we desperately, honestly want to.
Don't just expect us to keep coming back. Eventually we won't come back anymore.
Okay, I've (finally) run out of words. Don't know if that makes a lick of sense. (or if anyone took the time to read all that drivel. If you did, I applaud you.)
To close, I have 2 pictures that describe my feelings about the Sabres in general. Take of them what you will.
That expression says it all, I think.
AND
Perhaps they are trying to tell us something. Yes those are real Buffalo (well they are Bison but you know.. and yes, I took that pic. )
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