Any NHL Fans in the house?

[D-Man]

I stay familiar with the NHL through the games, which I've been playing ever since I got a Sega Genesis as a kid.  I know they've been through some tough times as of late, but with new stars like Sidney Crosby coming onto the scene, I'm more confident that we'll see more new games coming from EA and 2K.  (It helps that they have a star now whose name average Americans can pronounce, hehe.)

I also respect the NHL's history.  I recently bought a copy of NHL 2K8 on the cheap, and I recreated The Winnipeg Jets, The Quebec Nordiques, and the Minnesota North Stars.  It's great to see the extinct teams back in action in a game like this.   

Speaking of which, there's also the Hartford Whalers.  Any hardcore NHL fan knows about this old team, which is now in Carolina as the Hurricanes.  I don't know about you guys, but I constantly think to myself, when is this city gonna stop being jerks, and let EA and 2K have the Whalers old logos and uniforms? 

I hate to say it, Hartford, but the Whalers are NOT coming back.  You should stop slapping your fans in the face like this, and let them be able to recreate them in console form.   

[Rev. Powell]

I have never been able to get into hockey whatsoever, although I have friends who are absolute fanatics about it.  In fact, I have a friend who briefly lived in Hartford and was a Whalers fan.  Personally, I tend to nod off when they convince me to attend a hockey game.  But they do the same when I've taken them to basketball games.

[D-Man]

I think the NHL needs to take further steps in order to increase their popularity.  I think they took a step in the right direction by eliminating tie games, because if there's one thing Americans hate more than anything else in sports, it's ties.  That's why soccer has never caught on.

I think the reason that so many non-fans like you, Rev Powell, find Hockey boring, other than the ties, is all the stopping and face-offs.  I can never really watch games on TV either, because of all the times the goalie makes a save...then freezes the puck for another face off.  They should take steps to limit that kind of stuff, even make it illegal in some cases, so they can keep the flow of an exciting game. 

[HappyGilmore]

I don't watch all the NHL games on tv, but I do try to watch the Flyers as much as possible.  They're my favorite team.  Unfortunately, I wasn't alive during the Broad Street Bullies heyday with Dave Schultz holding a league record of 472 penalty minutes in a SINGLE SEASON.  Hard to imagine nowadays.

Speaking of which, there's also the Hartford Whalers.  Any hardcore NHL fan knows about this old team, which is now in Carolina as the Hurricanes.  I don't know about you guys, but I constantly think to myself, when is this city gonna stop being jerks, and let EA and 2K have the Whalers old logos and uniforms? 
 

Uniforms come and go, D-Man, but Hartford, The Whale, beats Vancouver once, maybe twice in a lifetime.

[Mr. DS]

Speaking of which, there's also the Hartford Whalers.  Any hardcore NHL fan knows about this old team, which is now in Carolina as the Hurricanes.  I don't know about you guys, but I constantly think to myself, when is this city gonna stop being jerks, and let EA and 2K have the Whalers old logos and uniforms? 

I've watched a lot of AHL games in the past.  I don't follow it religiously but I find it to be a great evening out.  I recall going to see the Whaler's farm team The Springfield Indians back home frequently.  I had bought a jersey that eventually Snoop Dogg wore in one of his videos making the little team popular.  Nowadays they are known as the Springfield Falcons.  Ever since I move to RI, I've been to one Providence Bruins games.  I think when my son is older, we'll go to many more. 

[flackbait]

Why didn't I notice this earlier, I love Hockey. Although I think its one of those games where its probably better seen at the ice rink then on the tube.

[Newt]

I grew up watching hockey - starting back in the 60's - whole family played (from shinny to neighbourhood leagues) at some point, so it is more or less ingrained.  Far easier to get caught up in the excitement of the play if one has actually skated and chased a puck.  Hubby still watches a game on TV now and then: amazes me how quickly it all comes back and there I am yelling "SKATE! SKATE!!!" once again. (Even worse at the rink, watching kids play: hard to keep one's mouth shut!)

Once the ponds freeze, we keep a couple of nets out there - as do the neighbours - and a trunk full of skates.  How Canadian is that?