Hockey thread!

[J&K 0]

I only played single A hockey in Kitchener for a couple of years. I was extremely dedicated to ringette and couldn't give it up. Played until I was 17 years old. I even had knee surgery at 16 and STILL played another season. I played AA ringette for kitchener and waterloo. I found the girls hockey was slow and boring for me. Ringette is a really fast game and I was just so in love with it.

That's cool!

I never had anything bad to say about Ringette. I was a goalie, so I actually attribute to 'learning' the position when I played Ringette. Started when I was 6 and then switched to hockey when I was 12 (playing both sports in the same season).

I ended up playing AA hockey in Toronto, North York, Scarborough and finally in Brampton where I had the chance to play with the Brampton Thunder in the NWHL for a few games. Got to play with and against women who play on the Canadian and US women's teams.

Even go to be on the W Network for a couple of games! National coverage...even if it was on the W Network

I still play down here, but obviously not for any AA, A or even B teams

I still have fun though

[Autumnchik 6]

Hubby is a Canucks fan. I am more into baseball (loving the Red Sox!).

[L_n_O 3]

From the Recent Leafs vs Caps game.

LEAFS WON!

[eklondon 0]

I am a HUGE Minor Hockey Fan!!!!

OHL - London Knights (Hometown) Many NHL'ers came from the OHL

NHL - Was Pittsburgh until Return of Mario Lemieux as a player for the Pens (big debate here)

I was turned off NHL Hockey for a couple years because of this and returned as a LEAFS fan.

My son who is now 8 started Hockey at 2

and my Youngest Daughter who also started Hockey at 2 is now 3.

PROS in Arizona: I go to any game, seats on the Glass (visitor corner) for under $100 a ticket !!!! Try that at the ACC !

CONS in Arizona: Moved to Arizona and what I get is "Hockey? Tim Hortons?"

[The_Dude 1,142]

Being a Montrealer, I am a HABS fan through and through! My Dad had season tickets growing up and we went to so many games. I used to LOVE Jose Theodore, he was one sexy goalie if you ask me. Now I love Saku Koivu just because he's been through so much personally and is a great leader. They are going through some ####### right now, but I hope to see them bounce back soon! I have some great memories of the old Montreal forum (that's now a shopping mall/cinema!)

**forgot to say, Americans generally have no idea the Canadiens are referred to as the HABS in Canada. So when I speak of the Habs they have no clue what that is so I have to explain where the nickname came from, etc.

I do, and have had to explain it to my fellow compatriots several times. Some co-workers have even asked me about that when they find out that my fiance is Canadian. As if when I put that engagement ring on her finger transferred all the knowledge of Canada onto me. They really are funny sometimes.

I was a Nordiques fan. I absolutely loved Peter Stasney, he was amazing. My hometown team (L.A. Kings) were a joke at the time, but I would root for them as well. When Stasney got traded in the late 80's, I started leaning more towards the Kings seeing as they were doing better at the time. Then in a rather short period of time, Gretzky came to L.A., and the Nordiques moved to Colorado and became the wretched Avalache (ugliest jersey in all of NHL). So I was a LA kings fan, had season tickets and all. That all ended with the strike. I just hated the rules changes. That was about the time that the Kings decided that they didn't really want to compete for the cup anymore and were content on just selling tickets. I've only seen a couple of games since. I really hate owners like that. And now I'm hearing that the GM's are revisiting the notion of completely abolishing fighting from the game. Gonna be hard for me to ever get back into it then. I'm not one of those blood thristy fans who sits there and calls for blood every time someone gets hit. I just think people like Sean Avery, however detestable he is, serves a very vital role.

BTW, what is Ringette? I've never even heard of it.

Edited March 11, 2009 by Rob and Mel

[thetreble 19]

BTW, what is Ringette? I've never even heard of it.

It's okay! It's not a sport that is played in the US. I often played teams when I got older from countries like Finland and Sweden though. It's similiar to hockey but the stick has no blade and it is played with a big, blue rubber ring.

The rules are different. For example, you have to pass it over both blue lines, there are no face offs...which ever team is in possession...wait...this is pointless.

[The_Dude 1,142]

BTW, what is Ringette? I've never even heard of it.

It's okay! It's not a sport that is played in the US. I often played teams when I got older from countries like Finland and Sweden though. It's similiar to hockey but the stick has no blade and it is played with a big, blue rubber ring.

The rules are different. For example, you have to pass it over both blue lines, there are no face offs...which ever team is in possession...wait...this is pointless.

Very interesting.... very fast paced. I'd watch it

[thetreble 19]

It was the favourite of all the sports I played growing up. I loved being with the girls. It was extremely competitive.

Unfortunately, it is Canada's dying sport and has been in decline for almost ten years now as girls hockey has gotten bigger. Canada has done nothing to get more girls to play it. It's a shame.

[J&K 0]

It was the favourite of all the sports I played growing up. I loved being with the girls. It was extremely competitive.

Unfortunately, it is Canada's dying sport and has been in decline for almost ten years now as girls hockey has gotten bigger. Canada has done nothing to get more girls to play it. It's a shame.

So very true, and it is a shame. I don't think I would have been as good of a goalie as I was had it not been for Ringette.

I can still remember how I got into ringette. I had been playing house league hockey with the boys when I was 5 (My dad ran the league in my city so that's how I got in). At the end of the year, my dad didn't want to run it anymore and they asked me "Do you want to continue to play hockey with the boys? Or do you want to try this new sport called Ringette?" My response was "I want to play Hockey with the Boys! YAY!" I was registered for Ringette It's still a running joke for me and my family

[The_Dude 1,142]

It was the favourite of all the sports I played growing up. I loved being with the girls. It was extremely competitive.

Unfortunately, it is Canada's dying sport and has been in decline for almost ten years now as girls hockey has gotten bigger. Canada has done nothing to get more girls to play it. It's a shame.

Thats too bad that it's dying out. Was the sport originated in Canada?

Edit: I just read the wikipedia entry on the sport.

Speaking of native sports, I don't understand why most americans think of baseball as "America's Game". We aren't the best at it, and it is quite similar to cricket. American football is a more sturctured (and padded) version of rugby. Basketball however is uniquely american. I think it's highly reflective of society too, both currently and past. I love all sports equally..... well, except for golf, but thats not a sport anyways

Edited March 11, 2009 by Rob and Mel

[thetreble 19]

Basketball however is uniquely american.

Even though it was invented by a Canadian?

[The_Dude 1,142]

Basketball however is uniquely american.

Even though it was invented by a Canadian?

But he invented it in the U.S., so all your basketballs are belong to us!!!!!1

[Udella&Wiz 325]

From the Recent Leafs vs Caps game.

LEAFS WON!

So you were the two Toronto fans (OK 3 counting my wife) that we saw at the game.

I am a die hard Caps fan. Have been since I got into it in the 80's watching the Hershey Bears the first time they were the farm team for the Caps.

Leafs got lucky and caught the Caps in a mini slump and no Ove. (That's Ovechkin for the non puck heads)

Wiz

(Yes dear, I know we share the account but...)

[defunct 0]

Canucks fan - and when I say fan, I do not mean bandwagon fan like most Canucks fans. I stuck around during the Messier/Potvin years, so I'd like to think that I'm pretty dedicated.

I'm very happy that I'm moving to a U.S. city with an NHL team in the same division as my team. I've already been to one Canucks game in Dallas and was surprised to not have one comment made to me about my Canucks jersey. I didn't even get one dirty look... Kind of disappointing.

By the by, I hate the Rangers and Kings.

[warlord 73]

Basketball however is uniquely american.

Even though it was invented by a Canadian?

But he invented it in the U.S., so all your basketballs are belong to us!!!!!1

Actually if you want to get technical, basketball was taken from the old Aztec game Tlachtli. So once again, a recycled game like all the others.

Never heard of Ringette myself either.

OHL, I did watch a few games of the Junior Red Wings while living in Windsor play. Not sure if they were in the OHL or just played OHL teams at all. I just remember in highschool we had a lot of Guelph Platters (currently now called the Storm) that went to my highschool from all over the place. Guess they would be drafted for the team and go to school there. Not sure if they lived in some dorm or something or families took them in, but kind of like an exchange thing I guess...