I love Ice hockey, I truly do, I've played it since I was 7, and after I began learning how to skate I became a fan of the Detroit Red Wings. I'm often asked why I love Detroit and New York Sports teams. My love for New York Sports team stems from my upbringing there, but my love for Detroit sports teams is much more unorthodox. I became a Red Wings fan because, when I was 7, having been learning how to skate, I decided to start paying attention to the sport. I asked my father to name some teams, and when he named the Red Wings, I immediately decided they would be my favorite team, because my favorite color is red, and wings is animal like, and when I was 7 I loved anything that pertained to animals. It was sheer coincidence that in the same year I became a Red Wings fan, they won their second of back to back Stanley Cups, beatings the Capitals in 4. I fell in love with Tomas Holmstrom, Chris Osgood, and Sergei Fedorov that season. However, it was when the captain, Steve Yzerman handed the paraplegic Vladimir Konstantinov the Stanley Cup in his wheel chair(Konstantinov was a top pairing defenseman for us on the 1997 team who got into a limousine accident over the summer when celebrating the cup win), I realized what it meant to be a leader, and a compassionate human being. And from that day on, Steve Yzerman became my favorite hockey player, my role model, and the 1997-1998 Detroit Red Wings have remained my all time favorite hockey team since then.
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| Last Year's Champions, the Chicago Black Hawks |
I've been blessed to have been a fan of the most prosperous sports team of the last two decades, and this season we enter our 20th consecutive playoffs dating back to 1991, my birth year. Since then, we've made the finals 6 times, and won the cup 4 times, I've witnessed 4 of these finals appearances, and 3 of those cups since watching hockey. However, I think it's well known that I'm a hockey fanatic, I can practically spout of the line up of any team dating back since the lockout ended, simply because I love the sport. I will sit and watch any game that's on, and really appreciate all the teams in the NHL, and love the decorated history of this prestigious game. And so, we move into our 94th Stanley Cup playoffs, as we know the NHL today.
Despite being a huge Red Wings fan, I'm a realist when it comes to this game, and seeing the playoffs dawn upon us over the last couple of weeks, I made my own personal predictions. I have the Sharks v.s the Flyers in the finals, but anything could happen. Vancouver looks great, the Bruins and Capitals look daunting, anyone can truly make the finals this year, which is what makes this sport so great. Already, with only the first games passing, we saw Montreal Canadiens goaltender, Carey Price, New York Rangers goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist, and Buffalo Sabres goaltender, Ryan Miller all stand on their heads in the first game, playing exceptionally well. These playoffs have been nothing short of exciting, and it's only been the first game. I expect Joe Pavelski, of the San Jose Sharks to have a second consecutive, HUGE playoffs. I expect Jonathan Toews, of the Chicago Black Hawks, to give his team every possible opportunity, to pull an upset on the Vancouver Canucks, I expect the Montreal Canadiens and Carey Price to frustrate anyone they play against, I expect Chris Pronger to piss off someone, and I expect Nicklas Lidstrom to be perfect, as always.
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| Bobby Baun's Broken Leg Goal |
It's a great time of year when player's lose their teeth, beards grow out(Especially mine), goal horns sound of, and players skate on broken legs ala Bobby Baun. It's the time of year that'll define a legacy, when history is truly made. And I for one hope that everybody watches these playoffs with as much excitement and anticipation that I'll be expressing and containing. Because it'll truly be a memorable experience.
Until next time, looks like Team Rocket's Blasting Off Again!
