Obey Patrick

Into my inbox pinged the link. No body text, subject line only "best 14 minutes of my life." I looked around the office, waited for my bosses to disappear behind their closed doors, dragged my browser around so the YouTube video window was nestled into the bottom right of my their monitor, and positioned my text editor atop it, so I could screen the images from prying eyes with a quick-fingered ALT-TAB. I hit the GO button.

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USA Best Falls To We Are Winter Despite Dawn's Early Light

The first time I was on Up The Pucks (remember that podcast?), the guys presented me with a question, had I ever come face to face with sexism as a hockey or punk fan.  And I could confidently say that, no.  Nine times out of ten, people are pretty whatever about me being a fan, and those few exceptions, amend their opinions of me fairly quickly.  Or I just stop listening to them.  

And it really comes as no surprise to anyone that I took the day off to watch Team USA play Team Canada in the semi-finals of the Olympics.  It’s two pure NHL teams facing on international ice to battle it out.  No local guys, no college players, no hometown heroes for Sochi to root for, out on that ice for 60 minutes playing for their country.  And this is where the issues of my fandom occurs.  Never once did people care what I am packing in my pants but rather what I’m packing in my suitcase.  I’ve found being an American fan of a Canadian sport has caused me more grief than anything.

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First Night Of 24/7 Does Not Disappoint

8 takeaways from the 1st episode of the newest edition of 24/7- Toronto Maple Leafs/Detroit Red Wings (possible spoilers, but really who can do this show justice with only words?):

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The Old Barn

About a week after the rest of college hockey got underway, the New England Small College Athletic Conference kicked off its 2013-14 season this weekend, and I took in Williams College's home opener against the Mules of Colby College Saturday night, a rematch from last season's NESCAC playoffs.

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A Different Look At New Arenas

It's been a sad few years for hockey fans.  Slowly the old barns have been transforming into these monolithic, pristine white multi purpose venues where the hoity toitiest of performers will come and off set the craziest costs.  I don't know about you, but when I think of watching hockey live, my mind wanders to sticky cement floors, cinderblock walls painted brown or maybe tan or pink?  And seats that have clutch marks in their armrests from years of panicked fans.  I'm someone that feels at home in that "lived in" feeling (mind you, I'm talking about "lived in" not "we should go get vaccinated after this" filth).  

There's no question, the game of hockey is changing, but the change off the ice seems to be ignored.  Many say it's to bring in the corporate accounts, but after hanging out in the newly completed MSG, I call shenanigans.  Planners and architects and builders are looking to attract a completely untapped market for hockey fandom:

Superheroes!

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