Following discussions with various people about my interest in the NHL (national hockey league) I have been asked time and time again which team that I 'support' and have never had an answer. In all honesty I enjoy watching games and usually pick four teams once the playoffs start, based on what I have seen in the regular season and who their goalies are. I am more of a fan of goaltenders than actual teams which, I appreciate, is a little strange. However I feel that the time has come to nail my colours to the mast and must choose a team to follow.
I have spen the past weeks trawling NHL.com, NHL goalies archive and various other websites in search of pro's and con's to help me make a decision.
Detroit Redwings-too obvious;it's like South-Africans supporting Man Utd same as New Jersey Devils. Phoenix Coyotes; you can't have a hockey team in the desert, it's retarded. Dallas Stars, once again hot weather and ice-it makes no historical or cultural sense and hockey is built on history and culture. New York Islanders; well if you have to support a team from New York it has to be Buffalo Sabres or Rangers but I hate Sabres goalie Ryan Miller because he thinks he's Irish (even though his grandfather was born in America) and I know alot of Rangers fans so there is no point-I want some rivalry. Chicago Blackhawks were my first ever team that I followed because I loved Ed Belfour, but they are hardly ever on TV so I cannot watch them.
Basically teams from the west are a no-go because the scheduling of games for TV dictates that I would have to stay up alot later than I already have to, to watch games, plus channel five seems to just show eastern conference teams. Colorado Avalanche, I used to have an Av's jersey because I liked Patrick Roy but for some reason I hate them now. San Jose Sharks, LA Kings, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning-again hot towns should not have hockey teams. I like Minnesota Wild but they are Atlanta Thrashers, Carolina Hurricains, Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks all business money-making creations in towns with no hockey history. Washington Capitals-gun-crime and they are rubbish.
I do like the Edmonton Oilers for their old-skool history and approach to hockey and Calgary Flames because of Miika Kiprussof, Boston Bruins I very much like but hate their players and Ottowa Senators I used to like when they had Hasek but now Ray Emery pisses me off, I hate him and enjoyed very much watching him mentally crumble against the Ducks in the Stanley Cup finals. Montreal Canadiens are the Newcastle United of the NHL steeped in history and Canadiens have actually won stuff unlike Newcastle but they are french so I can't support them. Vancouver Cannucks are good and I love Luongo and Kirk McLean was an amazing 'stand-up' goalie but they are difficult to watch being a western conference team. St Louis Blues I just don't know anything about them and that is fine, boring. Philadelphia Flyers are entertaining to watch and their seventies Broad Street Bullies are YouTube heaven to watch and I love Ron Hextall-we need someone like him back in hockey but I just can't bring myself to support them. I love Pittsburgh Penguins and last season broke my heart when Fleury and Crosby were denied a Stanley Cup, but since they traded my hero Ty Conklin I can't forgive them.
Based on several factors I have decided that the Toronto Maple Leafs are my team; the factor's were: the history of the team and success, I like Vesa Toskala and they have brought back Curtis Joseph at 41 years old to hopefully win a Stanley Cup. Mats Sundin is awesome to watch and Kaberle is a genius. I love the jersey, that seems shallow but some of the teams that I like is because the uniforms are great, the big blue leaf on a white jersey is ace. They used to have Felix Potvin who is another of my early memory heroes of hockey. The Stadium is amazing and the atmosphere always seems incredible, they are a hungry team and each season I think that they may do well and because they have not done anything for a while-maybe it is their time. I have always harboured dreams of visiting Toronto and hope to go to watch a game there one day and visit the Hockey Museum.
No comments:
Post a Comment