My honey surprised me by showing up at my Hotel in a Limo with 2 Ranger tickets. All I have to say is that it was Fucking awesome!!!
^^^I think the reason I've never really gotten into ice hockey is because I've never actually been to a real game. The people I've met who are fans all say that it's completely different than watching it on TV.
Hockey is definitely much better in person, live, on the Ice; than on TV. Never a dull moment either.
The live game experience is fantastic especially at college level. I went to Princeton games. Their rink was built in 1922. It has the feel of the era but the smaller seating arrangement gives you a closer perspective towards the ice. The fresh cold air and the sounds of skates carving into the ice brings your senses to a new level. The free womens games are excellent and their skating prowess is outstanding.
59... Try a few college games and enjoy the atmosphere......That level is the essence of the sport. Skills are present. A game @ Princeton was $10. Dress for the cold air.
...lol...not much chance in that, I'm in Georgia. ...but I might give it a try the next time I'm in Atlanta.
The bright ice, hearing the skates whooshing, uniform colors contrasting with the white ice....oohs and aahs from the crowd after hard body checks and when a player breaks away free and heads towards the goalie. Watching teams/players passing the puck around maneuvering and avoiding opposing players is in itself impressive. NHL/ Pro Hockey is the only team sport where fist fighting is "part of the game" and doesn't necessarily result in an ejection and the 1970s were the heyday of "hockey fights" with bench clearing brawls. You actually had multiple isolated fights going on simultaneously between opposing players with crowd going wild. The fans would anticipate and wait for individual matchups between certain players. Each team had at least one enforcer (sometimes called goons and policeman) who the coach would send on the ice to "correct" and "take care" of an opposing player who was taking cheap shots and liberties with one of your top skaters/scorers. The the enforcers/goons usually weren't one of your top skaters/scorers or penalty killers so it didn't hurt much when they served their penalty time in the penalty box. You can still see occasional fights but the NHL has been and still is committed to cutting down on brawling and encouraging a more European-like style of hockey emphasizing more open ice skating with much less fighting. I remember when the Calgary Flames moved to Atlanta and some had doubts about the game being welcomed and appreciated by a southern city/crowds....but I had an inkling those down to earth good old boys would like it...and they did. The players are bigger faster than 40-50 years ago partly due to better equipment/skates and watching these players zoom around the ice is quite a spectacle. Hockey is the fastest team sport - with hard body contact/collisions and "fighting" included. Great sport and fabulous to watch in person.
He certainly did. I have been to many Basketball, Football, and Baseball games but this was unbelievable. I'm actually watching the replay on MSG and said to myself was I really there last night??
