I like O.T. games like what we just saw in the Ducks/Wings series, for much the same reason leftinspace does, but I have to say the enthusiasm is dampened when there’s no personal stake in the outcome. I like seeing the cruel effectiveness of Pronger, the speed and skill of stars like Crosby, Ovechkin, and Toews, and unreal saves by the Wards and Hillers of the world, but “cheering” doesn’t really happen once the ‘Oil are out.

Favourite team once upon a time: Bruins 1966 – 73.
Favourite player on that team: Derek Sanderson. Runners up: Johnny Bucyk, Fred Stanfield.

See? Old.

This is my 50th Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Maybe it’s having that perspective a bit, and maybe it’s being my Dad’s son: he taught me to play and to study the game and when all else fails — to cheer for the underdog.

leftinspace has it right: more hockey!

Oilyflame, thanks for the research. Really good stuff. I guess there are tons of different reasons to support a team (met a player, like their sweaters, favorite town, etc) but for me it still boils down to sticking with your guys. Good call on Winnipeg though. I assume there are tons of Hawks fans now, since I have met at least 12 Earl’s waitresses who are dating Jonathan Toews.

Not a team. Just hockey.

I have my likes and dislikes like anyone else, but as someone once said of me:

“He’ll watch and entire game, every second, between the second to last and last teams; just to see one terrifc play in the final minute. And that play doesn’t have to be a goal, either.”

The remark was a scathing one, of course, meant to portray me as foolish or worse; but I think of it as the ultimate compliment.

I just love hockey. Always have.

Devils – 9/25 – 36%
NYI – 12/26 – 46%
Rangers – 9/21 – 43%
Flyers – 16/23 – 70%
Pens – 13/24 – 63%
Bruins – 15/24 – 63%
Sabers – 11/25 – 44%
Montreal – 12/25 – 48%
Sens – 16/25 – 64%
Leafs – 12/27 – 44%
Thrashers – 9/22 – 41%
Caines – 12/31 – 39%
FLA – 13/24 – 54%
TBAY – 10/27 – 37%
Caps – 10/25 – 40%

Hawks – 20/31 – 65%
Jackets – 21/35 – 60%
Wings – 7/24 – 29%
Preds – 15/22 – 68%
Blues – 13/24 – 54%
Flames – 21/30 – 70%
Avs – 20/32 – 63%
Oils – 21/29 – 72%
Wild – 15/25 – 60%
Canucks – 14/24 – 58%
Ducks – 14/27 – 52%
Stars – 13/28 – 46%
Kings – 11/26 – 42%
Coyotes – 11/27 – 41%
Sharks – 14/25 – 56%

I can understand where Kyle is coming from to an extent. I believe it is a complete over reaction to claim that it may be a disservice to root for a Canadian team (or American) after your team has been kicked out of the playoff race.

When I have been asked over the past couple of days who I am cheering for now, I take a second and have said that I hate the canucks as a flames fan, but the canadian part of me says I would love to see the cup back with a canadian team even though it is only comprised of 58% canadians.

Perhaps an alternative way of looking at patriotic fans is not the players that comprise the teams but the communities that support the team (or don’t in many cases down south). If one were to take the opposite approach (looking only at the roster that comprise the team) it would be similar to looking at a country such as Canada or the United States, and say that you were not going to show your support for the country simply because it has a significant amount of immigration (i.e. individuals who were not born in the country).

At the end of the day, call it what you will, but fans need to feel close to the sport they support in any way possible. Therefore if are a Winnipegger and want to cheer for the Hawks who have the most Winnipeggers on their roster – Have-at-it!