Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

[MAVFANJEFF]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

We've had an early season tournament here for the previous 14 seasons if I remember right. I've been to almost all of them but only twice did I sit through 2 games in one night. It's exhausting to sit in those arena seats and watch 2 teams I really don't care about just to see the one I do. To put it differently, play some pre season NHL games at neutral sites and see how many people show up. about the only way to put out of town butts in the seats is to host quarter finals, semi's and championship games.

 

[Dirty]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

So this thread confirms what I've always suspected. Minnesotans hate hockey.

 

[MadCityRich]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

Hockey's my favorite sport; probably because I sucked at it and always wanted to be great! I can watch all levels at any time. TGFNHLCI! Thank God For NHL Center Ice! My 2 favorite cities to watch the NHL are St. Paul & Chicago, no surprise to both. I've made many college road trips, some AHL & USHL trips as well. When MCR Jr was playing AAA, we were all over hell, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Oddly enough, our social time of year was October - March. Summer was for relaxing, not traveling. Football ranks #2 with me, but I don't have the same interest at all levels like I do hockey.

 

[thedunker]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

Great post. My team is in the NCHC. I try to watch all league televised games at least in part. Since I live in NJ, I try to catch a game or 2 at Princeton. With WISKY so down this year, the B1G is a viewing nightmare.

 

[ericredaxe]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

I disagree. If he would have just said "hockey fans like their local/state hockey" then maybe he'd almost have a point. Aren't there something like 4 hockey colleges in Boston within a couple miles of each other? How much crossover is there for fans? Would Fan A go see a game of Schools B and C? *shrug* maybe. How many of them out there would go to a game between Bemidji State and Northern Michigan during a sort of worthless tournament on Christmas break?

I'd say I like hockey, but The Beanpot Championship is about the only game I'd stick around for if my team is not playing.

The Beanpot championship game is always pretty much 100% full. I think it is a pretty even mix of people hawking their tickets off if their team is in the consolation, and people who will go to the championship game just because.

I'm not sure if there is crossover really, but everyone (except for fans of the schools) will cheer for whoever is playing against BU or BC….

The first night is different though, the arena is pretty much 50% full for each of the two opening round games…

I think the Beanpot is different though… there is something sort of "mystical" about it to college hockey fans in the Boston area. I'd bet most of those fans would not stick around for an NCAA opening round game for two random teams.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

I'd say I like hockey, but The Beanpot Championship is about the only game I'd stick around for if my team is not playing.

The Beanpot championship game is always pretty much 100% full. I think it is a pretty even mix of people hawking their tickets off if their team is in the consolation, and people who will go to the championship game just because.

I'm not sure if there is crossover really, but everyone (except for fans of the schools) will cheer for whoever is playing against BU or BC….

The first night is different though, the arena is pretty much 50% full for each of the two opening round games…

I think the Beanpot is different though… there is something sort of "mystical" about it to college hockey fans in the Boston area. I'd bet most of those fans would not stick around for an NCAA opening round game for two random teams.

WCHA Final Five used to be that way too. These types of tourneys are few and far between though.

I think it would be cool to attend the Bean Pot one year. On the bucket list.

 

[Slap Shot]

You don't think he was taking a shot, or you know he wasn't taking a shot?

I've seen him post elsewhere and I'm not as convinced. And his subsequent posts in this thread reinforce that in my mind.

And who said he needs to defend himself? I just offered my opinion on his thoughts. And when did I say it was pointless to offer my opinion? Any other words you want to put in my mouth?

You say that people on these boards don't have to "defend themselves", so why should I defend myself to you?

I said Minnesota fans don't have to defend their appreciation for hockey, that I don't think that was his intent anyway, and said absolutely nothing about you at all. Why must you always insist on turning everything into a fight?

Oh and you said it was a pointless topic before you edited your post.

 

[Waite21]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

A comment in the first post mentioned college basketball where the atmosphere used to be like a carnival.

It was quite a few years ago - 36 of them, in fact - but I remember the Eastern Regional NCAA basketball tournament of 1979. The Penn Quakers and St. John's Redmen (as they were known in those days) were sent to Raleigh, North Carolina to serve as cannon fodder for heavy favorites UNC and Duke. Of course, North Carolina had long had the reputation of being the home of some of the most enthusiastic college basketball fans in the country.

Before a packed house of disbelieving Carolinians, Penn beat the Tar Heels and St. John's beat the Blue Devils.

You should have seen all the empty seats in Raleigh when Penn played St. John's two days later to see which team would move on to the next round.

The phenomenon of fans showing up only for games involving "their" team has been around for a long time and it isn't limited to hockey.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

I said Minnesota fans don't have to defend their appreciation for hockey. Why must you always insist on turning everything into a fight?

hahaha.... That's rich. You're the one who feels the need to mediate seemingly everything. It gets really, really old.

Whatever, let's just move on.

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

If by saying you act like a teenage girl after her first period equals mediating everything then guilty as charged.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

If by saying you act like a teenage girl after her first period equals mediating everything then guilty as charged.

Thanks for always being there to chaperone our message board activities Slap Shot. God forbid a Gopher fan says anything you don't like on the Internet

 

[The Rube]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

I will say, I have two tvs in my apt living room. When I did have cable, if college hockey was on tv, I'd watch it. Didn't care who was playing. There were nights when I was able to watch 4-5 games (at least most of them, due to overlap) and it was awesome. However, I think that's a rarity.

You also have to think about costs. Some schools (*cough* MN *cough*) charge an arm and a leg for their games. And in western hockey, travel times are much longer than in the east. If I lived in Boston/etc, I may check out games that are not my team. But, I think I'm in the minority in that case.

 

[Bonin21]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

Watching on TV and going to neutral games in a tournament that doesn't mean anything (It's not the Beanpot) are very different. I would have watched the Classic championship over the NFL playoffs if it was on before heading down to Mariucci.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

Watching on TV and going to neutral games in a tournament that doesn't mean anything (It's not the Beanpot) are very different. I would have watched the Classic championship over the NFL playoffs if it was on before heading down to Mariucci.

They are different, but it also is part of the OP's question of "does a person like hockey, or just their team." That was the only portion I was referencing. I have addressed other issues of actually attending the games in previous posts.

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

msof I'm going for levity here.

Agree with much of the last two posts. Cost is a factor, drive time, abundance and popularity of hs hockey, 3 additions to Div I hockey the last twenty years, the Wild, the appearance that the U loves corpies more than the average fan...

That said when I was still in MN I'd go to at least 2 regular season Gophers games per year and then often the WCHA, a few more Wild games, at least a dozen hs games and the last few seasons often watch a handful of non-Gopher games on tv when offered. I think a dozen years ago that game wouldn't be so vacant, but I don't think it's a reflection of the thoughts in the op.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

msof I'm going for levity here.

Agree with much of the last two posts. Cost is a factor, drive time, abundance and popularity of hs hockey, 3 additions to Div I hockey the last twenty years, the Wild, the appearance that the U loves corpies more than the average fan...

That said when I was still in MN I'd go to at least 2 regular season Gophers games per year and then often the WCHA, a few more Wild games, at least a dozen hs games and the last few seasons often watch a handful of non-Gopher games on tv when offered. I think a dozen years ago that game wouldn't be so vacant, but I don't think it's a reflection of the thoughts in the op.

For the easterners who don't know, this year, MN charges $30 for an SRO ticket, non-premium game. That's just insane. For my MTU trip, it cost $75/series....in the 3rd/4th biggest suites in the place. A couple beers and some appetizers included.

 

[Dirty]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

For the easterners who don't know, this year, MN charges $30 for an SRO ticket, non-premium game. That's just insane. For my MTU trip, it cost $75/series....in the 3rd/4th biggest suites in the place. A couple beers and some appetizers included.

$30? That's like half your salary! Not to mention the cost of putting the gas into your forklift so you can make it to the giant cereal bowl.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

$30? That's like half your salary! Not to mention the cost of putting the gas into your forklift so you can make it to the giant cereal bowl.

You still live at the retirement complex? How is it in sugar beet country? Can you get cable yet?

 

[Dirty]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

You still live at the retirement complex? How is it in sugar beet country? Can you get cable yet?

I do! You know what else I do? Even though it's SO expensive? Go to my team's games. It's crazy, I know. But I still do it. I suppose I could drive two states away to watch games, but that just seems silly.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Do you like hockey, or do you just like "your" team?

I do! You know what else I do? Even though it's SO expensive? Go to my team's games. It's crazy, I know. But I still do it. I suppose I could drive two states away to watch games, but that just seems silly.

I have never claimed it's not silly. It's rather insane, actually. And your team's games are expensive because of all that money spent trying to find a new nickname.