I have been around hockey since I was 2 years old. I hated it growing up and would frequently fight with my parents about having to go watch my brothers play. It was not until I was around 18 that I really started to enjoy it. I guess part of me realized that there would come a day when neither of my brothers would be playing hockey and that really bothered me.Thats a really cool way to have family time together (and it incredible of your mom and dad to give you the option of vacations or sports because either way they knew that it was going to mean family involvement) - AWESOME!!! I can imagine it isn't something that you'd appreciate when you were younger but can as you get older and, don't worry, it's something we all go through (missing the days back when you were a kid, lived at home with mom and dad and did things with them as a family)!! THANKS for sharing such a great story, "Anon!"
Growing up my parents always told my bothers and me that we could either take a few nice family vacations a year or we could play sports all year round. Of course we picked sports. Because of this hockey tournaments served as our “vacations.” My family and I traveled all over the place and although I hated it at the time, I now would give anything to spend hours in the car driving to hockey tournaments like we use to. Hockey was a huge part of my childhood and I love the sport not only because it is exciting and fun to watch but also because it has brought my family close together.
A few years ago I was reading one of my little brothers hockey magazines. To be perfectly honest I only read it because of the cute guy on the cover. That cute guy happened to be Sidney Crosby. After reading the article I was amazed with how humble he was, his love for the sport and how he wanted kids to be able to enjoy the sport just as much as he did when he was growing up. Because of Sid, I started watching professional hockey more and I ended up becoming a Penguins fan.
Maybe it’s weird that I only started watching professional hockey because of a silly little article. Some people may classify me as a puck bunny but I honestly do not consider myself one. I like the whole team and I enjoy watching them all play. I went to my first Pens game last week when they played in Boston and it was AMAZING. I enjoyed it so much that I spent $300 on tickets for when they come in March. I’m a 21 year old college student and I really should not be spending that amount of money on a hockey game but I think I would be miserable if I had to watch the game at home knowing that they are only 45 minutes away from my house.
Being a Penguins fan isn’t easy. I’m constantly surrounded by Bruins fans and I although I was REALLY excited when they won the Stanley Cup, it was a little depressing to celebrate the victory on my own. I constantly have to defend myself when I tell people I’m a Penguins fan but I honestly do not care. I love watching them and I am proud to be a Penguins fan :)
- Anonymous fan from NH
REASON #69
IMPORTANT HOCKEY STUFF: On September 10, 2004, Weber signed a three-year, $1.425–million contract with his draft team, the Nashville Predators. A year and a half later, Weber made his NHL debut on January 6, 2006 versus the Detroit Red Wings, recording three shots on goal in 11:08 of icetime. Three months later, on April 6, 2006, Weber scored his first NHL goal against Reinhard Divis of the St. Louis Blues in a 3–0 Nashville victory. Weber would go on to play in 28 games in his rookie season, finishing with two goals and ten assists. He then added an addition two goals in four playoff games with the Predators before the team was eliminated in the first round by the San Jose Sharks. With Nashville's AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, still in playoff action, Weber was reassigned to the Admirals roster for the remainder of the AHL playoffs. There he compiled six goals and five assists in fourteen games as the Admirals nearly clinched the Calder Cup, losing to the 
Hershey Bears in six games in the Calder Cup Finals. In his sophomore season, Weber evolved into one of Nashville's most important players. At the midway point of the season, Weber had already compiled 26 points. His play was rewarded on January 14, 2007 when he was named to the Western Conference roster for the 2007 NHL YoungStars Game in Dallas, Texas. Weber went on to finish the season with forty points, finishing eighth on the Predators roster in total points. Weber added an additional three assists in five playoff games before the Predators were eliminated by the San Jose Sharks for the second consecutive season. Weber's third season with the Predators began with a rash of injuries. After playing only 2:19 of the first period in Nashville's season opening game versus the Colorado Avalanche, Weber fell awkwardly and dislocated his kneecap. As a result, Weber missed the next six weeks of games before returning to the Nashville lineup versus the St. Louis Blues on November 17, 2007. Shortly thereafter, Weber suffered another injury, this time injuring his leg and missing eleven games before he returned to the Predators lineup for a January 15, 2008 game versus the Calgary Flames. On June 23, 2008, Weber signed a three-year, $13.5 million contract extension with the Predators.
HOCKEY FACTOR:
After a season with the Ice Cats, Hecht played two full seasons with the Blues before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers in July 2001 along with Marty Reasoner and Jan Horáček in exchange for Doug Weight and Michel Riesen. He spent one season with the Oilers (2001-2002) and was traded to his current team, the Buffalo Sabres, in June 2002 in exchange for the Sabres' 31st and 36th picks of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft (which was Atlanta's 2nd round choice that Buffalo previously acquired; Edmonton selected Jeff Deslauriers and Nashville's 2nd round choice previously acquired by Buffalo; Edmonton selected Jarret Stoll).
"I was not in a good mood last year," Hecht said Wednesday morning. "I was miserable and down on myself, hard on myself. I wanted to change that. I knew that I had to change it to play better. Even at home, away from hockey, I was still in a bad mood. So I had to learn to separate those two things."
I'm so glad that you posted this topic for everyone. I know that it seems that the PuckSluts are taking over the world these days, but some of us actually know a cross check from a poke check.I love the fact that girls play hockey and I'm also a little jealous since when / where I grew up there wasn't even a boys hockey team let alone one for girls (thats changed now, but it's still relatively new to our area; football is "king" here - UGH) and I'm certain if it was a more popular sport when I was growing up that I would've definitely had skates and a stick permanently attached to my body!!! ; P I think it's just SO COOL that your dad started the first female hockey team and its the reason why you got to play - how awesome (what a great dad!)!!! ... THANKS for your amazing story, Charli!! Be sure to let us know how your team is doing as you continu to play (I'd love to hear about that as I'm sure the rest of the readers would too!)!
Which brings me to where I am now. You see, up here in Northern Canada, there's not much to do in the winter other than go out on skidoo or play hockey. I moved up here to Labrador when I was six, and pretty much haven't left. Being originally from the city, I had never had a pair of skates on my feet - so my parents enrolled me in figure skating just to learn the basics. I first thought that I'd love figure skating - but I quit when the teacher wouldn't pass me up to the next level :P
So the years passed and I discovered my dad's obcession with the Leafs. And I fell in love with them too. The Playoffs of '99 was the time that I realized that I fell in love with the game...and a certain hockey player. Tomas Kaberle is my man - always was, always will be. I remember looking at my dad and telling him that I wanted to play hockey. He said no at first, but said that if there was a female team in town, he'd have no problem with it.
Sure enough, my dad started the first female hockey team in Churchill Falls that following fall. When he asked me what number I wanted and what position I wanted to play, he knew the answer. I wanted to play defense and wear the number 15. This girls team had never won a game at the regional level, but when we went to provincials, we dominated. I scored my first goal, which also happened to be the game winner, in the Bronze Medal game.
So, I owe all of my hockey devotion to Tomas Kaberle! I'm going to the Leafs - Pens game on the 9th of January, to see him and my other lovers, Max Talbot and Jordan Staal
Cheers
Charli
REASON #68
Top portion of the tattoo is dedicated to his grandmother. Kris says that she always has been there for him.
Bottom portion of the tattoo and the guitar part is obviously dedicated to Letang’s best friend and former roommate Luc Bourdon who used to play for Vancouver Canucks and tragically died in a motorcycle accident on May 29, 2008. During the 2008 NHL Draft, the Canucks’ management wore guitar pins to remember Bourdon, because he was an avid guitarist.
The Citizen has learned that a brick-stone house believed to be about 5,000 square feet will be built for the couple in West Carleton, only minutes from Scotiabank Place. The house will sit on a large parcel of land in the vicinity of Spruce Ridge Road and McGee Side Road.
Modin served as an alternate captain for the Blue Jackets. He has begun to decline in production, due to injuries, but remained a significant part of the Blue Jackets line-up. He scored a goal in Game 4 of the Blue Jackets' opening round playoff series against the Detroit Red Wings, the Blue Jackets' first-ever playoff appearance. 
I need a hero
Up Where the mountains meet the heavens above
THANKS to "Kristyyy" for the tip that she posted in the comments this past Saturday!!
I'm not exactly what many may consider a "normal" Pens fan. I'm what you would call an "obsessive" Pens fan. My side of my shared dorm room is little less than a Pens shrine. Posters, pictures, season schedules, a Pens pillow I painted, my rally towel on the window, and a stuffed penguin named Max. But I can't say it's always been like this as much as I'd like to.
I first got into hockey when I was about 6. My friend who lived across the street played on a youth team and my best friend and I would see him playing while we were playing in our front yards. It was one day while we were sitting in my driveway drawing with chalk that he called us over. He wanted to shoot on someone, but didn't have a goalie or teammates. So we thought, "Why not?" and went to play with him. I'd never touched a hockey stick before. I'd heard Mario Lemieux's name from the '92 cup run 3 years earlier and I knew about the Penguins, but I really didn't know hockey. That afternoon proved to be a starter in my love of the game.
We played for hours. Jamie and I took our turns as Justin's linemate and goalie until we all got called home from various front porches. From that night on, I was hooked. When my mom asked if I wanted to play any sports, I said hockey. But she wouldn't let me because she couldn't find a girls' league and didn't want the "boys beating on me". So I played soccer instead, the closest variation I could find. I was still a little bruiser, getting yellow cards and the occasional red cards. I tried to throw my first punch after having my nose broken in a playoff game. (My mom now says she wishes she would have just let me play hockey.)
I loved hockey week in gym class. I loved playing in my guy friends' driveways. I just didn't have enough patience to watch a game on tv and my dad didn't like hockey enough to take me to games. I followed what I could until we moved to NW PA when I was in 7th grade. Hockey was a myth up there. In the triangle of Browns, Steelers, and Bills territory, football was all that mattered. I watched football with my dad, but I missed hockey.
When I started hearing about Sidney Crosby and the buzz that the Pens might leave the Burgh, I started following the Pens more online. Then we got Sid in the draft and there was hope again. But the local paper started carrying less and less about hockey. So I lost contact with the Pens for way too long.
I moved back to the Pittsburgh area for college last fall and I was able to follow the Pens all last season. I got back into hockey in full force, driving my friends and family insane. I went to as many rush games as time and money would permit. I went to the big screen for game 4 of the final. And I went to the parade and nearly passed out. It was all worth it for the hugs and high fives I received from Max, Jordan, TK, Hal Gill...and the blown kiss from Marc-Andre Fleury for the sign I had for him.
I love hockey more than anything now and I'm looking into playing for a rec league ASAP. And the best part of those soccer years? I had the same number and position as my favorite player. I was my teams best goalie and I wore #29. I <3 Marc-Andre Fleury.
---KileyI'm not sure I wouldn't call you a "normal" fan, but then again ... what IS "normal?" I love the fact that you got into hockey because the boy next door wanted to shoot with someone in the net and that you and your friend were willing to do it ... that's pretty cool!! It's awesome that you have those kinds of memories and I'm really glad you decided to share your story with us ... THANKS, Kiley!!
REASON #67
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WAY TO GO, Sid!!! And did you know that he is the first Penguins player to win it since the trophy's inception in 1998-99? It's true!! Kinda makes it more special, doesn't it?!!!
IMPORTANT HOCKEY STUFF: He was accuired from the Kings, who unlike the Stars, made they playoffs. (I doubt he's very happy about that.) However, I'm not overly surprised, as Stars coach Mark Crawford, was previously the (loosing, non playoff making) LAK coach, and now he's the (losing, non playoff making) Stars coach. Hey old habits die hard, huh. [end bitter rant...]
On July 13, 2009, Segal signed a 2-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings. After starting the 2009-10 season with the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL, he was recalled by the Kings and scored his first NHL goal on January 9, 2010 against Chris Mason of the St. Louis Blues. 
REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF: Well, he's 6'2 and 214. He's got just the size that I... er... the Stars need. Well, that and the fact that I was struck rather dumb at the sight of him, at the Stars v Pens game last month. Because well, just because. (and the humiliating part, was I had to answer Stephanie's "who is he" question with "I don't know". Well, I'm sure you can all feel for my humiliated embarrassment. Now, moving on.
OK ... this is ANOTHER ONE I CANNOT PASS UP WITHOUT GETTING SOMETHING OUT ... WHERE THE F*** HAS THIS ONE BEEN HIDING (O-M-G, HE'S GORGEOUS!)?!!! Is this like the second or third one we agree on, Kena??? This is getting quite scary!! ; P
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