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Chicago Blackhawks Blogger •
Detroit Fans, relax.
Leaf Fan(iacs), chill.
No, one decent season in Chicago isn't going to my head (or even close).
Actually, I spent about an hour yesterday morning in the Winnipeg airport on my way back from my annual spiritual renewal, which takes place on certain Canadian lakes with a fishing rod (and occasionally a large aquatic creature) in my hands.
Got into a conversation with the guy sitting next to me about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, which quickly turned to hockey (since my knowledge of the CFL is limited to Dieter Brock, Damon Allen, Ricky Williams and the fact that there used to be two teams named the Rough Riders in two different cities. Oh yeah, and they only play three downs or something. And there's this thing called a Rouge . . . ).
Anyway . . . I digress.
Turns out, this guy does a weekly radio show in Winnipeg, loves hockey, knows all the current Blackhawks who are from Winnipeg as well as those from the Winnipeg suburbs (which apparently extend well into Ontario).
Soon, we were joined in the conversation by a young lady whose dad played 12 seasons in the NHL, brother played at Notre Dame and in the AHL, etc.
We talked about Gretzky, Orr, the St. Louis Blues, The Jets (now the Coyotes, soon to be
the . . . what?), the Hawks.
And it struck me, no single city can really claim Hockeytown. I mean, let's face it, 'Hockeytown' was actually coined by a Detroit adman who is more famous for his work on the Jeep brand.
No, "Hockeytown" is really more of a mindset, a community of true believers who congregate (wherever and whenever) like fish, around names like Orr, Hull, Lemieux, Gretzky, Yzerman . . . and now Crosby, Datsyuk, Toews and Tavares.
And it's no small coincidence that this epiphany occurred in Winnipeg, of all places.
Folks, that was the first extended time I'd spent in that city. What a nice place. A bigger, more robust downtown than most Americans realize. Tree-lined streets, restaurants, bars, a mix of old and new architecture. Also a pretty robust French presence, which is kind of odd in my experience for Canadian cities outside Quebec.
Winnipeg really deserves a hockey team. And while I've heard (and can imagine) it's somewhat less pleasant in January, the city would be a credit to the NHL.
So, beyond the Pens' unlikely Stanley Cup win in Game 7 in (again, coincidentally) Hockeytown, it appears I didn't miss too much while on my fishing trip.
But I return, rested and ready for the draft and free agent frenzies.
And with a little more appreciation for the game and its true fans.
JJ
Leaf Fan(iacs), chill.
No, one decent season in Chicago isn't going to my head (or even close).
Actually, I spent about an hour yesterday morning in the Winnipeg airport on my way back from my annual spiritual renewal, which takes place on certain Canadian lakes with a fishing rod (and occasionally a large aquatic creature) in my hands.
Got into a conversation with the guy sitting next to me about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, which quickly turned to hockey (since my knowledge of the CFL is limited to Dieter Brock, Damon Allen, Ricky Williams and the fact that there used to be two teams named the Rough Riders in two different cities. Oh yeah, and they only play three downs or something. And there's this thing called a Rouge . . . ).
Anyway . . . I digress.
Turns out, this guy does a weekly radio show in Winnipeg, loves hockey, knows all the current Blackhawks who are from Winnipeg as well as those from the Winnipeg suburbs (which apparently extend well into Ontario).
Soon, we were joined in the conversation by a young lady whose dad played 12 seasons in the NHL, brother played at Notre Dame and in the AHL, etc.
We talked about Gretzky, Orr, the St. Louis Blues, The Jets (now the Coyotes, soon to be
the . . . what?), the Hawks.
And it struck me, no single city can really claim Hockeytown. I mean, let's face it, 'Hockeytown' was actually coined by a Detroit adman who is more famous for his work on the Jeep brand.
No, "Hockeytown" is really more of a mindset, a community of true believers who congregate (wherever and whenever) like fish, around names like Orr, Hull, Lemieux, Gretzky, Yzerman . . . and now Crosby, Datsyuk, Toews and Tavares.
And it's no small coincidence that this epiphany occurred in Winnipeg, of all places.
Folks, that was the first extended time I'd spent in that city. What a nice place. A bigger, more robust downtown than most Americans realize. Tree-lined streets, restaurants, bars, a mix of old and new architecture. Also a pretty robust French presence, which is kind of odd in my experience for Canadian cities outside Quebec.
Winnipeg really deserves a hockey team. And while I've heard (and can imagine) it's somewhat less pleasant in January, the city would be a credit to the NHL.
So, beyond the Pens' unlikely Stanley Cup win in Game 7 in (again, coincidentally) Hockeytown, it appears I didn't miss too much while on my fishing trip.
But I return, rested and ready for the draft and free agent frenzies.
And with a little more appreciation for the game and its true fans.
JJ
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