1. I was involved in the first ever intermission promotion at the first ever Thrashers (preseason) game. I did karaoke to "Friends in Low Places". My pic was in the paper the day after the game, getting none other than Norm Maracle's autograph, perhaps the worst goalie to make the NHL.

2. I attended the first ever Central Hockey League All-Star game (and got in the paper while at the skills comp the morning prior, which got me in trouble for missing school).

3. My family has had season tickets for the Columbus Cottonmouths since their first season in 1996, and my grandmother attended every game until her death earlier this year. As the mascot for the team, I wear a black armband with her name on it every game now. I never got to take her to a Thrashers game, but I would call her on my way home from every game, and having watched on tv the first thing she would do would tell me how many Kovalchuk scored.

4. I collect game worn jerseys (like most crazy hockey fans) and am probably proudest of owning 3 of Dean Sylvester's jerseys (he scored the Thrashers first ever hat trick).

5. Speaking of Dean Sylvester, one of his sticks is probably my most prized possession. He gave it to me at the first Thrashers practice I ever attended as a kid, which is probably what got me so hooked on the NHL.

6. I never got to see Gretzky play, but we ended up at the same Baltimore Orioles game a few summers ago.

7. I grew up a huge Penguins fan, and seeing Mario play in ATL after coming out of retirement is something I will never forget. I don't imagine I will ever see a big man dominate the game the way he did.

8. While most students spend their student loans on beer and clothes, I spend mine on Thrashers season tickets. There are many nights I get back to Auburn around midnight after a game, and don’t sleep at all because I have a test at 8AM to prepare for.

9. I attended the 2008 NHL All-Star game, and volunteered as a player stand in. That means I pretended to be different players and got constantly introduced while skating through pyro. Being announced as an NHL All-Star and skating on the ice of my favorite team is one of the highlights of my life.

10. The skates that I have were Shane Hnidy’s, but since he didn’t return to the Thrashers after the lockout, he never got them, so I did at a huge discount. It’s definitely cool having skates that would have cost over $600, but I got them for $50.

11. I’m probably the biggest non-Latvian fan of team Latvia that there is. The craziness of their fans makes me love them.

12. After spending 2 years on the ticket wait list, I’m going to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver next February. I’ll be seeing Norway vs. Switzerland, LATVIA vs. Slovakia, Germany vs. Belarus, Russia vs. Czech Republic, Sweden Vs. Finland, and USA vs. Canada (6 games in 2 days will probably require the purchase of about 6 new jerseys). While in Vancouver, I’ll be staying with someone who used to play for the Cottonmouths, so having that hockey family can be very beneficial.

13. In 2007 I made the dreaded mistake of touching the SPHL regular season championship trophy, needless to say my team was eliminated by the last seed shortly after.

14. I’ve been in the same place as the Stanley Cup several times, but every time I see it, I turn and go the other way. I’m hoping to use my management degree to work in hockey, so I don’t want anything to do with that trophy until I feel like I’ve earned it.

15. Hanging from the ceiling of my apartment is a replica of the Thrashers only division championship banner. It’s pretty lonely, and looks ridiculously out of place since it is by itself. In other words, I need my team to start winning.
16. The first authentic Thrashers jersey I bought was the true blue 3rd from the 5th season. It was customized as a Heatley shirt, but once he decided to be a jackass, my mom was able to convert it to a Kovy jersey.

17. Slava Kozlov signed a 3 year deal to return to Atlanta as a free agent the week after I bought my 2008 season tickets. I still believe that my investment is what brought him back to Atlanta.

18. Since I did grow up as a Pens fan, Johan Hedberg will always be one of my favorite players, and I have the jersey he wore when he got the Thrashers their first win of 2008. He is a class act, has always signed autographs any time I have seen him, and is probably one of the greatest men in the game of hockey.

19. I was signed up to play hockey as a kid, but not enough people showed up on draft day so the league was cancelled, which means I never really got to play in organized games other than the pickup league.

20. I have Eric Belanger’s jersey that he was wearing when he scored the first playoff goal in Thrashers history. I’ll never forget that game, goal, or series, and am proud to say I didn’t cry until Jeff Odgers said, “Good Night” on the radio. If the Thrashers had won a game and pushed the series to 5 games, I was prepared to quit my job to be able to attend. Luckily, for my finances, they were swept.

How many first rounders did u get for Moore and Antropov??


- oilersfan92

Holy unrelated post Batman!

SJ vs NJ
- JEFFO9

Sharks will NOT be in the final.

Holy unrelated post Batman!
- CanadianTom

How many first rounders did u get for Moore and Antropov??


- oilersfan92

8 pay attention.

1. I owned a Islanders Brett Lindros jersey before he ever played a single NHL game.

2. I still own a fisherman Isles Jersey, however it only left my closest once in the last decade and that was only when i moved.

3. I wore my islanders jersey to high school the day after the rangers won the cup in '94.

4. I went to sleep away camp for 10 years and was a terrible athlete. the only sport i showed any ability at was hockey probably cause it was the only sport i actually enjoyed. But because i was so bad at every other sport, i never got any playing time in hockey. To this day i still believe that our teams lost a few games that we wouldn't have had i been given a real shot.

5. By choice, i was winger, though i tried goalie out a few times. however during my camp days, i was normally put on defense.

6. ill never forget watching the 93 Isles beat the Penguins in overtime. sitting in my parents kitchen glued to the TV.

7. When the Islander finally made it back to the playoffs in '01, i had to be there for it, and i was there for Game 4 when Shawn Bates scored on the penalty shot. I was too young for the teams glory days, but when he scored, and they went on to win, i could really feel like what it must have been like in those days.

8. i was hired to my first job out of college in June of '04. Our office is right across the street from the Coliseum. But with the lockout, i was tortured by my only view of the outside world being the vacant Coliseum.

9. my best friend in high school was a ranger fan. mixed friendships do work

10. I have a bachelors degree in political science. I've studied politics and history all my life. The only conspiracy i believe in is that NHL Refs have it in for the Islanders. (exhibit a: 2007 playoff series Vs Sabres)

11. My favorite all time Islander is Bobby Nystrom. its partially for personal connection reasons. his cousins (i think it was cousins) were counselors at my camp.

12. Id rather be on the ice to watch a team celebrate winning the Stanley Cup, then be on the mound to watch the celebration of perfect game, or for that matter any other sports achievement.

13. i have clark gilles bobblehead on my desk at work.

14. I once won a awesome bet with a friend back in high school. We were at isles game in the 96 or so, vs the Capitals. It was very late in the third period, with the islanders down by 2. There were about 3 seconds or so left in the game, with a face off in front of the Capitals goalie (Jim Carey i believe). my friend wanted to leave, i refused until the game was OVER. he said he would give me a authetic islanders jersey if anything happened. Sure enough right off the face off the islanders scored. 2 years ago he finally paid up and gave me the jersey.

15. my bachelor party included a islanders game. It was rough though. The isles took a 4-1 lead into the third period vs the Habs, only to lose 5-4. In addition there were more Habs fans in the coliseum then Islander fans. still awesome night

16. Islanders Point Blank is my favorite hockey website.

17. on Trade Deadline day, at work, i had the following websites open in tabs in firefox. Hockey Buzz, TSN.ca, sportsnet.ca, islanders point blank and newsdays Islanders blog.

18. If the world turned on its head and i suddenly became a Islander my number would be (based on numbers currently available) 26 but if it had my choice, it would be 32 (nystroms 23 backwards)

19. for the last 2 years ive done a fantasy hockey league with an islanders myspace group. My team is always named after a 90s era Islander (Mick Vukotas heroes and Derek Kings Wannabes)

20. if i had the money i would get a Xbox 360 mainly for NHL 09

Sharks will NOT be in the final.
- Tanguay Sucks

so are ur Flames

so are ur Flames

- oilersfan92

No offense, but does the '92' at the end of your name denote your year of birth?

If so, it explains a lot.

1. My wife and I were married on 04/04/04 since Bobby Orr wore #4

2. I recieved a wedding present from Bobby Orr. My wedding invitation was signed by him, and he also sent me a black and white copy of him flying through the air.

3. The wedding date/Bobby Orr Story made it into the Boston Globe a week before the wedding.

4. I am an X-ray tech/MRI tech, and I have scanned a number of hockey players throughout my life. UNH players, Manchester Monarchs, and even Brett Hulls linemate from college when I was on a contract in Minnesota.

5. I wanted to name my dog Cheevers, but my wife got dibbs, and named him Dugan

6. I was always a Bruins fan, even when we moved to Hartford for a year. I got to see gordie Howe play when I was about 6 years old

7. I remember the 1980 USA team when they beat the Russians. My mother was crying. I was too young to understand why. She said she didn't hate the players, just who they played for.

8. I didn't start playing hockey until I got out of college in 1996.

9. I have a friend who used to work for Bauer in Greenland NH. He had Eddie Belfours's Old Chicago pads, and I have John Casey's old St. Louis pads. Oh, and Tommy Salo used a junior sized jock strap(Not kidding)

10. My favorite arena in which to watch a hockey game is the The United Center in Chicago

11. In 1999, I went to 5 NHL hockey games, and I only saw Original 6 teams. All of them.

12. I once met Kyle McLaren at a Goo Goo Dolls concert. He was loaded, and with a bunch of strippers from Tens Club. None of them were his new wife. This was when he was holding out from the Bruins.

13. I refuse to touch the Stanley Cup.

14. I met Rick Bonus at Canobie Lake Park in Salem NH. I gave his daughter my Ski Ball Tickets. This was between getting canned by the Bruins, and hired by Ottawa.

15. I was a HUGE Dave Poulin fan

16. Bruinsbeer is a game we played in college. You pick a Bruin, and when they announcer says his name, you drink.

17. I had a chance to meet most of the Bruins before a Hockey East game at the old Garden, they had just lost to Detroit, I shook several hands, but refused to go near Glen Wesley.

18. I have 4 Ty Conklin jersey's. He needs to stop moving around.

19. Mark Conrforth shot a puck at me in the stands during warmups at a Merrimack/UNH game.

20. Everything you just read is 100% true.

No offense, but does the '92' at the end of your name denote your year of birth?

If so, it explains a lot.
- CanadianTom

No offense, but does the '92' at the end of your name denote your year of birth?

If so, it explains a lot.
- CanadianTom

when was the last time leafs won the cup
i dont think it was 92

so are ur Flames

- oilersfan92

What does that even mean?

edit: dammit I fell into his trap.

- macch

how is depietro treatin ya

how is depietro treatin ya
- oilersfan92

hows spelling treating you?

how is depietro treatin ya
- oilersfan92

Hes out for the year. Thanks for your concern. He'll be back next season though.

What does that even mean?
- selvig

Flames are not going to the finals and so are ur stupid leaves

Hes out for the year. Thanks for your concern. He'll be back next season though.
- macch

Don't you say that every year?

hows spelling treating you?
- 16_DarcyTucker_16

Kids today don't have time for spelling what with their hip hop and backwards baseball caps and the red bull.

1. I met most of the Maple Leafs roster last year after their annual blue and white game in Oshawa Ontario.

2. I felt bad when everybody was calling players over to sign jerseys and stuff but Ben Ondrus just jumped in Ian White’s SUV and waited cause nobody wanted his signature.

3. I have seen 15 NHL games, 6 AHL, and countless OHL/WHL games (lived in Ontario growing up but live in Alberta now.)

4. I was at the 2003/2004 Game 6 on 5.19.2004 @ Calgary: San Jose 1, Calgary 3 (not a fan of either team but it was an amazing game)

5. My Uncle’s brother is Keith Crowder played for LA with Gretzky

6. When I met Antropov in real life I had a whole new respect for him, but he still sucks.

7. I have tried to love another team besides TML but can’t, it’s a curse.

8. I have only missed 3 TML games in 4 years ..PVR’s are a must for hockey fans

9. I have never had a favourite player until this year, Luuuuuuuuuuuke!

10. I believe if someone can bring the cup to Toronto it will be Burke and Wilson, but it will take at least 4 years to start competing.

11. I don’t believe that there is a “best player in the NHL” and that’s why hockey is the best sport on the face of the planet.

12. I do believe there is a MVP each year for the league and every team but he could play on the second or third line.

13. I wish and believe that the ACC could be the loudest building to play at

14. I still have the Coke Zero fans pre season game between Buffalo and Toronto on my PVR.

15. I make my American wife stand for the HNIC theme song.

16. I WILL cry if the Leafs win the Stanley Cup in my life time.

17. I know for a fact that Eklund has SOME great sources and I think I have seen him on HNIC about a year ago.

18. Is there really anything sexier than a hot girl in a Hockey Jersey........... I think not!

19. I think EA Sport is and will always the best hockey games

20. I believe most leaf fans act like abused children, getting mad at everyone, lashing out frequently, will beat up their brother but if someone else touching them they will freak, and will eventually have a victim mentality.

but can you really blame us?

hows spelling treating you?
- 16_DarcyTucker_16

hows is hanennn smyith and tranjquist doing for u guys there??

Don't you say that every year?
- bruinsbeer1969

You better get used to it...12 more years to go I believe.

Flames are not going to the finals and so are ur stupid leaves
- oilersfan92

At least the Flames will make the playoffs. Leafs weren't supposed to anyways.

1. I was coached by Corado Micalef a Detroit Red Wing goalie journeyman and his cousin Ron in the MTHL.

2. I met Wilf Paiement at Plaza Pontiac as a kid he was just a regular guy it was very cool I was 9 my first pro player access.

3. I wore #9 because my older brother was a big time Bobby Hull fan.

4. I met #6 Ron Ellis at a family restaurant in the west end of Toronto I just said hello but I think he was annoyed that I had recognized him funny no one else did they just kept saying "Who is he again" ....Ohhhh

5. I met Mats Sundin at a Sick Kids Charity dinner he is one big @#!#@#@##@.

6. At the age of 15 I had the opportunity to play on Maple Leaf garden's Ice at 3 in the morning with 52 division police I would hang out and then take the bus to school no one believed me until one day one of the guys who played was at my high school and said to me "see you at the Gardens" don't remember his name but he was my quintessential wing man when he said that

7. I played ball hockey with guys who are now are; a Principal, aCop, a Tow Truck driver, a Mechanical Engineer, a and me IT guy.

8. I played ice hockey at the equator on a cruise ship the 2 other people who later came on the ice outed me for taking slap shots.

9. I went to see a game in Pittsburgh with my buddies of the day and we were astonished that we could actually say hello to Mario. As well the game, food, parking were all way less expensive than going to watch a game in Toronto which is where I lived at that time.

10. I went to see a game in Quebec City 1986 Toronto vs Quebec, Toronto last 6-3.

11. The first NHL game I ever watched was in 1975 Wayne Cashman was the Captain of the Bruins and he was giving out pucks and I just missed out . Leafs won 4-2. Sittler scored 2 goals.

12. I played ball hockey as a Kid on Sundays in the Loading dock of George Harvey SS until we started getting kicked out.

13. I also played ball hockey in Miniacci's League in the West End of Toronto.

14. The first time I played ice hockey in full eqipment was at McCormick Arena in Toronto. The rink we used had no boards.

15. The first Ice Hockey game I played at Keelesdale Arena. I played in the house League of Bert Robinson and our team was of all teams Montreal....yuck.

16. In 2007 I met Wendel Clark for the second time I chatted with him he was the true Leaf in my books as he was drafted by them too.

17. In 2007 at the same event that I met Wendel Clark I met Rick Vaive now just between you and me I really hated the Leafs during that era and didn't watch for 5 years I just played. I do remember Vaive having a deadly shot and he would wait between the blue line and Centre Ice and he would go in and blast in a goal- two way hockey didn't exist with him.

18. I met Doug Gimour again at a Rogers event in 2007 this time but this time I got a picture with him Doug was the quintessential hockey player he was a true two -way player

19. I went to see a Leaf game with my Dad in 2005. The last one with him I don't remember the score but the Leafs played the Blackhawks and I remember him saying they have fireworks in the arena now.

20.In 2005 I met Doug Gilmour for the first time at Bell where I worked at the time I waited in line for hours before my day to get his autograph and just when they got to me they said no more. Boy was I pissed in my head I was thinking not again but the following transpired:

I dodged the little security gaurd and went up to Doug and asked him quietly can you sign my Jersey he looked at me and said yeah give me a second. Security pushed me way back. 5 minutes later he jestured to me so I threw the Jersey to him he signed it and threw it back. It was a Leaf jersey with the #93 I gave it to my Dad later that year he died but he had the Leaf Jersey under his Jacket folded up.
- walrus

Wow. An amazing 20!
So many great ones already today.

To those who said it ought to be 25...here are a few more that come to mind..

21. My first live game I ever saw was bernie parents last.
22. My sister was friends with Ryan Sittler when they were toddlers. I saw Ryan play live years later in the ECHL during one of the last games in Nashville Knights history. I have a game worn knights jersey.
23. I almost died of exhaustion playing goalie during a pick up 3 on 3 half court game with some phantom players ron hextall and kjell samuelsson, who I stoned with the best globe save of my life.
24 I have a lifesize painted mural of Pelle Lindbergh that was given to me by a stranger in the parking lot of the memorial game for Pelle.
25. I met Shania Twain before she was famous at a Nashville Knights game. We hit it off, she asked me out and I said no because I had a girlfriend.

13. I refuse to touch the Stanley Cup.


- bruinsbeer1969

You think it is bad luck oh wait u chose an unlucky number to for that hmmmm

Kids today don't have time for spelling what with their hip hop and backwards baseball caps and the red bull.
- selvig