What teams do you follow & why?

[monkey]

Lets see who supports who!

[ickleboots]

Columbus Blue Jackets - Mike Commodore - nuff said!

[therat]

Hi All,

I will watch any game of hockey, apart from chicks with sticks (sorry, not for me) but for my sins I have to say that I follow the Leafs, I know, I know but it's one of those things you just start following a team from an early age and it sticks.

I do like watching some of the players, far too many to mention them all, but head and shoulders is Sidney Crosby.

International hockey is fabulous, where else can you get such big names all in one arena. Just wish I could get to the Olympics and then Germany for the WC but not to be this year.

Pete

[kickice]

New York Rangers, cos I went to see em about 10 years ago, and despite being out of the playoffs and generally crap, I just sort of fell for 'em! Love the city, the arena, the mardy-arsed fans. And being an Original 6 team, makes it all the more special.

Chicago Blackhawks, first hockey team I ever liked. And I'll always have a soft spot for them, and again, I love the city. The most sports mad place I have have been.

[lwarren]

First and foremost, it's EHC München at the moment. They're now my local team and I love the atmosphere at games while stood in the Nordkurve with all the home fans.

NHL wise, I'm a St Louis Blues fan. From watching hockey as a kid, I jumped around between NHL teams initially but eventually staying with the Blues. Adam Oates and Brett Hull were just awesome, and followed by Cujo, Shanahan, Pronger, MacInnis, etc.

UK wise, follow the Phoenix, but wouldn't really call myself a fan. Never felt associated with them after the Aces, Mets and Storm. Probably because I haven't lived in the area since the Storm folded.

[monkey]

I don't really have an NHL team anymore, when we saw the Leafs in Wembley & Toronto I would have called them 'my team' as I was a big Potvin fan, and at the time Zezel, Gilmour & Clark all played for them.
Potvin, whom I then followed (some called it stalked) around the NHL when he moved teams - 'supporting' whoever he played for at the time.

Ive tended to 'follow' players: Potvin, Hrivank & Lyle - rather than actual teams.
At the time of the Met's my team from the 'big league' in this country was the Cardiff Devils, due to Lyle being the most amazing 14 year old netminder Id ever seen & their amazing jersey designs ;D - which now we arnt in the same league anymore - would be the team Id still support in any game.

I don't feel as connected with Phoenix, as I did with Storm - so although Im at every game, I wouldn't call myself a die hard fan, just someone that loves the sport.

[seabass]

Feb 3, 2010 10:15:28 GMT therat said:

Hi All,

I will watch any game of hockey, apart from chicks with sticks

Pete

I don't like the Canadiens either Pete.

[jagdpanzer]

Rangers, me saw them at msg (they lost) to the pens.

[gord]

Long suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fan.

The reason??

Short version - Upon reaching the point where I started to look beyond the Storm/UK Hockey and towards the NHL, my brother was seeing someone from Toronto (he's since got married and moved over there (the lucky sod), bit I digress), so came up with the idea that my best chances of ever getting to see an NHL team live would be to follow her local team.

Needless to say I didn't know much about the NHL at the time, but I made my choice and have stuck with it (with a rabid passion) ever since.

[therat]

Feb 10, 2010 13:36:12 GMT gord said:

Long suffering Toronto Maple Leafs fan.

The reason??

Short version - Upon reaching the point where I started to look beyond the Storm/UK Hockey and towards the NHL, my brother was seeing someone from Toronto (he's since got married and moved over there (the lucky sod), bit I digress), so came up with the idea that my best chances of ever getting to see an NHL team live would be to follow her local team.

Needless to say I didn't know much about the NHL at the time, but I made my choice and have stuck with it (with a rabid passion) ever since.

Good lad Gord ;D

[karen]

Feb 4, 2010 20:06:28 GMT monkey said:

I don't feel as connected with Phoenix, as I did with Storm - so although Im at every game, I wouldn't call myself a die hard fan, just someone that loves the sport.

I also consider myself a hockey fan rather than purely a Phoenix fan even though I've got a season ticket.

I think that's because when Storm folded we travelled every weekend to watch games irrespective of who was playing and I found I liked every team for different reasons ... even the Steelers!! At weekends if we're not watching a Phoenix away game then we'll be at an Elite game or occasionally a Scimitar's home game.

I also support GB because I'm a Brit but I like the Netherlands too. I enjoy going to the World Championships but wish it wasn't in Ljubljana this year!!

I like Atlanta Thrashers in the NHL because our Jimmy supported them so I followed suit but since Patrik Stefan has left I don't really take that much notice any more.

My favourite Elite team this season is the Devils .... one of the reasons being Stevie Lyle (always like ex Stormies) and another reason is that we've got a lot of friends in Cardiff hence why we're sitting with them at the playoffs ... and mustn't forget they have a brilliant Ladies Night!! *Forgot to add .... They're not bad at football either .... hahaha (oh the joys of having an edit button)

I have a soft spot for MK because we've watched them quite a lot in the past especially last season and I also have a lot of respect for Leigh Jamieson .... although he'd hate me saying that.

Other than that I like watching various players ... far too many to mention for all sorts of different reasons!!

[vile]

Another Rags fan here.

It was a combination between seeing the episode of Friends where they go to the Rangers game (think its supposed to be one of the '94 Stanley cup final series). But also, there's the Misfits song called "I wanna be a New York Ranger" (Jerry Only being a big fan too apparently), so it all added up.

Plus, the first real footage i saw of hockey was Tie Domi and Bob Probert going at it, while Domi was a "blueshirt".

The only ever NHL game i've been to was Rangers @ Toronto in October last year. Had such a good time watching all the drunk Rangers fans bopping round singing "Let's Go Rangers", getting boo'd, then moving on to the other teams in the league "Lets go Sabres", "Lets Go Devils" just to wind up the Leafs fans even more (to be fair there was nothing left to watch on the ice as the Leafs were getting thumped, big-style).

Have to give kudos to the Toronto tramp outside the arena though, playing the spoons. Legendary.

And i'll have to agree with the idea of supporting individual players too. Still-active players would be Zdeno Chara, Sean Avery (he did leave but now back in the right place), Steve Ott, Shawn Thornton and of course, Sir 99 Himself. The list is endless i guess.

[binghampton19]

I'm an Av's fan. My Aunt lives over in Colorado and sent me an Avalanche Jersey during my first season of watching Storm. The Av's franchise (formerly the Nordiques) was set up the same season as Storm was (1995), so I was following not only The Storm but also The Avs and I've followed them ever since. Glad to say the Av's are doing a lot better this season than last!

[themissus]

Feb 4, 2010 21:35:45 GMT seabass said:

Feb 3, 2010 10:15:28 GMT therat said:

Hi All,

I will watch any game of hockey, apart from chicks with sticks

Pete

Chicks with Sticks ? Didnt think you were sexist Pete

New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Knucks for me

[vile]

Oh and on top of the Rangers, i tend to follow the Amstel Tijgers, the Melbourne Ice, Traktor Chelyabinsk, (used to follow) the Rocky Mountain Rage, and generally any team with a decent set of fighters.