Playoff Hockey

[ah59396]

For whatever reason, I’ve never really gotten into hockey. I do find it exciting, especially the playoffs…

I’ve been watching it a lot more. With Team USA taking gold and now the Canes winning the Stanley Cup, I am quickly becoming a much bigger fan!

Hopefully you watched the emotion from those players last night after they got to hoist the cup. One thing I love about hockey being “unpopular” compared to the other big pro sports is that it’s not nearly as tarnished with corporate blabbery. The owner is not up there with the cup thanking Tide & Dr Pepper before handing it off to his kids.

You get to see the players - the captain - hoist the cup first and the raw emotion that goes with it. Half those guys were probably playing with nasty injuries that are usually released after the finals. Yes they’re millionaires but you can tell these guys go to war with each other and that’s clear in their postgame interviews as well.

[JTApps1]

Man, it feels good to have the Cup again after 20 years. This has been such a long time coming for Rod and the core group. They finally proved the doubters wrong and won with their style. Tulsky not getting any attention for GM of the year is ridiculous when you check out the top scorers from this playoff. Three of the top four were guys he brought in over the past year+.

appstate 24- Playoff hockey is the best sporting event you'll ever see in person. You have to go if you get a chance.

[biggie]

For whatever reason, I’ve never really gotten into hockey. I do find it exciting, especially the playoffs…

I’ve been watching it a lot more. With Team USA taking gold and now the Canes winning the Stanley Cup, I am quickly becoming a much bigger fan!

Hopefully you watched the emotion from those players last night after they got to hoist the cup. One thing I love about hockey being “unpopular” compared to the other big pro sports is that it’s not nearly as tarnished with corporate blabbery. The owner is not up there with the cup thanking Tide & Dr Pepper before handing it off to his kids.

You get to see the players - the captain - hoist the cup first and the raw emotion that goes with it. Half those guys were probably playing with nasty injuries that are usually released after the finals. Yes they’re millionaires but you can tell these guys go to war with each other and that’s clear in their postgame interviews as well.

I think the issue is here (South) you don't really have local players to know playing since you were following them in HS/College. It just isn't really a southern sport, though it does seem to be growing some. I saw the pics of the 2006 watch party in the arena in Raleigh, didn't hardly look like 1/4 of it was filled. I didn't even realize it was '97 when the Canes moved to NC, hockey for people that grew up here before the '00s just wasn't really a thought.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

1988's Ice Hocky on the NES and Blades of Steel were my introduction to Hockey.

[BambooRdApp]

For whatever reason, I’ve never really gotten into hockey. I do find it exciting, especially the playoffs…

I’ve been watching it a lot more. With Team USA taking gold and now the Canes winning the Stanley Cup, I am quickly becoming a much bigger fan!

Hopefully you watched the emotion from those players last night after they got to hoist the cup. One thing I love about hockey being “unpopular” compared to the other big pro sports is that it’s not nearly as tarnished with corporate blabbery. The owner is not up there with the cup thanking Tide & Dr Pepper before handing it off to his kids.

You get to see the players - the captain - hoist the cup first and the raw emotion that goes with it. Half those guys were probably playing with nasty injuries that are usually released after the finals. Yes they’re millionaires but you can tell these guys go to war with each other and that’s clear in their postgame interviews as well.

I think the issue is here (South) you don't really have local players to know playing since you were following them in HS/College. It just isn't really a southern sport, though it does seem to be growing some. I saw the pics of the 2006 watch party in the arena in Raleigh, didn't hardly look like 1/4 of it was filled. I didn't even realize it was '97 when the Canes moved to NC, hockey for people that grew up here before the '00s just wasn't really a thought.

Although I cannot speak to the watch parties in 2006, the actual home game and tailgating were awesome. The arena was rocking for the playoff games that I was able to attend. I have been to regular season games in Nashville and Tampa. Both had great attendance. I was actually surprised by the level of attendance in Tampa. They were a very good team and had been for a few years, however, they were playing Phoenix who were terrible. I was surprised by the turnout for a regular season game against a weak team.

Great sport to watch that is for sure

[AppSt94]

For whatever reason, I’ve never really gotten into hockey. I do find it exciting, especially the playoffs…

I’ve been watching it a lot more. With Team USA taking gold and now the Canes winning the Stanley Cup, I am quickly becoming a much bigger fan!

Hopefully you watched the emotion from those players last night after they got to hoist the cup. One thing I love about hockey being “unpopular” compared to the other big pro sports is that it’s not nearly as tarnished with corporate blabbery. The owner is not up there with the cup thanking Tide & Dr Pepper before handing it off to his kids.

You get to see the players - the captain - hoist the cup first and the raw emotion that goes with it. Half those guys were probably playing with nasty injuries that are usually released after the finals. Yes they’re millionaires but you can tell these guys go to war with each other and that’s clear in their postgame interviews as well.

I think the issue is here (South) you don't really have local players to know playing since you were following them in HS/College. It just isn't really a southern sport, though it does seem to be growing some. I saw the pics of the 2006 watch party in the arena in Raleigh, didn't hardly look like 1/4 of it was filled. I didn't even realize it was '97 when the Canes moved to NC, hockey for people that grew up here before the '00s just wasn't really a thought.

Although I cannot speak to the watch parties in 2006, the actual home game and tailgating were awesome. The arena was rocking for the playoff games that I was able to attend. I have been to regular season games in Nashville and Tampa. Both had great attendance. I was actually surprised by the level of attendance in Tampa. They were a very good team and had been for a few years, however, they were playing Phoenix who were terrible. I was surprised by the turnout for a regular season game against a weak team.

Great sport to watch that is for sure

I’ve been to games at Lenova, Smashville and Tampa, (my team). Tampa has a lot of northern transplants and Canadiens so hockey stuck pretty quickly. They used to play at Tropicana Field and set the record for attendance for an indoor game.

[bcoach]

For whatever reason, I’ve never really gotten into hockey. I do find it exciting, especially the playoffs…

I’ve been watching it a lot more. With Team USA taking gold and now the Canes winning the Stanley Cup, I am quickly becoming a much bigger fan!

Hopefully you watched the emotion from those players last night after they got to hoist the cup. One thing I love about hockey being “unpopular” compared to the other big pro sports is that it’s not nearly as tarnished with corporate blabbery. The owner is not up there with the cup thanking Tide & Dr Pepper before handing it off to his kids.

You get to see the players - the captain - hoist the cup first and the raw emotion that goes with it. Half those guys were probably playing with nasty injuries that are usually released after the finals. Yes they’re millionaires but you can tell these guys go to war with each other and that’s clear in their postgame interviews as well.

I think the issue is here (South) you don't really have local players to know playing since you were following them in HS/College. It just isn't really a southern sport, though it does seem to be growing some. I saw the pics of the 2006 watch party in the arena in Raleigh, didn't hardly look like 1/4 of it was filled. I didn't even realize it was '97 when the Canes moved to NC, hockey for people that grew up here before the '00s just wasn't really a thought.

Although not a terribly popular sport as you say, in NC the Winston-Salem Polar Twins in started in1973.
The Greensboro Generals started in the late 50s
Charlotte had the Checkers back in the 70s and then again in early 2000s
Fayettville has been around a while
Salem VA ( Roanoke area) has had teams since the 70s.
But to your point it sure was not top of mind in thCarolinas and Virginia
It really took an influk of folks from the north to make it what it is today. I remeber the first couple of years there were more away jerseys in the stands than home ones. I know the first year I wore Red Wings. You looked around and saw Boston, Newyork, Chicago and it went on. Today it is all red and Black.

[AppSt94]

IMG_2910.gif (931.75 KiB) Viewed 773 times

[biggie]

For whatever reason, I’ve never really gotten into hockey. I do find it exciting, especially the playoffs…

I’ve been watching it a lot more. With Team USA taking gold and now the Canes winning the Stanley Cup, I am quickly becoming a much bigger fan!

Hopefully you watched the emotion from those players last night after they got to hoist the cup. One thing I love about hockey being “unpopular” compared to the other big pro sports is that it’s not nearly as tarnished with corporate blabbery. The owner is not up there with the cup thanking Tide & Dr Pepper before handing it off to his kids.

You get to see the players - the captain - hoist the cup first and the raw emotion that goes with it. Half those guys were probably playing with nasty injuries that are usually released after the finals. Yes they’re millionaires but you can tell these guys go to war with each other and that’s clear in their postgame interviews as well.

I think the issue is here (South) you don't really have local players to know playing since you were following them in HS/College. It just isn't really a southern sport, though it does seem to be growing some. I saw the pics of the 2006 watch party in the arena in Raleigh, didn't hardly look like 1/4 of it was filled. I didn't even realize it was '97 when the Canes moved to NC, hockey for people that grew up here before the '00s just wasn't really a thought.

Although not a terribly popular sport as you say, in NC the Winston-Salem Polar Twins in started in1973.
The Greensboro Generals started in the late 50s
Charlotte had the Checkers back in the 70s and then again in early 2000s
Fayettville has been around a while
Salem VA ( Roanoke area) has had teams since the 70s.
But to your point it sure was not top of mind in thCarolinas and Virginia
It really took an influk of folks from the north to make it what it is today. I remeber the first couple of years there were more away jerseys in the stands than home ones. I know the first year I wore Red Wings. You looked around and saw Boston, Newyork, Chicago and it went on. Today it is all red and Black.

Much changed these days for sure.
I grew up in northern Iredell and did come to the Winston area more than Charlotte. But only heard about the Checkers on the radio and that was the only local hockey I heard anything about.

[BambooRdApp]

For whatever reason, I’ve never really gotten into hockey. I do find it exciting, especially the playoffs…

I’ve been watching it a lot more. With Team USA taking gold and now the Canes winning the Stanley Cup, I am quickly becoming a much bigger fan!

Hopefully you watched the emotion from those players last night after they got to hoist the cup. One thing I love about hockey being “unpopular” compared to the other big pro sports is that it’s not nearly as tarnished with corporate blabbery. The owner is not up there with the cup thanking Tide & Dr Pepper before handing it off to his kids.

You get to see the players - the captain - hoist the cup first and the raw emotion that goes with it. Half those guys were probably playing with nasty injuries that are usually released after the finals. Yes they’re millionaires but you can tell these guys go to war with each other and that’s clear in their postgame interviews as well.

I think the issue is here (South) you don't really have local players to know playing since you were following them in HS/College. It just isn't really a southern sport, though it does seem to be growing some. I saw the pics of the 2006 watch party in the arena in Raleigh, didn't hardly look like 1/4 of it was filled. I didn't even realize it was '97 when the Canes moved to NC, hockey for people that grew up here before the '00s just wasn't really a thought.

Although not a terribly popular sport as you say, in NC the Winston-Salem Polar Twins in started in1973.
The Greensboro Generals started in the late 50s
Charlotte had the Checkers back in the 70s and then again in early 2000s
Fayettville has been around a while
Salem VA ( Roanoke area) has had teams since the 70s.
But to your point it sure was not top of mind in thCarolinas and Virginia
It really took an influk of folks from the north to make it what it is today. I remeber the first couple of years there were more away jerseys in the stands than home ones. I know the first year I wore Red Wings. You looked around and saw Boston, Newyork, Chicago and it went on. Today it is all red and Black.

Much changed these days for sure.
I grew up in northern Iredell and did come to the Winston area more than Charlotte. But only heard about the Checkers on the radio and that was the only local hockey I heard anything about.

The Columbia Inferno. Went to a couple of games. It was a fight fest on the ice

[BUTCH1991]

Hopefully you watched the emotion from those players last night after they got to hoist the cup. One thing I love about hockey being “unpopular” compared to the other big pro sports is that it’s not nearly as tarnished with corporate blabbery. The owner is not up there with the cup thanking Tide & Dr Pepper before handing it off to his kids.

You get to see the players - the captain - hoist the cup first and the raw emotion that goes with it. Half those guys were probably playing with nasty injuries that are usually released after the finals. Yes they’re millionaires but you can tell these guys go to war with each other and that’s clear in their postgame interviews as well.

I think the issue is here (South) you don't really have local players to know playing since you were following them in HS/College. It just isn't really a southern sport, though it does seem to be growing some. I saw the pics of the 2006 watch party in the arena in Raleigh, didn't hardly look like 1/4 of it was filled. I didn't even realize it was '97 when the Canes moved to NC, hockey for people that grew up here before the '00s just wasn't really a thought.

Although not a terribly popular sport as you say, in NC the Winston-Salem Polar Twins in started in1973.
The Greensboro Generals started in the late 50s
Charlotte had the Checkers back in the 70s and then again in early 2000s
Fayettville has been around a while
Salem VA ( Roanoke area) has had teams since the 70s.
But to your point it sure was not top of mind in thCarolinas and Virginia
It really took an influk of folks from the north to make it what it is today. I remeber the first couple of years there were more away jerseys in the stands than home ones. I know the first year I wore Red Wings. You looked around and saw Boston, Newyork, Chicago and it went on. Today it is all red and Black.

Much changed these days for sure.
I grew up in northern Iredell and did come to the Winston area more than Charlotte. But only heard about the Checkers on the radio and that was the only local hockey I heard anything about.

The Columbia Inferno. Went to a couple of games. It was a fight fest on the ice

I fell in love with hockey by attending Winston Salem Thunderbirds games in the late 80s.

[JTApps1]

For whatever reason, I’ve never really gotten into hockey. I do find it exciting, especially the playoffs…

I’ve been watching it a lot more. With Team USA taking gold and now the Canes winning the Stanley Cup, I am quickly becoming a much bigger fan!

Hopefully you watched the emotion from those players last night after they got to hoist the cup. One thing I love about hockey being “unpopular” compared to the other big pro sports is that it’s not nearly as tarnished with corporate blabbery. The owner is not up there with the cup thanking Tide & Dr Pepper before handing it off to his kids.

You get to see the players - the captain - hoist the cup first and the raw emotion that goes with it. Half those guys were probably playing with nasty injuries that are usually released after the finals. Yes they’re millionaires but you can tell these guys go to war with each other and that’s clear in their postgame interviews as well.

I think the issue is here (South) you don't really have local players to know playing since you were following them in HS/College. It just isn't really a southern sport, though it does seem to be growing some. I saw the pics of the 2006 watch party in the arena in Raleigh, didn't hardly look like 1/4 of it was filled. I didn't even realize it was '97 when the Canes moved to NC, hockey for people that grew up here before the '00s just wasn't really a thought.

Although I cannot speak to the watch parties in 2006, the actual home game and tailgating were awesome. The arena was rocking for the playoff games that I was able to attend. I have been to regular season games in Nashville and Tampa. Both had great attendance. I was actually surprised by the level of attendance in Tampa. They were a very good team and had been for a few years, however, they were playing Phoenix who were terrible. I was surprised by the turnout for a regular season game against a weak team.

Great sport to watch that is for sure

I’ve been to games at Lenova, Smashville and Tampa, (my team). Tampa has a lot of northern transplants and Canadiens so hockey stuck pretty quickly. They used to play at Tropicana Field and set the record for attendance for an indoor game.

We saw a game at Tropicana by chance. We were pretty high up and could barely follow the puck.

[AppSt94]

Hopefully you watched the emotion from those players last night after they got to hoist the cup. One thing I love about hockey being “unpopular” compared to the other big pro sports is that it’s not nearly as tarnished with corporate blabbery. The owner is not up there with the cup thanking Tide & Dr Pepper before handing it off to his kids.

You get to see the players - the captain - hoist the cup first and the raw emotion that goes with it. Half those guys were probably playing with nasty injuries that are usually released after the finals. Yes they’re millionaires but you can tell these guys go to war with each other and that’s clear in their postgame interviews as well.

I think the issue is here (South) you don't really have local players to know playing since you were following them in HS/College. It just isn't really a southern sport, though it does seem to be growing some. I saw the pics of the 2006 watch party in the arena in Raleigh, didn't hardly look like 1/4 of it was filled. I didn't even realize it was '97 when the Canes moved to NC, hockey for people that grew up here before the '00s just wasn't really a thought.

Although I cannot speak to the watch parties in 2006, the actual home game and tailgating were awesome. The arena was rocking for the playoff games that I was able to attend. I have been to regular season games in Nashville and Tampa. Both had great attendance. I was actually surprised by the level of attendance in Tampa. They were a very good team and had been for a few years, however, they were playing Phoenix who were terrible. I was surprised by the turnout for a regular season game against a weak team.

Great sport to watch that is for sure

I’ve been to games at Lenova, Smashville and Tampa, (my team). Tampa has a lot of northern transplants and Canadiens so hockey stuck pretty quickly. They used to play at Tropicana Field and set the record for attendance for an indoor game.

We saw a game at Tropicana by chance. We were pretty high up and could barely follow the puck.

Yep. It definitely wasn’t set up for hockey.

[ah59396]

For whatever reason, I’ve never really gotten into hockey. I do find it exciting, especially the playoffs…

I’ve been watching it a lot more. With Team USA taking gold and now the Canes winning the Stanley Cup, I am quickly becoming a much bigger fan!

Hopefully you watched the emotion from those players last night after they got to hoist the cup. One thing I love about hockey being “unpopular” compared to the other big pro sports is that it’s not nearly as tarnished with corporate blabbery. The owner is not up there with the cup thanking Tide & Dr Pepper before handing it off to his kids.

You get to see the players - the captain - hoist the cup first and the raw emotion that goes with it. Half those guys were probably playing with nasty injuries that are usually released after the finals. Yes they’re millionaires but you can tell these guys go to war with each other and that’s clear in their postgame interviews as well.

I think the issue is here (South) you don't really have local players to know playing since you were following them in HS/College. It just isn't really a southern sport, though it does seem to be growing some. I saw the pics of the 2006 watch party in the arena in Raleigh, didn't hardly look like 1/4 of it was filled. I didn't even realize it was '97 when the Canes moved to NC, hockey for people that grew up here before the '00s just wasn't really a thought.

Fanbase has come a long way since 2006. I was honestly SHOCKED how many Canes fans were in Vegas for game 6. It sounded like a 50/50 crowd which is incredible. 20 years ago there would have been like ~50 canes fans there.

[PoplarHillApp]

There was an ACHL team in Spruce Pine, NC (about an hour south of Boone) in the early 80’s for a few years. They were called the Pinebridge Bucks.

[Cro-Magnon App]

What a series!! Great hockey. Love the end of game festivities on the ice better than any finish to any sport. Genuine.
I’m a Canes fan but love the Red Wings, too. RW’s have been bad since Scotty retired.

Biggie? Harmony? Union Grove? Love Valley? Amity Hill? Cooleemee? Cleveland? Where from?

[biggie]

What a series!! Great hockey. Love the end of game festivities on the ice better than any finish to any sport. Genuine.
I’m a Canes fan but love the Red Wings, too. RW’s have been bad since Scotty retired.

Biggie? Harmony? Union Grove? Love Valley? Amity Hill? Cooleemee? Cleveland? Where from?

Olin. So right beside Union Grove. I went to Union Grove elem. Then N Iredell middle in 8th grade as that was the first year it opened.

[AppDawg]

1988's Ice Hocky on the NES and Blades of Steel were my introduction to Hockey.

The Raleigh Ice Caps in the early 90’s at Dorton Arena for me.

[bcoach]

1988's Ice Hocky on the NES and Blades of Steel were my introduction to Hockey.

The Raleigh Ice Caps in the early 90’s at Dorton Arena for me.

I was a season ticket holder from day one to the last day. Was also an off ice official for a couple years.

[Cro-Magnon App]

I was on the other end of the county. Milking cows, throwing hay, stringing barbed wire, etc.