Post season in hockey started to arrive and the Red Wings were looking to dominate the entire field. I watched all the rounds very intensely and would make my plans around each of the games. As the games wore on, I was more and more invested, more than I ever had since becoming a Wings fan in the early 90s, and I mean right around where the Penguins last won before 09.

The finals come around and it’s a hell of a series, eventually going to 6 games with the Wings taking it all in Pittsburgh. In a year filled with lots of bad, something good happened. I awakened a fan in me that had been sleeping for a long time. I was glad they had won, marking their 11th all time Stanley Cup. I had only wished that I had made it to at least one playoff game during that run, but one day, I’ll make it to Hockeytown and party with my fellow Wingnuts, until then, I’ll be cheering every year from my recliner.

Something about the ballet of ice skating, stick handling, line changes, hard hitting, slap shots and great glove saves make hockey the most interesting sport, in my eyes. This year is no different. With the recent inclusion of the salary cap after the last lock out, people say back to back cups are harder to come by. The wings for the most part kept a majority of their lineup and added a few to strengthen the rest of their lines. Right now in the pre-season they’re testing some new lines and new defensemen, so I won’t be at all disappointed if they lose before the season starts. I have a lot of faith in Mike Babcock to lead this team.

Tonight I will feel alive again, tonight Red descends on this city and consumes it.

Why? I’ll tell you why, ’cause the Red Sox never let you down. That’s right. I mean – why? Because they haven’t won a World Series in a century or so? So what? They’re here. Every April, they’re here. At 1:05 or at 7:05, there is a game. And if it gets rained out, guess what? They make it up to you. Does anyone else in your life do that? The Red Sox don’t get divorced. This is a real family. This is the family that’s here for you.

It’s true. Since becoming a hockey fan, and more importantly, a Red Wings fan, I have always came back. Even after two strikes, I’m still watching it and now I’m loving it more than ever. I guess after all the stuff that happened to me I had to find a new outlet for my time and it wasn’t going to be alcohol. Amazingly enough the year I finally got back in hockey my team wins. This year they’re looking strong again and could even go all the way once more. It’s great to be a hockey fan. Why? Let me list a couple of items.

1. Ice. That’s right. ICE. It’s like figure skating, but with running into people and punching them in the face.
2. Stick handling. Have you seen the sick shit these guys do while skating? I wish my coordination was that good, I can barely walk.
3. Endurance. Granted they get 15-45 sec shifts, lots of players are on the ice for 20+ minutes in a 60 minute game. You gotta be in top physical condition for this sport
4. Vulcanized rubber. Damn right. That shit is frozen before it’s dropped making it even worse.
5. Constant action. Even when there’s no goal scoring there’s shit going on. Football? Please, there’s breaks after every play. Baseball? Too much waiting around. Soccer? Is that fucking field the size of Brazil? This is boring. Basketball? Wooo they put it in a hoop.
6. Goalie Masks. Dude, have you seen the sick designs on those things?
7. Skates. Potential killing device.
8. Shootout. WHO DOESN’T LIKE A GOOD SHOOTOUT?
9. Playoffs, OT. No commercial breaks in OT.
10. The names. Who doesn’t like saying these names? Come on, really?

Those were all I could think about without sounding too cheesy. But there you have it.

I’ve always been a big hockey fan and caught games whenever I could, but this year is different for some reason. I guess all the changes in my life this year have really brought forth how much I really do love hockey. What other sport combines the finesse of skating and stick handling with the brutal checking and be fast paced? Why doesn’t this sport catch on more in this country. It’s a great sport, filled with no ego players. I love it!

I joined another Fantasy Hockey team this year, with the Shacknews crew, and I’m paying way more attention to the details this year than I did in 2003, the last time I had a fantasy team. I guess another thing that helps is that a guy at my work is a die hard Calgary Flames fan, formerly Atlanta Flames, and I am a Detroit Red Wings fan, which means… we are rivals. Which is always a good thing. Now I have someone to talk hockey to, and he’s playing a fantasy team as well.

I just subscribed, via RSS, to a ton of hockey blogs, some for teams of goalies I have and others because, they are a lot of fun to read. I noticed that the die hard fans are really good at writing about their teams as well as giving a good analysis on the upcoming games and post game stats.

Now if I only have DirecTV or Comcast, I’d have the CenterIce package and I’d be watching hockey until my eyes bleed. I can’t wait for the playoffs, Stanley’s Cup is coming back to Hockeytown!