Season Opener Commentary

If you read my brief introduction to this blog, you noticed that I have not been to a Hockey game in over 10 years. In fact, last time I went they were still playing in Tacoma. With the announcement of the team moving to Kent, down the road from me. I thought I would give this Hockey thing a shot. That being said, the home opener was a perfect re-introduction for Hockey....obviously it was good enough for me to take time to start a blog, right?

Well a double overtime shootout is just about as good as hockey can get. Ending with 1 on 1 shoot outs between each team, with Seattle prevailing in the end.

Although comparing this game to the childhood experiences, something seemed lacking...crowd participation. I thought Hockey was supposed to have the reputation of one of the rowdiest crowds (maybe second to only soccer on the UK). But that couldn't be anymore from the case at the opener, even with all the excitement. I was sitting 3 rows from the glass behind the penalty box, and other than a few old timers that caught onto our enthusiasm we were greeted with shouts of "Sit Down!" during the power play. Now that is not the correct reputation for Hockey, or the Hockey I remember. But thanks to the veterans around us who seemed to be enjoying, and joining in enthusiasm, it seemed there may still be a little life left in the Hockey crowd.

Second, and please someone give me some insight into this. But from what I know about Hockey (admittedly my knowledge is from years ago, and things may have changed), but I thought one of the main attractions for sitting on the glass is to pound your fists on the glass as players went by, and people get checked up next to you. Well, after a few tries of leading a Thunderbirds chant we decided to move down to the glass and do some pounding in hopes of getting the crowd and ultimately the players amped up. After a few seconds of pounding one of the security guards came to threaten to throw us out if we pounded on the glass again????? What in the World? I thought that was a staple in Hockey. Please, if anyone has any insights on why this is my discouraged please let me know.

Instead of leaving the game with a broken spirit (not from the T-birds win obviously, but from the less than enthusiastic crowd) I came away with a personal charge....to once again get people excited at Thunderbirds games. All hope is not lost. The veterans around us had a smile on their face and I think enjoyed the burst of energy. And with the Thunderbirds on the verge of moving to a new city, and a brand new facility, I think there is a chance to change the atmosphere at the games...Whose with me?