Let me start this off by saying I did not grow up in a hockey culture. See, Southern California isn't known for ice and snow. Where I'm from we had a hockey team (minors) for a bit but it's now long gone. The only hockey we had was roller hockey in the 90's and there is an indoor ice rink with a league but when I was growing up it was for boys only. So when I tell my friends who are Canadian or from the Midwest where Hockey is king that I'm a fan they are shocked.

But since this is a YAY thread I just would like to say that Hockey is amazing! I just got done watching my recording of the Olympic Team USA vs. Team Canada game and it was GREAT! (sorry Canada :( )

I mean it's a great combination of Lacrosse, Soccer, and Football on ice! What isn't there to love about it? Something about watching a good hockey game gets me in a good mood! So other Hockey fans come rejoice here!

(I'm also up for getting a new favorite team, so I'm up for being convinced to join yours!)

Oh my God, yes! Hockey is just amazing, there really isn't anything to not like about the sport; other than Todd Burtuzzi and the really serious injuries (the ones where the skate slices someones throat or they have limbs broken). Hockey is really big here in Minnesota, and I've been watching hockey since I was born (hockey and baseball) and I've been in love with it since. Hockey is "poetry on ice." :)

Yeah that game was pretty amazing. It was really crazy, I only saw the third period 'cause I totally forgot what time it was on. -_-' But wow, what an amazing win!

I feel like you should like the Wild, because they're pure awesome. (: Welcome to the club! XD

Hockey is a fabulous, fabulous game. It's such an exciting, athletic sport. I can't help but get caught up in it. I was raised in a Hockey culture though. My dad's a complete nut, and I was raised on Hockey Night in Canada. (And am still bitter about CBC losing the rights to the theme song...)

I am a rabid Canucks fan throughout the NHL season (they WILL win the Stanley Cup one day, shut up XD) and have been avidly following all of the Olympic hockey games. The Canadian men may have disappointing lost their last game to the US, but it was a phenomenal game to watch nonetheless. And the Canadian women's win last night was fantastic! I haven't just been following the Canadia games either. I've been watching as many as I can, especially Sweden's games because I love my Sedin twins XD There has been some great hockey played over the last couple weeks.

hockey is the best sport ever!!!
im watching it right now as if to prove a point!
haha

You mean Ice Hockey. Cos hockey is just played on grass =)

I have never played Ice Hockey, and I've never watched it, either >> It's too expensive to play over here and I don't watch sport. I'd love to be able to play it though!

Haha, here where I am hockey played on grass is called field hockey xD. OK, I just looked it up on wikipedia and I found out that field hockey is actually officially hockey and ice hockey is what I think of as hockey, but still, that's what I've thought my whole life. Ahhh, cultural differences :)

I'm Minnesotan and I played hockey when I was five. I was the one of two girls on the team and I quit after a year... Not very athletic... But I know tons of people who love playing and I like watching it at times.

Hockey is pure awesome. I'm also from a hockey area--Michigander here. So of course I've been a Red Wings fan since birth, more or less. First time I was left with a babysitter was so that my parents could go to the Wings game. First favorite player and probably my original inspiration for being a Russian studies major? Slava Fetisov. He's probably my all-time favorite, but mostly because he's been a favorite of mine since I was 6. Current favorite players... Pavel Datsyuk, Brian Rafalski, Ryan Kesler, Wojtek Wolski (even if I hate the Avs, gotta love Wolski), plenty of others. And Jimmy Howard. Especially after yesterday's game. I cannot stand Sidney Crosby. But I suppose that's common for a Wings fan.

I've not actually played ice hockey, sadly, though I have played floor hockey (as goalie or a defenseman; I like playing d better, but I was on an intramural team and we had no other goalies so I filled in), and of course street hockey. Lots of street hockey.

I do also like the Habs, though. But I'm not a diehard fan of them like I am a Wings fan.