This Obsession of Mine

Ob-ses-sion [uh b-sesh-uh n] n.

The domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc. (or sport)
As in: Taylor has an obsession for hockey.

My first game was overwhelming. Watching men skate in circles in an attempt to get a small puck past the sumo-wrestler-sized goalie and into the net, all while slamming into each other like a giant pinball machine.

There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the constant flow players moving in and out of the game, or the face offs that occurred throughout. To make matters worse we absolutely stomped the team 15-2 and so fans kept throwing their hats on the ice and I had no idea why. It was a bit of a culture shock--in my own little town of Logan.

With each game I became more and more in love, and spent time looking at the rules and started researching the teams in the NHL. I must say that I am supremely grateful for the internet in helping me with this endeavor. Now I can adequately follow what is going on and the game is much more interesting I assure you. :)

These are the reasons I love Hockey: 

1. CANADA--All things connected with Canada automatically get brownie points. This is due in part to Tyson serving a mission there right now, and also due to the fact that my love for the Olympics began  when they were hosted in Vancouver last year. I have lots of love in my heart for the Great White North. 

Also, half of USU's team is actually FROM Canada. How cool is that? 

2. Names--The team has the coolest Canadian last names (some of them aren't exactly from Canada, but they have cool names nonetheless): McFadden, Madigan, Wyman, Arsenault, Mistelbacher, Armitage, Huppert, Allington. 

Even if you don't think that's a good reason, Jess agrees with me. :) 

3. I grew up watching football, like every American, but hockey adds another dimension to the game. Hockey is like football plus soccer ON ICE. I am awed and amazed by their skating ability for one, because on the occasion that I go skating (about once a year) I am glued to the railing and barely shuffle my feet to keep from falling. But these players make it look so easy! I'm fairly certain that the Canadian players learned to skate before they walked. 

The physical aspect of hockey is close to football. Constant shoving and smashing into each other, penalties for tripping, interference, and even holding. This I am accustomed to. The soccer aspect (putting the puck into the goal) was a simple change come from years of playing little league. Put the two together and you have one large case of: hockey.

There are many other reasons for my love of this sport, but I won't burden you more than necessary. Suffice it to say: I LOVE HOCKEY. It has even gotten to the point that while making up star constellations with my roommates I found the USU hockey symbol. Yeah...

I have had so many good times going to hockey games with my roommates! Jess, Melissa, Hilary, and Mallory have all gone with me to at least one, and we have had some great times. Opening fortune cookies, discovering the "hat trick", eating peanuts, trying to solve the problem of deflating plastic noise makers, sitting "next to" Tai Wesley, dreaming of one day becoming Zamboni drivers, free wristbands, and disappearing stamps. My favorite memory is affectionately termed "man smell". 

Jess and I got there super early and got great seats to see the game, right next to where the players come out! We were stoked! They all came out for warm ups and then we realized a horrid truth: hockey players STINK. The best way to describe this comes from the movie "Tangled" (new favorite!!!) 

Flynn: "Can you smell that? Take a deep breath in through the nose! That's part man smell, and part really bad man smell!" 

That couldn't be more true. To add to our displeasure the entire team stayed in the little alleyway below us because it was senior night and so all the graduating seniors waited in the wings and then skated on the ice to get their jersey while the coach gave a speech about them. It was horrid and lasted for way too long. I'm so confused because they hadn't even played yet, why did they smell so bad? I don't think they do laundry, or shower--EVER. But I will never forget the smell, and believe it or not--it is a fond memory. :)

To make this love official I have set about choosing a favorite NHL hockey team--and it is much harder than I thought. With football, it was easy. The Dallas Cowboys was practically written in my DNA. But choosing for myself? It's proving to be difficult. Here are some of my conclusions thus far, from one gringo to another:

Canada rocks, and so all teams from Canada get one point right off.
Edmonton! Point! But they are the Oilers...not such a fan of that...
Dallas Stars, I could go with them! But they are not from Canada, and I'm not a fan of green.
Washington Capitals? Ottawa Senators? No thank you--I'm anti-politics.
Anaheim Ducks? Do you WANT to get beat up?
What is a canuck anyway? Some sort of rodent? (I looked it up: slang for "Canadian.")
All teams sporting the color orange get an automatic -1 point.
Coyotes, Penguins, Sharks, Blue Jackets, Sabres, Bruins, Panthers...
The Predator logo SCARES ME.
Minnesota Wild? That doesn't even make sense.
Wayne Gretzky played for the Oilers first... He's the only hockey player I've even heard of.
New Jersey Devils--that's a flashback to high school... the horror. :)
Toronto Maple Leafs? LEAFS?! Does grammar mean nothing?
I'd feel like a traitor if I chose the team that's winning this year--part of rooting for a team is loving them whether they win or lose.

Pretty much the only thing I have to go off is how much I like the team colors, how well designed is the logo, and whether or not they come from a cool city. I'm a tabula rasa for everything else. So, all these important things in consideration here are my top 6 (in no specific order):

Pittsburgh Penguins
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Philadelphia Flyers
Toronto Maple Leafs
Vancouver Canucks

That's about as far as I've gotten--which is huge mind you, 30 teams down to 6.

I discovered this love right in time for hockey season to be over, which is good for my pocketbook, but not so good for my happiness. I just need to choose a NHL team and start watching before the Stanley Cup! Oh, and did I mention that USU's team is going to NATIONALS?! That's right! We got #2 in our conference! If I was loaded I would go to San Jose to see the tournament... but alas, I'll wait here to see the results.

(For all of you that managed to read this ridiculously long post--serious brownie points!)

So, I love hockey. That is all. :)