the hockey thread

[joey_rogo]

Excited for the game 7 tonight. Tomorrow night I'll be on the verge of heart attack the whole time so I'm looking forward to not having to worry so much this evening. Got the chips and beer ready to go. :)

[Ruckus]

Great game!  In no way am I implying that Boston fans are all like this.  In fact I see this type of unabashed racism on a daily basis down here.  It's more the perceived safety net of Twitter that cracks me up. 
http://blacksportsonline.com/home/2012/04/capitals-joel-ward-scores-game-7-overtime-winner-bruins-fans-unleash-n-word-barrage-on-twitter/

[YouAre_GivenToFly]

Great game!  In no way am I implying that Boston fans are all like this.  In fact I see this type of unabashed racism on a daily basis down here.  It's more the perceived safety net of Twitter that cracks me up. 
http://blacksportsonline.com/home/2012/04/capitals-joel-ward-scores-game-7-overtime-winner-bruins-fans-unleash-n-word-barrage-on-twitter/

Not surprised, unfortunately. I wonder how much of that kind of stuff he hears during every game. Like when Wayne Simmonds had a banana thrown at him earlier in the season. Hockey has the most outwardly racist fans.

[Jaimoe]

Great game!  In no way am I implying that Boston fans are all like this.  In fact I see this type of unabashed racism on a daily basis down here.  It's more the perceived safety net of Twitter that cracks me up. 
http://blacksportsonline.com/home/2012/04/capitals-joel-ward-scores-game-7-overtime-winner-bruins-fans-unleash-n-word-barrage-on-twitter/

Not surprised, unfortunately. I wonder how much of that kind of stuff he hears during every game. Like when Wayne Simmonds had a banana thrown at him earlier in the season. Hockey has the most outwardly racist fans.

Indeed it does not, not even close. I point you to the "wonderful" "beautiful game" of soccer, particularly in Europe (Spain, Poland, Italy etc...). The other pro basketball leagues overseas are also tough places to play for foreigners of colour. And Jeremy Lin took all kinds of high-profile abuse by media and idiot fans.

However, the whole Joel Ward stuff is disgusting. I think some of the outright ignorance and anger from cowardly twitterers stems from some being non-core fans who can't handle and/or are shocked to see a black man playing hockey and succeeding. I can tell you as a hockey player growing up in the '70s and '80s, many people of different nationalities had issues with ignorance and racism in the rinks, but it wasn't reported to any great extent (my best friend is Japanese-Canadian and he was subjected to ignorance in his early career). I think the changing face of North America regarding demographics lessons incidents like this, although of-the-moment outlets such as twitter amplifies everything. These idiots will get tracked down, just like what happened to the fool in the UK that twittered racist stuff about the soccer player that had the on-field heart-attack. 

By the way, Joel Ward's journey to the NHL is remarkable. He signed as a free agent after being scouted while playing Canadian university hockey. The latter leagues often get overlooked because they are education-first leagues and often checkered with older players and former good but not star Canadian Hockey League alums and players that toiled in lower junior level leagues such as tier-two Junior A, Junior B and C.

[YouAre_GivenToFly]

Great game!  In no way am I implying that Boston fans are all like this.  In fact I see this type of unabashed racism on a daily basis down here.  It's more the perceived safety net of Twitter that cracks me up. 
http://blacksportsonline.com/home/2012/04/capitals-joel-ward-scores-game-7-overtime-winner-bruins-fans-unleash-n-word-barrage-on-twitter/

Not surprised, unfortunately. I wonder how much of that kind of stuff he hears during every game. Like when Wayne Simmonds had a banana thrown at him earlier in the season. Hockey has the most outwardly racist fans.

Indeed it does not, not even close. I point you to the "wonderful" "beautiful game" of soccer, particularly in Europe (Spain, Poland, Italy etc...). The other pro basketball leagues overseas are also tough places to play for foreigners of colour. And Jeremy Lin took all kinds of high-profile abuse by media and idiot fans.

However, the whole Joel Ward stuff is disgusting. I think some of the outright ignorance and anger from cowardly twitterers stems from some being non-core fans who can't handle and/or are shocked to see a black man playing hockey and succeeding. I can tell you as a hockey player growing up in the '70s and '80s, many people of different nationalities had issues with ignorance and racism in the rinks, but it wasn't reported to any great extent (my best friend is Japanese-Canadian and he was subjected to ignorance in his early career). I think the changing face of North America regarding demographics lessons incidents like this, although of-the-moment outlets such as twitter amplifies everything. These idiots will get tracked down, just like what happened to the fool in the UK that twittered racist stuff about the soccer player that had the on-field heart-attack. 

By the way, Joel Ward's journey to the NHL is remarkable. He signed as a free agent after being scouted while playing Canadian university hockey. The latter leagues often get overlooked because they are education-first leagues and often checkered with older players and former good but not star Canadian Hockey League alums and players that toiled in lower junior level leagues such as tier-two Junior A, Junior B and C.

My mistake, I should have been more specific. Out of the 4 major sports in the USA, hockey fans are the most racist towards non-caucasian players. You make good points about soccer in europe. As far as I can tell, MLS fans here in the states seem to be pretty accepting.

[Ruckus]

Great game!  In no way am I implying that Boston fans are all like this.  In fact I see this type of unabashed racism on a daily basis down here.  It's more the perceived safety net of Twitter that cracks me up. 
http://blacksportsonline.com/home/2012/04/capitals-joel-ward-scores-game-7-overtime-winner-bruins-fans-unleash-n-word-barrage-on-twitter/

Not surprised, unfortunately. I wonder how much of that kind of stuff he hears during every game. Like when Wayne Simmonds had a banana thrown at him earlier in the season. Hockey has the most outwardly racist fans.

Indeed it does not, not even close. I point you to the "wonderful" "beautiful game" of soccer, particularly in Europe (Spain, Poland, Italy etc...). The other pro basketball leagues overseas are also tough places to play for foreigners of colour. And Jeremy Lin took all kinds of high-profile abuse by media and idiot fans.

However, the whole Joel Ward stuff is disgusting. I think some of the outright ignorance and anger from cowardly twitterers stems from some being non-core fans who can't handle and/or are shocked to see a black man playing hockey and succeeding. I can tell you as a hockey player growing up in the '70s and '80s, many people of different nationalities had issues with ignorance and racism in the rinks, but it wasn't reported to any great extent (my best friend is Japanese-Canadian and he was subjected to ignorance in his early career). I think the changing face of North America regarding demographics lessons incidents like this, although of-the-moment outlets such as twitter amplifies everything. These idiots will get tracked down, just like what happened to the fool in the UK that twittered racist stuff about the soccer player that had the on-field heart-attack. 

By the way, Joel Ward's journey to the NHL is remarkable. He signed as a free agent after being scouted while playing Canadian university hockey. The latter leagues often get overlooked because they are education-first leagues and often checkered with older players and former good but not star Canadian Hockey League alums and players that toiled in lower junior level leagues such as tier-two Junior A, Junior B and C.

My mistake, I should have been more specific. Out of the 4 major sports in the USA, hockey fans are the most racist towards non-caucasian players. You make good points about soccer in europe. As far as I can tell, MLS fans here in the states seem to be pretty accepting.

I agree with both of you.  Forget about the Italian fans' treatment of Mario Balotelli (who is a complete disgrace also) or Luis Suarez's shenanigans towards Patrice Evra and the recent tweeting about the English/African who almost died when he went into cardiac arrest on the field.

[capt. scotty]

Caps in 7 (probably not happening, but its an upset no one is picking and I think the
                most likely upset of a top 2 seed in either conference)

Man, did I pull this one out of my ass! Too bad I didnt bet on it  ;D

[Taterbug]

Bump,  I had to find this thread buried on the 4th page. I can totally understand you guys that still have refused to forgive the NHL ,  But man,  What my Blackhawks have done is nothing short of amazing. 

[Jaimoe]

Canada hasn't bailed on the NHL, but we won't forget this either. The Hawks are looking great.

[joey_rogo]

The Rangers and I got into a fight and now we aren't talking.

[iLikeBeer]

Bump,  I had to find this thread buried on the 4th page. I can totally understand you guys that still have refused to forgive the NHL ,  But man,  What my Blackhawks have done is nothing short of amazing.

I have to admit, the lockout left a pretty sour taste in my mouth wrt the NHL.  But with that said, the Hawks have always been my favorite NHL team as there was never any NHL team in Ohio before the Blue Jackets and I still don't consider them an NHL team.      If there was anything that could get people back on the NHL bandwagon, it is this start by the Hawks!  Make it 20 straight tonight with a 3-0 shutout over St. Louis!

Amazing is a pretty good description of what Chicago has been able to accomplish...

[LeanneP]

Anyone follow the AHL around here? 

[Jaimoe]

Anyone follow the AHL around here?

I hate the Hamilton Bulldogs, if that's what you mean? How can a true Bruins loyalist cheer for the Habs affiliate? Or perhaps you cheer for the Toronto Marlies? I like them too.

[iLikeBeer]

Anyone follow the AHL around here?

Cleveland has the Lake Erie Monsters but, to be honest, I've never gotten into them.

[joey_rogo]

Anyone follow the AHL around here?

There is an AHL team in my town. Sadly, it is the Albany Devils, the AHL affiliate of my most hated NHL team. When I go, I root against them. Steve Zalewski plays for them though. He's the man.

[LeanneP]

We have the Hamilton Bulldogs, affiliate to the Montreal Canadiens.  I believe we may actually be last in the entire league right now. It's depressing but we like the organization itself.  We take the kids to games every month or so and used to have season tickets (before having kids) and my Dad and S/Mom maintain their season tickets.  I enjoy it and I kind of love watching guys playing around the NHL and knowing I knew them when they were young'uns :) 

Games to the Leafs are stupid expensive and the Sabres requires crossing the border plus an hour's drive, so I enjoy the fact that I can see live hockey for $20 or less. 

[Jaimoe]

Anyone follow the AHL around here?

Cleveland has the Lake Erie Monsters but, to be honest, I've never gotten into them.

There's a few future NHL stars on that team.

[Jaimoe]

We have the Hamilton Bulldogs, affiliate to the Montreal Canadiens.  I believe we may actually be last in the entire league right now. It's depressing but we like the organization itself. 

Hamilton's loss is Montreal's gain. So goes it with many AHL clubs when their parent teams are doing well.

[LeanneP]

Don't I know it! We didn't put a whole bunch of ringers from the big team on the bench during the strike, too, so we didn't get the benefit of that like teams like the Marlies, who were at the top of the league.

I'm not bitter. 

[capt. scotty]

Bump,  I had to find this thread buried on the 4th page. I can totally understand you guys that still have refused to forgive the NHL ,  But man,  What my Blackhawks have done is nothing short of amazing.

Nice bump, Taterhosen. Ive been tempted to bump this thread for awhile now. Im glad hockey season is back, and Ive been enjoying this shortened season (less time between games  ).

I really havent watched anyone besides the Pens and their opponent so far, but Im aware of the Hawks record/streak. Quite impressive, even moreso considering the limited practice time prior to the season. Im sure you will be dangerous!