I'm trying so hard to like Hockey

[Superadiabatic]

Hockey's a great sport. I got hooked when I was in school at UNCA and watched the minor league team they used to have.

As others have said, it's far more fun to watch in person than on TV. Of course, that's true for just about any sport. It's certainly difficult to follow a hockey puck on TV. Then again, if you're only watching the puck, you're missing half the game. It's sorta like watching football and only watching the ball ... so the quarterback sees his receiver with a step on the defender 30 yards down field and you only see the throw, catch, and touchdown. If you're watching the whole game you see why the receiver is open in the first place!

If you can't get into hockey by watching it on TV ... try going to a game. Pick a minor league team so you don't spend all your money on it, and try to sit right on the glass (there is nothing better than front row hockey seats, the first time someone really gets slammed into the glass right in front if you it will get your attention). Unless you live in the Triangle, of course, then just go ahead and fork over the bucks see the 'Canes because it would be cheaper than driving to see a minor league team.

It is tough to get people into hockey who don't know anything about it for a lot of reasons. The main reason is that a lot of folks just don't grow up with it and can't play the game. The prerequisite of being able to ice skate is also pretty tough for a southerner.

Anyway, I agree that if we saw more games on the major networks, folks might just be more willing to give it a try, especially since HD is pretty widely available now. It is easier to keep up with the game when it's in HD ... but is still best in person.

[2plankingpanther]

I remember when the Stanley Cup was on one night ,Canes vs Oilers.I was racing home from work and tried to get it on the sports radio channel(610am).I thought fer sure it will be on the radio,this is a Carolina pro sports team on the brink of history.Instead they had "race talk" on there,I was so pissed!

[2plankingpanther]

I disagree. especially when the game is on the line late and you need 1 big shot to win.

I'll still take hockey over it! I remember when the Canes won the Stanley Cup,a few days later I was trying to get my sports fix,I turned it on the NBA finals and couldn't even watch the whole game,it was that boring!Yeah,I've seen some exciting playoff basketball,but those games are far and few and playoff hockey is way more exciting!

[2plankingpanther]

Deal.

Charlotte gets the Canes, Raleigh gets the Bobcats, and Wilmington gets the Panthers.

Wrong w/all 3! As much as I like the Canes,they deserve to be in Raleigh where folks love them.People in Charlotte don't even like hockey!

[Floppin]

Wrong w/all 3! As much as I like the Canes,they deserve to be in Raleigh where folks love them.People in Charlotte don't even like hockey!

Ever been to a Checkers game? Those shits get packed, and its AHL.

[Johnny Rockets]

hocky has never been popular in the south, because we dont ice skate. its a northern thing. its much bigger in canada than it is in the USA, but it is big in cold places like chicago and detroit and buffalo.

i live in florida. hardly anyone i know watches it, except for a few people from up north.

Florida is just bad for all sports from a fanbase perspective IMO. Baseball, NFL, hockey, college football, etc....none have a consistent, large following in most cases. Just too much other recreational things to do there I guess.

I grew up in NJ....no one I knew ice skated. Everyone I grew up with played street hockey though cause we loved the Flyers. No roller blades, ice skates, etc just our feet on the pavement. Some of the best memories I have as a kid were neighborhood pick up hockey games. I think hockey up North has just been a longer standing tradition than it has in the south. I don't think ice skating has anything to do with it really, if anything people wanted to ice skate because they loved hockey.

[Hawk]

damn I had some good times playing street hockey!!!

CAR!!!

we used to play for hours on end. My dad and oldest brothers loved to go ice fishing...I'd always tag along and bring my skates, a stick and a bag of pucks! The nice thing with southern Alberta was it was always windy and those lakes would be just a big old sheet of ice waiting for me! I dunno how many pucks I lost down old fishing holes!!!

[c0r]

damn I had some good times playing street hockey!!!

CAR!!!

me too. it was only recently i started playing ice hockey. it is very difficult.