What Do Hockey Fans Do Now?

We're in full-ledged lockout mode. If you're like me, your season ticket account is accruing interest while your home team jerseys are gathering dust in the closet. What is an obsessive hockey fan to do during these dire times? There's always voodoo doll rituals with mini-Gary Bettman and mini-Bob Goodenow (put those dolls in a shoebox, shake it around, and see if a mini-CBA pops out), daily praying to your deity of choice for the two sides to wise up and get around to finding a compromise, or watching World Cup games over and over on TiVo.

For those in a more productive-and sane-mood, there's still plenty of hockey to be found. Here are a few ways to keep your brain on ice while the CBA figures itself out.

Play some hockey. There's nothing better for getting out the frustration than fighting for the puck in a mad scramble by the crease. Whether it's on ice skates, rollerblades, or simply on foot, now is a great time to pick up some sticks and play with your buddies. For myself, my season tickets usually conflict with about a third of my league's games and practices. Without the NHL, I will definitely spend more time skating and shooting instead of sitting on my butt with an overpriced hot dog. Better health and a great way to spend time with your friends; can you ask for anything more?

Play some virtual hockey. The hockey video game market essentially comes down to two choices: Sega's ESPN NHL 2K5 or EA's NHL 2005. EA's leans more towards arcade-style play while Sega's strives for more of a simulation feel. Either way, you'll be able to pick from NHL teams, international teams, and historic teams in a full 82-game season or online versus human opponents.

Pretend to be a GM. A new entry into the market is the Eastside Hockey Manager, which skips all game play aspects and focuses strictly on GM simulation. Eastside features leagues from all over the world, ranging from the NHL to obscure European and UK teams. Eastside let's you play with the thinking side of hockey; draft, coach, set practice, and find out you're much smarter than Glen Sather all in one sitting!

Watch your other local teams. Fans near AHL, Junior, and NCAA teams should go out and support those that didn't make the NHL cut. While their millionaire counterparts are sitting at home counting their pennies, these guys are playing for pride and hope. If you don't live near one of these teams, it's likely that your local university has a club team or the local rink has a traveling mites/bantam team. Who knows, maybe you'll see a future NHL superstar (calling Sydney Crosby) at one of these games.

Do none of the above. You can join millions of sports fans and ignore the fact that the NHL lockout is happening. Unfortunately, most sports fans are doing this out of pure apathy towards the game, not as a gesture of disdain for greedy players and owners. And that's the NHL's biggest problem right now -- if they rebuild it, who will come? Gary Bettman claims that the NHL will return reinvigorated with new rules implemented to promote flow and offense in the game. Flow and offense were the things that brought the NHL to the peak of its popularity in the mid-1990s.

After the 1994 lockout, the NHL lost all of its momentum as boring, defensive hockey started to take over. Can the 2004 lockout be a turning point in the return of entertaining, up-tempo hockey? More importantly, will anyone care?

Comments and Conversation

January 27, 2005

Amber Barton:

What are the fans supposed to do? As well as others, I love hockey, so just because of a little money being taken away the players don’t want to play. What about the kids? Most of the hockey players are idolized by millions of children. I was hurt when I found out about the hockey season being postponed until 2006. What are we supposed to do-move onto another sport, until their ready to play?

February 25, 2005

the fan:

i dont think that were giving theses guys the credit they deserve the tole that this sport has on your body is much greater than any other sport and theses guys dont make near as much as the punk basketball player that just shoots a ball in a hoop or that bitchy millionare that throws a baseball across a field it cant be that hard my 6 year old brother can do it. it takes alot to be a hockey player, and they deserve to be treated better. plus in responce to the article that nobody cares. the reason that there isnt an uproar about the strike is because the fans agree with the players they do deserve more money. hell they work there ass off and play a sport that cant just anyone play they deserve alittle more respect then theses asshole reports are giving them.

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