COYOTE HULK SOCK DEN

Which as everyone knows is an anagram for “hockey lockout ends” (if you hadn’t already heard).  As a recent fan of hockey, I had still not found a team.  You know a “my team” team.  I always had someone to root for during games, had plenty of favorite and disliked players, teams that I loved watching, and teams that I loved booing.  I had just never latched onto anything.

So now that the NHL straightened up and and we’ve got a season coming up, I decided it’s time I pick a team.  I wanted to pick a team on merits other than being ”the best” or even ”madly popular”.  And I don’t live in a city with a hockey team, so I can’t even go for a home / regional team.  So I set my sights on some underdog teams.  Who would have enough merit to not stink forever, so that I might actually have a chance to cheer for “my team” during the playoffs?

At the end of the 2003-2004 season, I thought I had made up my mind.  The Phoenix Coyotes.  They had good, young, players, no lines too heavy with big names, and of course, the touch of Wayne Gretzky as part owner.  And their logo didn’t turn me off (weak basis for decision, I know, but you will be wearing your team’s jersey, so you had better not think it sucks).

The lockout came, and I never paid another thought to it.  Now that it’s been removed, I have until October to pick “my team”.  Sadly, the Coyotes are no longer an option in my mind thanks to one man.  UGH!  He tops my least-liked-players list, just barely edging out Scott Stevens.

So I need your help, people.  Help me pick a team this year.  I certainly have enjoyed just being a “hockey fan” and basing my rooting for each game on a team-by-team basis, but I think it would be fun to have and follow a “my team” closely for a season, and “sharing” in their acheivements and disappointments.

Posted Sunday July 24, 2005 in Hockey Schmockey by Derek Jones

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Comments

The Dallas Stars.  Because they’re… um… from Texas.  Or something.

Yeah, I got nuthin’.

By Chris Curtis on July 24, 2005 at 03:39pm link

Dallas Stars are my like third most hated team.  St. Louis Blues, New Jersey Devils, and Dallas Stars are all out of the running.  I probably should have mentioned that.

By Derek Jones on July 25, 2005 at 06:38am link

If you are looking for a reasonably young, well-managed, exciting hockey team, look no further than the Vancouver Canucks!!!!!!

GO ‘NUCKS!!!!!!

By emd on July 25, 2005 at 12:39pm link

Looks like I’ve got a bit to wait.  All of the free agents will be seeking teams and vice versa starting August 1st.  Mike Ricci signed as a free agent to the Coyotes just before the lockout occured in 2004.  Since all contracts for last season were void, and no new ones were made, come August 1st, he’s still a free agent, and could possibly go elsewhere.

One fellow Ricci-haytah tried to convince me that there should be one person on “your team” that you don’t like.  And Ricci’s about as crazy as it gets.  He won’t cut his hair, he starts random fights, he’s a pretty good player, and he has I think the one tooth.  Come on man, you have a dental plan.  There’s a team dentist for crying out loud.

I’m not convinced, but I’m not going to give up on the Coyotes yet.  And some other player shuffling happening after August 1st may change my entire outlook on some other team that I hadn’t seriously considered yet.

By Derek Jones on July 27, 2005 at 08:11pm link

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