Go Jackets

So, it's Thursday. Colin went to the doctor today and got his second round of shots (mommy had to hold him down this time). We're watching hockey. Canes are playing the Sens, in what could easily be a preview of the Eastern Conference final come June of '08. How do I explain our dual allegiance to the Canes and the Jackets? Especially to non-hockey fans?

Well, couple of things:

1) First and foremost, we're Buckeye fans.

2) That established, we lived in Raleigh when the 'Canes were formed. We used to take Emma and Kasi, and aunt Mollie to games in Raleigh, and sit in the nosebleed seats when they were terrible. (Ronnie Francis, Arturs Irbe, Sami Kappanen, Bates Battaglia, et al).

3) We moved to Ohio. (Again, go Bucks!!!)

4) The Canes went to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Red Wings the year we moved to Ohio. We geeked out, watched every game, saw our team lose in five, and were still happy.

5) After that, we went to Jackets games when they were playing the Canes, and rooted for the Canes. And the Jackets were terrible, AND we were risking being punched in the face.

6) As any dirty Michigan fan can tell you, rooting against the home team in Columbus is a very dangerous venture. It's become increasingly so as the locals have become more enamored with Rick Nash and the Jackets each year.

7) Last season, we purchased NHL Center Ice, and watched 78 of 82 'Canes games, along with a whole bunch of other games.

8) As Mary was in the hospital, in labor with Colin, Daddy watched the Ducks/ Sens final, and duly noted it for Jr.

9) The DAY that the '07/ '08 season was announced, I purchased tix for the Jackets / Canes tilt come December 29 of '07.

10) I've formed my first fantasy hockey team, in order to secure Stanley Cup Final tix for the end of the season.

11) All that being said, I guess the ultimate explanation is this: we all like the NHL's product; we don't get to see our favorite team in person regularly( and we were INSANELY jealous when Judy and George went to the 'Canes game earlier this season!) ; so we root for and appreciate the nearest team while they're building; always keeping in mind our original allegiance.

That's about as simply as I can explain it. For everyone that's never been to an NHL game, my apologies. You owe it to yourself to go - because it's a great show, put on by skilled men, worth every penny you pay. And, the guys you watch are about 90% nice guys too, so there's that.

And that's about where we stand. We're all hockey geeks now. We root for the Canes and the Jackets, and get to watch 40 games a week. I'm happy 'bout that, and Mary will be 'til early December (tho, I have to admit, she'll watch every 'Canes game with me, regardless - so clearly, I lucked out!).

That's a long way to go to thank my soon to be former co-worker for providing my son with his first hockey jersey:

Thank you, Matt Eichmann, you're a helluva nice guy, and the inspiration for a future generation of hockey, KUDOS!!!!!