May 27, 2009
You’d better believe I’m over the moon about my beloved Pittsburgh Penguins returning to the Stanley Cup finals for the second year in a row. Is the second time the charm? Time will tell.
In the meantime, here’s some bits about hockey:
1. The last time a team lost in the final and returned the following year to try again was in 1984. The team? The (much vaunted) Edmonton Oilers.
2. Back then, I wasn’t the hockey fan I am now. Hell, I was trying to survive high school.
3. Then I went to Graduate school — at the same school the Penguins’ current head coach, Dan Bylsma attended. I believe he left just as I was arriving.
4. Bored in the middle of a cornfield, that January, I was able to do something that the Penguins’ first Stanley Cup years had awakened in me: the desire to play ice hockey.
5. I spent so much time at the campus Ice Arena that I liked to joke I got my Master of Fine Arts degree in ice hockey.
6. (It’s actually in fiction)
7. All that time on the ice, in the locker rooms, hanging around the pro shop and the Zamboni room crew inspired a novel.
8. I actually landed an agent for that novel. Clearly, he wasn’t the world’s best agent.
9. Every now and then I think maybe I’ll put it out from under the bed and revamp it.
10. But we’re all having way too much fun with Trevor and the band. How does ice hockey figure into a rock band’s life?
11. I’ve spent many Penguin games sitting in the stands (we have the second-best seats in the place, I’m convinced of it. Who’s got the best? The players) trying to figure that out.
12. My fictional town of Riverview is home to a baseball team, The Otters. Maybe a hockey team ought to move in, too?
13. While I debate (and your input is quite welcome), join me in cheering on my Penguins, will ya?
Let’s go, Pens. I want to dance with Lord Stanley again.
Adelle Laudan
May 27, 2009 10:44 pm
I only ever followed hockey, way back when I lived at home. My bro is a huge Leafs fan, so I rooted for Montreal just to piss him off lol
Fun list. Happy T13!
Journeywoman
May 27, 2009 11:20 pm
If the Islanders can’t be there (and Gd knows they can’t this year–hell they had problems making it to the bottom!) Go Pens!
Journeywoman’s last blog post..Thirteen reasons I am for gay marriage
Clara
May 27, 2009 11:56 pm
I’m really sorry, but I can’t join you in cheering on the Penguins. I’m hoping the Wings beat your guys again this year.
Clara’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen – Things That Begin With I
Thomma Lyn
May 28, 2009 12:05 am
Go, Pens!
And hmm, perhaps Trevor, Mitchell and the fellas could learn to play ice hockey! 😉
Thomma Lyn’s last blog post..Tadpole Rescue Mission, Continued
jeng
May 28, 2009 2:35 am
Interesting list ; ) Happy Thursday Thirteen! Mine is up at http://jengspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/05/thursday-thirteen-80s-love-songs.html
Shelley Munro
May 28, 2009 4:14 am
I only ever see ice hockey on TV since we don’t have it here in NZ. This is rugby country. 😉
But here’s a cheer for you. Go, Pens!!
Shelley Munro’s last blog post..I Like Vegetables
Carleen
May 28, 2009 8:58 am
Since I know absolutely nothing about hockey except that the first time I even heard about it was in the movie Love Story, LOL, I found your list quite interesting. 🙂 So whatever happened to the literary agent? 😉
Carleen’s last blog post..A Thousand Words in Idioms: I and J
MommyBa
May 28, 2009 9:05 am
we don’t play hockey here as we don’t have ice or winters. but it’s quite weird that a number of people are already learning the sport (together with figure skating) in our mall-based and man-made ice skating rinks.
hockey to me is mighty ducks – well, that’s what reminds me of it. i know it’s a full-contact sport too and it’s fun to watch 🙂
happy thursday!
MommyBa’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen – Week 21 (2009)
Brenda ND
May 28, 2009 10:01 am
I heard once that every writer has a book that won’t be published. Hmm. I hope that’s not true for the ones I have under my bed. Happy TT!
Brenda ND’s last blog post..Memorial Day — More ThanJust the Start of Summer
Bobkat
May 28, 2009 1:02 pm
Count me in on your rent-a-mob. Go Penguins! 😀
Bobkat’s last blog post..Kitten Love
Alice Audrey
May 28, 2009 1:53 pm
Such enthusiasm! Not my thing, but so what?
Alice Audrey’s last blog post..13 Words, More or Less
bridget
May 28, 2009 2:13 pm
Let’s go Pens! Can’t wait to have Lord Stanley back again!
Hootin' Anni
May 28, 2009 2:13 pm
Incredible hockey list. Congrats on the P P’s too. I learned a lot about the sport that I know very little. High 5.
My post is up. Come on over and see some odd creatures. You’ll be amazed. Happy Thursday.
Hootin’ Anni’s last blog post..
mitchypoo
May 28, 2009 2:16 pm
Wow, you love your Penguins. Great list.
mitchypoo’s last blog post..Thursday 13
harriet
May 28, 2009 2:16 pm
Woohoo!
I haven’t been to a hockey game in years.
Blackhawks….
harriet’s last blog post..TAKE THE COMMENT CHALLENGE!!!
Ann
May 28, 2009 8:13 pm
Go Penguins. I’m not much into sports, but I did learn to ice skate one memorable year spent living and working at a ski resort, so I can appreciate the skill it takes to beat someone up while on skates. 🙂
P.S. Only 8 days…and counting. Yay!
Ann’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #???
Celticlibrarian
May 28, 2009 8:39 pm
Or perhaps the next town over gets a team? 😀 (hopeful smile.)
I’ll cheer for your team. And have fun if you take a trip up to D.C.
Celticlibrarian’s last blog post..13 Facts About the Smithsonian Institution
PopArtDiva
May 28, 2009 11:17 pm
The first hockey game I ever saw was the San Jose Sharks about a billion years ago, lol. I don’t hunt it down but I actually can enjoy it if it’s on!
You’re going to laugh, I’ve been so tired from visitors that I actually read your number three as “Gratitude School” hahahaha!
Thanks for visiting Pixel’s guest blog on my TT today – she really appreciated your comments and wants you to come visit (she thinks you’ll be packin’ a truck load of cookies!)
Yvonne Y
May 29, 2009 8:29 am
Thanks for sharing on a topic I know almost nothing about…it was a good read.
carol
May 29, 2009 10:35 am
Go Pens!