Hockey

[inuvik]

General hockey question:

Why are the Montreal Canadiens called the Habs? I've always wondered.

[mlm828]

inuvik said:

Why are the Montreal Canadiens called the Habs? I've always wondered.

"Les Habitants" is a French nickname for the team.

habitant(e) m(f)(f) 1. (occupant: d'un pays, d'une ville) inhabitant; (d'un immeuble, d'une maison) occupant 2. Québec (paysan) farmer 3. loger chez l'~ to stay in a private house

[Duchess of Lashes]

What a bummer for the Calgary Flames - although the first period was, according to the announcers on NHL Radio (they didn't televise it here!) the best period of the whole series. It was a good period to listen to too - that says something!

I am in the same boat as Anita - I cannot possibly cheer for Ottawa - so I think I will have to cheer for the Oilers and at least keep it in the province of Alberta! I can't help but pick the underdog, especially the one who knocked off the best team in the NHL this year! And if that doesn't happen, then I guess I will just have to chose Colorado too, because of Jose Theodore - he has had some really rotten luck the past couple of seasons - I would love to see him live up to the promise of his rookie season again! (The Avs are the old Quebec Nordiques so I guess it is almost like cheering for a Canadian franchise - albeit years ago!)

And so you don't hate me for wanting to cheer for the arch rival Oilers, here's KARMA to you! You just wait - your Flames will be back again!

[spoony]

I've never seen ice hockey. Its not big here. I'd love to see it. I went to the non-ice hockey at the Commonwealth Games. I imagined Skank to be there.

[Duchess of Lashes]

spoony said:

I've never seen ice hockey. Its not big here. I'd love to see it. I went to the non-ice hockey at the Commonwealth Games. I imagined Skank to be there.

Growing up in the great white north, where as Skank would say there are only two things to do when it's cold (and I was much too young for one of those options) I grew up with hockey - it was a Saturday night religious experience - Hockey Night in Canada! We never missed it, just like we didn't miss Sunday School the next morning.

It is such a fabulous game, entertaining, fast paced, hard hitting, something really special when you have a player with the "touch", the finesse, the ability to weave his way down the ice, in and out through the defense, circle around the goal and bury the puck in the back of the crease. There is nothing like the athleticism of the goaltender, peppered with multiple shots and stopping every one! It has nailbiting, deep sighing, loud cheering moments that are unmatched in sports.

For a Canadian, hockey is a passion (unlike some who think it has to be curling!), a bridge that brings generations together (I loved to sit down and watch the rivalry with my Grandfather - I was a Leafs fans - he loved the Canadiens - we were mortal enemies for 60 minutes but could dissect a game with equal vigor at its conclusion), I loved it when the Leafs were victorious over his team and they often were - it seemed when the Canadiens were in town, the Leafs played some of their best hockey - it's the thing that gave fathers and daughters a common bond, the thing I used to share at Maple Leaf Gardens with my brother when we were younger.....the thing I can still sit down to watch and lose myself in....the best game in town!

[bjobsessed]

Hockey also gave my grandpa and I a special bond. He has been gone for almost 11 years now, but that was our Saturday night ritual--to watch the hockey game together. We also did a lot of complaining at how bad the Leafs were playing that night, which happened all the time, or marveled at how well a player was doing on a particular night. Frustration is part of being a Leaf fan and no matter how frustrated we got, we were always back next week for more. Gingerale and cookies always came in the first intermission. To this day, I can't watch a hockey game without thinking of my grandpa and the bond we shared because of our love of the game.

[inuvik]

Not looking good for the Canadian teams--each is down 2-0 in their series.

Sigh.

[inuvik]

inuvik said:

Not looking good for the Canadian teams--each is down 2-0 in their series.

Sigh.

Things are looking up--Oilers are now tied!

[inuvik]

I can't believe I'm saying this but... GO OILERS GO!

(BJObsessed, Longlashes--where are you? Just me in this thread now?)

[bjobsessed]

inuvik said:

I can't believe I'm saying this but... GO OILERS GO!

(BJObsessed, Longlashes--where are you? Just me in this thread now?)

I'm still here. I don't know how I missed this, but I'm just reading it now. I think you need a karma for rooting for the Oilers. That would be like me saying GO CANADIENS GO!, OR GO SENATORS GO!

They play tonight at 7:00 pm EST. So I say it too. GO OILERS GO!
And my hometown boy too. Rolie the Goalie!

[bjobsessed]

Edmonton won the game 3-1! They were outplayed for most of the third period. Rolie the goalie made five saves on a Ducks powerplay half-way through the third--2 or 3 of them on the ice with his legs pinned under his teammate. Oilers take both games in Anaheim. Series moves to Edmonton Tues.

Dwayne Roloson has a two game point streak going. Two assists in two games. Very very rare--if ever--for a goalie.

He led the league in assists by a goaltender in 97-98 with 4, I think. Not sure if he has anymore this year in the playoffs.

Ok, I'll get off my box now. (Sorry, but we're all getting excited. The only other time a hometown boy did really well was a few years ago when Rob Blake won the cup and brought it home for a day.)

[inuvik]

Awesome! Edmonton's just won 6 games in a row. And now back to home ice--maybe the series will be won in 4 games!

[bjobsessed]

The power came back on at 4 am this morning, but I wanted to hear the hockey game so bad, I sat in the car and listened to it. We couldn't get any of the radios to work even with new batteries. It was a little chilly but fun.

Rock on Oilers! They won and lead the series 3-0.

[inuvik]

bjobsessed said:

The power came back on at 4 am this morning, but I wanted to hear the hockey game so bad, I sat in the car and listened to it. We couldn't get any of the radios to work even with new batteries. It was a little chilly but fun.

Rock on Oilers! They won and lead the series 3-0.

And what a game! Too bad you missed the visuals on this one. 8 of the 9 goals were scored in the third period. It was a really exciting game, great hockey. The fans went wild! I love the Oilers games, they project "You're in Oil Country' on the screen strip that goes around the stadium. Cool.

[bjobsessed]

inuvik said:

I love the Oilers games, they project "You're in Oil Country' on the screen strip that goes around the stadium. Cool.

Do my eyes deceive me?? You're saying you love Oiler games? Are you feeling ok?