WHY I LOVE HOCKEY

     Well, if you haven't heard the news, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup on Monday night, within the last minute of the sixth game against another Original Six hockey team- the Boston Bruins.   I consider myself to be a Blackhawks' fan.  I even was lucky enough to attend a few games during the '90's.
     However, my love of hockey started when I was young; newly 12 years old- February 1980.
Suffice it to say, that I shall think you a simpleton if you do not understand.  With names like Eruzione, Craig, O'Callahan, and their Coach, Herb Brooks; a team that reminded their nation the power of hope, and to "believe" once again.
     Monday night, the Chicago Blackhawks encapsulated that spirit once again.   With the tying goal scored by Bryan Bickell with 1:16 left to play in the game.

 Then the winning goal scored by Dave Bolland, a mere 17 seconds later- with 58.3 seconds to go.

     I will continue to learn more about the blue line, roles of positions and penalties of the game.
But like many things in life, I do not need to understand it completely, in order to love it.

For me, why I love the game is simple.
 
It's nostalgic for a time when words like heart and character factored in to make a wallop of an impression. 

It's primal

It's unguarded

It's real. 

     The first time I took my boyfriend (now husband), an avid football and baseball fan to a  Blackhawks' game, he was stunned at the hoopla the national anthem got.  I don't remember if it was Mr. Cornelison.  I think we all can agree though, that man has some serious pipes.

     Hockey shakes you to your core.  For this, like a few other things in life, you either love it or you don't. It's a game where it's never over till it's over; and that "do or die" spirit that embodies the human spirit.  So fast, so quick, it reaches in and grabs you by the heart and never lets go.

I think Thin Lizzy's, " The Boys Are Back In Town" celebrates that spirit as well.

Congratulations to the 2013 Lord Stanley Cup Champions, 

THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS!

Goodnight.

* Unfortunately, I was not able to travel to Boston to watch the game, live.  All photos posted here, are photos I took while I watched my TV, live.