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Suffering from Hockey
Withdrawal?
Remedies to get through the
lockout
12/29/04 - By Erik Kuhre
Are
you like me? Are you going crazy without your San Jose Sharks defending their
Pacific Division championship? Let me attempt to help you get through your
extended hockey withdrawal thanks to your friends at the National Hockey League
and the NHL Players Association.
Yes, there is hockey in San Jose!
Recommended by a good friend on the Feeder forum, San Jose State's ice
hockey team has become the place to be for starving hockey fans. The games are
at Logitech Ice in San Jose, the Sharks practice facility. Admission is very
reasonable at $5 per person and free parking! The best part, the team is
exciting to watch. Players give out a full effort every time, no matter what.
Dedication and pride is what drives these players in their pursuit of being the
nation's best in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.
The team
is currently at 16-2-1, and ranked #4 in the Western Division. With finesse
players such as Sean Scarborough and Captain Ray Kellam, along with superb
netminding by Joe Best, plus the thumper (and crowd favorite) Jon Barney makes
this team entertaining to watch. I personally been to four games early on, and
must say the crowds of 800-1000 are into this game immensely. So get out there
and root on the Spartans. Just make sure to bundle up, it is an ice rink after
all!
While at Logitech (or any other rink...)
With the
extra free time, now is the perfect opportunity to go skating! There are ice
rinks around the Bay Area including Oakland, Berkeley, Dublin, Belmont, along
with San Jose just to mention a few. Each facility has public skating sessions
everyday and at anytime. Typically, admission and skate rental runs about
$10-$12. If you are really serious into learning how to skate, classes are
available as well at an additional cost.
Game Tapes and Hockey
Movies
While the easiest remedy from withdrawal is to put in Sharks
game tapes from seasons past (or watching Shark Byte Classics over and over
again), there are other options to get you through. A number of movies with a
hockey theme have been released within the last twenty-five years. Here are
some my favorites:
Miracle (2004)
Based on the true story of the 1980 USA Ice Hockey Team. Follow the
Miracle on Ice team through their rough and gut wrenching journey to Olympic
gold. This is a dramatic story that could have some Oscar nominations. Kurt
Russell has coach Herb Brooks down so good that many people couldn't believe
that it wasn't Brooks.
Mystery, Alaska (1999)
This comedy stars Russell Crowe and Hank Azaria about a small town
that lives and breathes for their Saturday afternoon pond hockey game. The
amateur hockey team takes on a challenge of playing the New York Rangers for a
NHL TV special that brings the whole town together.
Slap Shot (1977)
Paul Newman is player/coach
Reggie Dunlop who leads the Charlestown Chiefs in this cult classic that is
loved by hockey fans all over. With the mischievous Hansen brothers and wild
bunch of supporting teammates, this movie is likely where the quote "I went to
a boxing match and a hockey game broke out." was coined. This movie is not
suitable for the little ones.
The Mighty
Ducks Trilogy (1992, 1994, 1996)
These three movies are for the
littlest of hockey fans. Emilio Estavez is hotshot lawyer Gordon Bombay who
always wins his cases. But when Bombay is ordered by a court to coach a peewee
hockey team who always loses, things get twisted around! Both sides find
respect for each other and find a way to win. And for Bombay, a former peewee
hockey star himself gets an opportunity to avenge haunted memories.
The sequel, D2, follows the team along with new Ducks from across the USA in
their quest for gold in the Junior Goodwill Games. Standing in their way, their
nemesis from Iceland. Can the Ducks defeat their international foes?
In D3, shows the team's growth as they play with a scholarship at a high school
known for its success in hockey. Facing a reality check for the first time, the
team regroups for an all out finale.
With that, I say good luck find a
cure. If you know more, please email me and will be happy to let everyone know.
I know all of us are going through the pain once again of no Team Teal this
season after what they did last year. Chin up Sharks fans, let's hope something
can end this "Collective Bickering Adjustment" soon. Until then, I'll see you
at Logitech! GO SPARTANS!
Contact Erik at Puckguy14@aol.com
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