When did you start watching/following the NHL?

[Hurricane Hugo]

The first games I remember watching on television featured “Thank You Fans!” slapped across the ice

 

[Hennessy]

Late 70s, thanks to the Rockies. But I was young. Turned 10 the year they left.

 

[DitchMarner]

During the '93 playoffs. The first game I remember watching is Game Seven of the TOR/LA Western Conference Final in 1993 (the game Gretzky calls his best). I watched the Leafs the next year as an eight year old but didn't understand hockey very well.

By 1996, I knew of quite a few players around the League. By 1997, I knew of a lot of players. By 1999, I knew of many (if not most) active players and numerous retired players. It took me a long time to become the hockey nerd that I am.

 

[joestevens29]

During parts of the seventies I had a running bet with a friend on which team would win the cup. I took the Habs, he had the field. I only lost once! I still have a soft spot for the team. Watching a few games in the old Forum was a real highlight!

I’ll let it fly as you our are best poster, but damn

 

[Brodeur]

1988 was probably the first year where I was old enough to have a basic grasp of sports. My family had just moved to a Los Angeles suburb and it was fortuitous timing with the Lakers and Dodgers winning that year. Gretzky would be traded to LA in August '88 but hockey was far down the totem pole at that point.



The Kings knocking Calgary out in 1990 was the first NHL game I could remember actively caring about. As I remember it, we were listening on the radio during a long car ride and got home just in time to see the OT goal.

The Kings 1993 run probably was the main catalyst in hockey grabbing more of my interest with baseball, basketball, and football. Mix in the 1994 MLB strike, the Rams/Raiders leaving after the 1994 NFL season, and the Lakers not contending, suddenly the NHL became the new hotness (despite the 1994-95 lockout).

I switched schools in Fall 1993 and all of the "cool" kids were into hockey. At that point I only knew the Kings roster and the cool kids were talking up this Pavel Bure guy. I had to beg for NHLPA '93 for the SNES to learn about the other teams (simpler days before the Internet).

When I got NHL '95 for PC, I now had the ability to add prospects to the game. I got a little OCD about that and started following the draft from that point on.



I forget if the short-lived 1991 Pro Stars cartoon had any affect on me. Ie, the cartoon was telling me that Gretzky was on par with Michael Jordan and Bo Jackson, so I ought to watch.

I hate to admit it, but The Mighty Ducks (1992) and its sequel (1994) probably helped further establish hockey for me.

 

[Ignatius]

Early '90s here, Mario Lemieux got me into the sport

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

03-04.

 

[thadd]

We've really lost a ton of of the older posters to other social media platforms.

We had a lot more people from 70's and before when hockeysfuture.com had all of the scouting reports and grades for prospects.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Seems to be hovering around

2000’s to present ~30%
1990’s ~ 40%
1980’s or earlier ~30%

 

[SladeWilson23]

1995 to be exact. In fact, 95 is when I started following sports as a whole.

 

[PB37]

Around 1990. One night, I stumbled upon the Bruins on an old Boston station TV38 and I was instantly hooked. I remember not understanding any of the rules but I kept watching anyway until I did. Before long, I was reading the box scores every day during the season to see the names and who scored around the league. I never told any of my friends, who were all into baseball, or my parents, who didn't like sports at all, so it was kind of my own little secret. It took a few seasons but it eventually became my favorite sport and haven't looked back since.

 

[cupface52]

90s. Was a Canucks fan, well more like a Bure fan, was allowed to stay up on Saturday nights to watch them, despite games starting at 1030. Was about 6 or 7.

First distinct hockey memory, Bure on a breakaway, got tripped, and speared the guy in retaliation, was against the wings iirc.

 

[Fatass]

Some of

I thought people were lying to make themselves seem more sophisticated, but votes are not public so my comment was not thought through

Some “older” fans (like me) didn’t have TV when we were really young. We listened to games on the radio. I think our first TV was the late 50’s. So we watched HNIC. Even today, though, I prefer the radio broadcasts over watching on TV.

 

[Rich Nixon]

For my 6th birthday, I saw Flyers/Rangers at the Spectrum. Lindros scored 2 goals and there were 4 fights in the 1st period.

 

[Coffee]

Some of

Some “older” fans (like me) didn’t have TV when we were really young. We listened to games on the radio. I think our first TV was the late 50’s. So we watched HNIC. Even today, though, I prefer the radio broadcasts over watching on TV.

Never knew you were a old timer, FA.

Respect

 

[JMCx4]

The first games I remember watching on television featured “Thank You Fans!” slapped across the ice

So pre-Bettman, got it.

 

[Crow]

I remember watching roenick, chelios and belfour in the early 90s and thinking we would win it all when I was about 8 years old.

I have some more vague memories of larmer in the late 80s but I was pretty young.

 

[frisco]

Are some of the people saying 70’s or earlier lying?

My first hockey fan memory was Sabres-Montreal 1973 playoffs when I was four.

My Best-Carey

 

[Oneiro]

Message boards are a Gen X and Millennial thing.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Think the first playoff series I remember watching every game of was the 1996 WCF between the Avs and Red Wings. Been a fairly religious NHL follower ever since.

 

[JMCx4]

Are some of the people saying 70’s or earlier lying?

My first hockey fan memory was Sabres-Montreal 1973 playoffs when I was four.

My Best-Carey

November 1967 (can't remember the calendar day) for me, so age 10. First season for the St. Louis Blues, attended with family members for a home game vs. visiting MN North Stars, courtesy of tickets that my eldest brother (a salesman) got from a client. The rest is history (as well).

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

Early 90’s when I was little, grew up a Flyers fan, still am unfortunately. Watched nearly every single game since 95, but it’s become harder since I live across the world.

 

[VaporTrail]

Been watching since around '80 or '81...That was before we had remotes and cable...Got our TV signal with an antenna....I'm a Buffalo fan so we obviously got the Sabres but sometimes we could get Hockey Night in Canada too

 

[VaCaps Fan]

November 1967 (can't remember the calendar day) for me, so age 10. First season for the St. Louis Blues, attended with family members for a home game vs. visiting MN North Stars, courtesy of tickets that my eldest brother (a salesman) got from a client. The rest is history (as well).

https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/196712020STL.html

 

[JMCx4]

https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/196712020STL.html

Yeah, coulda been early December, because I doubt it was the Blues home opener that inaugural season - my brother wouldn't have been THAT well connected.