When did you start watching/following the NHL?

[spintheblackcircle]

My parents grew up on the South Side of Chicago and they were fans from the 50's on. My mom would walk up to the top rows of the Stadium with thick cigarette smoke pregnant with my sister.

They moved to DC and my first game was in the Caps 1st season and I've been a fan since. Last month I went to DC to see a concert and I happened to stay a block from the new stadium and I went to my first Washington home game since 1978. I still remember the smell of the old Cap Centre.

 

[Greatzsky 99]

I started reading the results in 79 in the newspaper here in sweden, think the results were 2 day delay, i come to remember an angry guy in our class, that said maybe 81, that Gretzky got assists even if he didnt play the game First game i saw on TV i cant remeber, but i did watch sedin brothers first game in STHLM (preseason) i even met the team the night before at Cafe Opera, i made out with an older woman, and Ed Jovanski said- she could be your mother

 

[VaCaps Fan]

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.

The St. Louis arena was quite the place…

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Late 2000s for me. Watched a lot of Junior and college hockey in Pittsburgh (Robert Morris) as a kid when my friend’s brother was playing but didn’t really start following NHL until around 2007ish. Pens going to the cup in 08 and winning in 09 cemented me as a hockey fan.

 

[rogking65]

Born in 65, 70’s had the Broad St Bullies, French Connection, NYI Dynasty hard nose hockey no helmets and fighting that l still like to see a good honest scrap.

Born in 65 also. French Connection made me a Sabres fan

 

[wintersej]

I followed the Bourque/Neely years as a kid, fell out of it until Thornton/Samsonov draft and then again for a few years around the strike. Wasn’t my #1 sport until like 2008.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

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

There are some real old timers who post in the History forum. Some of the people on this site saw Orr and earlier (IDK if they're still active tho).

 

[Summer Rose]

First game I watched was game four of the 1996 Stanley Cup final between Colorado and Florida. I liked it, but living in Arizona at the time, I didn’t even hear that we got a team the following season. I re-discovered hockey by chance five years later in about November of 2001. I’ve been hooked ever since and even started playing and refereeing. I no longer do either of the latter two, but losing the Coyotes hasn’t killed my love for the sport.