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.

 

[gritdash60]

I picked my number when i started playing (truth: my dad picked my number when i started playing) and it was 66, that was i think 93 or 94. Thats when i started "following" as in dad bought me cards and read me the yearbook, was when i learned about Gretzky, Mario etc. grew up collecting cards and trying to watch any highlight possible, i think is still have some VHS mixtape of Lemieux goals at my parents house. But have to say the hockey cards was the big thing for me as an introduction to the NHL, the most charsimatic guys in the world in those pictures! These kids today have nothing on those dudes.

Edit: Mike Richter and his iconic mask, or Arturs Irbe... Teemu Selänne my hero in those milk commercials back here, or maybe Craig Mctavish without the helmet, Eric Lindros and the legion of doom, Jeremy Roenick, or Mike Modano and Pavel Bure with the speed, so many heroes for young me.

Edit2: Al Mcinnis with his absolute bomb, or Chelios or Coffey or Foote, damn. Wish i could rewind a bit.

 

[Marlowe Syn]

Growing up in Minnesota you are always aware of the game of hockey. It wasn't until my Dad took to me a Team USA exhibition game vs. the hated Chicago Blackhawks . Whupped them 10-6 and Chicago was playing their starters. Seeing the game live hooked me from that afternoon on. That USA team would perform a certain Icy Miracle later on. So for me 1980.

 

[vlady]

It was not easy getting to see NHL live on TV in Slovakia back in my day, but I think the first full NHL games I saw were the 1995 final series between the Devils and the Red Wings. I was 11.

EDIT: I also have a very fuzzy memory of an all-star game that ended 16-6. Wikipedia says it was 1993. I didn't know it was just an exhibition game and I was quite amazed at the amount of scoring.

 

[Lauro]

Was always a fan of Team Canada at the World Championships and got into the NHL with EA Sports NHL 94 and then the first chance watching the NHL here in Germany was a show called NHL Power Week on NBC Europe in the 2nd half of the 90s.

 

[LevelingSolo]

Early 2000s in my teen years

Based on the poll results it looks like there isn’t too many Gen Z’s on here