The 4 big American Sports: Ice Hockey

As a foreign student in Boston my interest in Hockey was a short-lived one, but still a roller coaster of an experience. From not paying attention at all, to stealing several hours of my study-time to watching the Boston Bruins.

The Interest

The interest came from the Boston Bruins success in the series, which I managed to pick up one day when I heard the local radio at the gym saying the Bruins had 6 wins in a row. I checked out the league, and they were number one in their division, and second overall. The stats was nice, and I heard that they were heading to the end-games, a great achievement. So I sat down watching a game one night, and I did not get a thing. The violence seemed endless, and at one point they started fighting from a kick-off without any other reason than to fight, I did not get the rules, and the puck was moving so fast it was absent from my sight for 98% of the time. It was visible during some of the replays. But the Bruins won at least

I told my room mate Philip about my issues with Ice Hockey after the match. He had played semi-professionally, and was of course disagreeing. So I sat down to watch another game, this time with Philip. The first period, and approximately 60 questions later I was starting to get the game, and the entertainment became a bit more visible to me. At the end of the game I could even see the puck while they were playing.

The Bruins’s success

The league was already 50 games old, and I started to watch more games as the Bruins cruised into the Stanley Cup play-off. But all the experts were certain about the winner: Tampa Bay Lightning, who had beaten most of the records for how overpowered a team can be with results miles ahead of the Bruins. However, they managed to get humiliated 4-0 in games against The Columbus Blue Jackets, one of the supposed weakest team, but in form. The rule to win is best of seven games, which gives the teams opportunities to have poor games, but still win.

With the biggest competitor out of the picture, The Bruins cruised into the Stanley Cup Final. My engagement had reached peak. More than it ever did with The Patriots, Celtics, and certainly way more than Red Sox. Bruins were favorites, and I was so much looking forward to another parade, and celebration in the streets. It was undoubtedly nail-bitingly intense and interesting. 1-0 in games for Bruins against St Luis Blues, the team who had been last after half-played season, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3. 3-3 in games, and the winner takes it all.

The devastation

Everything was looking good for a Boston Bruins win in the final game. It was at home at TD Garden, supported by thousands of excited Bruins-fans. However, this game thought me the brutality of Ice Hockey, and the importance of the Goal keeper. 17-3 in shots after the first period, total Bruins dominance. 0-2 to the Blues. They never managed to score the goals with the Bruins keeper having his first poor game during the entire play-offs. They lost 1-4, and we were left devastated at the packed bar we saw the game at.

Not since Tottenham lost the Champions League final have I been so disappointed. Luckily, the interest for the sport wore off rather quickly. Even though the interest did not stick, like it has done with Basketball and American Football, it is a very entertaining sport I advice anyone to attend ones or twice at least, with someone who actually know the game.

Fun Fact: The American Flag was designed by a High School student.