This is the thread to introduce yourself to the group. I'd like to welcome aboard our inaugural members: FinSaint, Crusader, QBREES9 & Halo. We've started off strong with some good, international flavour and all's we need to do is sign up a Canadian, a Russian and a Czech to pretty much cover the bases.
I was fortunate enough to be born under the 'Winged Wheel', in Detroit, MI, and thus claim the RedWings as my hometeam. It wasn't always that way, people still refer to the Wings of the '70s when they want to knock you off your stride ... but you could get a seat right up on the glass back then
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The league I follow primarily now is probably the NHL, but my interests in the sport of hockey are wide and ranging and I enjoy all levels/leagues. The World Championships and Olympics are of particular interest. I was introduced to European hockey in the seventies and liked the more open style of play. I've followed a number of Canadian & US Junior teams and enjoy seeing players I've watched at the Junior A/B/C levels break into NHL lineups. My kids actually introduced me to the Swedish Elite League and the Russian Hockey League through their fanship of certain Red Wing players, and I enjoyed researching the teams, history, players, et... Last, but not least, were my kid's teams ... I followed them the most and the closest, playing vicariously through them at times, but in a good way, not in the bad 'hockey-parent' way you always read about.
As for my own personal talent, I was an "outside" player, which meant I wasn't good enough to play on the inside rinks. Today they refer to it as "house" and "travel", the latter being the more skilled player. I played on & off, a lot of 'pick-up' and advanced to the high school/midget level before becoming more of a spectator. I've coached a bit and still stop in local rinks now and again to catch a game or tourney.
