Frozen Fury 10: Avalanche vs Kings

Start:	Sep 22, '07
Location:	MGM Grand Garden Arena

NHL pre-season game in Vegas. Already got my tix!!!
www.ticketmaster.com

Bruckheimer In Talks For NHL Team In Vegas

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/index.cfm?storyid=SBD2007060613&requesttimeout=500&fuseaction=sbd.main
I know from previous Multiply posts, most of you no longer care about hockey. I however still do (although it is hard when Anaheim wins the Cup over Ottawa)... but anyway- article again raising possibility of NHL expansion team coming to Vegas. Fingers crossed....

Wrangler's Hockey Game

Start:	Mar 31, '07 7:00p
Location:	Orleans Arena

Wrangler's Hockey Game

Start:	Mar 30, '07 7:00p
Location:	Orleans Arena

Lord Stanley's Cup

Finally, after missing it the last two times it came to our building, on a coincidental business trip to DC, I got to see/touch it. For anyone who might wonder, sometimes it comes to USA TODAY (where I work) to the Sports section... a crowd always gathers...

Probably most of you know I am a bit of a hockey fan. Well over the last few years, Lord Stanley's Cup has visited my DC office and each time I have, for some uncool reason, not been around.

Now I no longer work in the DC office and have moved to Las Vegas, and this week's DC business trip was definitely NOT fun- BUT it ended up turning around in a heart beat when I received the best email ever on my cell phone- it said only "The Stanley Cup is on the 2nd floor- Sports Section".

I was in DC for a week long conference and a huge migration (purposely coordinated to overlap to make my week a slight hell). I jumped out of my seat (in the middle of a sales presentation) and told the coordinator there was an emergency, and that I would be right back.

I was actually shaking, getting a little sweaty, giddy like a school girl. I jumped in the elevator, got out on the 2nd floor and there was the crowd.

I didn't have my camera with me, so next I called our Art Director and I said "Casey- I have an emergency. The Stanley Cup is here on 2, and I have no camera." He got a hold of the deputy photo editor and they raced over. They all know how important the Stanley Cup is to me. When I left the DC office last year, they made a spoof USA WEEKEND Cover for me, where I am on the cover with Sidney Crosby of the Penquins...

I didn't want to leave the cup. I knew I had to get back to the meeting, but I also knew I most likely would never touch or see the cup in person again....

Anyway I am sitting at the airport after a ridiculous week of running around and stressing... and I am finally getting some time to look at the pictures and relive that incredible moment.

Wrangler's Hockey Game

Start:	Mar 6, '07 7:00p
Location:	Orleans Arena

Wrangler's Hockey Game

Start:	Mar 9, '07 7:00p
Location:	Orleans Arena

Playoff Hockey

So I was watching hockey playoffs today, Nashville vs Detroit. It didn't really matter who was playing though. I root for the underdog if my team isn't playing, in this case Nashville.

Towards the end of the first period, about 1:30 left, Nashville scored the first goal of the game, a nice short-handed shot.

The game was in Nashville and Detroit already leads the series 2-1. Of course the fans went nuts. The fans always go nuts when the home team scores but this is playoff hockey.

Playoff hockey is different. I almost forget the feeling until I see the fans on their feet, waving their white towels, or pom-poms, hugging their neighbors. This is only the first round, but that doesn't matter.

And I found myself, as the players congratulated the scorer and hugged on the ice, a tear starting in my eye.

Yes this is corny. Yes, this is why guys make fun of girls who say they like sports, yes, I know all of this. But I am writing it anyway.

I found myself happy and sad at the same time. Happy for these guys, their first playoff win in site (which they proceeded to achieve by the way). Sad for me, and my team, because once again we haven't made it to the playoffs.

It's always bittersweet, this time of year. I feel relieved that I don't have to go into debt to afford the playoff package, but damn it I want a Stanley Cup!

If you are a sports fan, hockey not exclusive, you probably understand this feeling. I know from the best sports-moments thread that some of you vividly can recall second by second a sporting moment. Well for hockey fans, the time is now. Now until the final Stanley Cup Playoff game in June. And it's awesome!!!!

Well anyway, go team, and go fans! And I am gonna go watch the Boston/Montreal game...