Call it excitement, call it anticipation, call it nervousness, call it whatever. Nothing compares to the feeling a fan of hockey feels before the big game. It’s an unbelievable feeling that consumes your body. It is amazing.
It is a feeling different from what a player feels. Don’t get me wrong, a player has many of these feelings, but it is different. I think I have figured out the difference. A player has the ability to control various aspects, and the outcome of the game. A fan is helpless. All they can do is just watch and cheer. For a player this is their profession, this is their job. They are on the inside. For a fan this is our passion, and most of all this is our escape from life. We live and breathe to see how our team does, or what kind of moves they will make before trade deadline. A fan those is not on the inside, and does not know the in’s and out’s that a player or coach knows. This makes it very different.
Sports have a magical way of bringing people together. It gives us an escape, and a topic to think about. It pulls us away from everyday life duties. It gives people things to talk about, somewhat like the weather. It forms a bond between fans.
As I sat down today to watch the US vs. Canada semi-final I thought “Wow this is a critical, and exciting day of hockey in my life. My country was taking on the powerhouse Canadians. My high school alma mater was in the semi-finals in the State High School Championships of North Dakota. This is the first time that they have advanced to the semi-finals since 1992. This was the year after I graduated from high school. That sure seems like a long time ago. The Junior A team in town was about to start a Friday, Saturday weekend series that, with wins would solidify a playoff spot. Then to top it off my eight year old son plays his first ever travel team game on Saturday morning. It was going to be a busy, wild weekend of hockey. I was excited.
Then I thought “What if hockey was not part of my lifestyle?” What would I do with my time? What would I focus my attention on? For that matter what would my family do this weekend? Well that is enough of those thoughts. My life is hockey! We love it. We live it. Honestly I would not have it any other way.
So as I prepared this morning for my day, and weekend I thought. Its time for hockey!! I was nervous, excited, and pumped with the anticipation of how the hockey events of the weekend would turn out. This is a great feeling, this is hockey!
Brad Burud the owner/editor of the Inside Edge Hockey News. I am a huge fan of hockey, from youth hockey, to junior hockey, and of course professional hockey. I have played, coached, worked as statistician, and watched hockey all of my life. Hockey is not just a game, it is a lifestyle and family. The game of hockey is great! It can bring you nights of great enjoyment. It also brings nights where you feel like your team will never win. I am proud to be a journalist for the greatest game in the world. I have a degree in Business Administration, Psychology from Minot State University. I also have a Hockey General Manager and Scouting, and Sports Communications/Journalism degree from Sports Management Worldwide. I am also a member of the Sports Executives Association. Most of all I am a fan. Hockey is a huge part of my life and my families life.