i'm not sure a forum would happen

there aren't many avid hockey fans around these parts

but my first hockey game was actually back in high school oh so many years ago, the late 90's, and i went with a girl on my soccer team. we sat behind the goalie. i couldn't tell ya who was playing or who won, but i was happy i went and sad that i didn't live closer so i could go more often.
the first game that i can actually say was my gateway game was about the end of the 2008-09 season i think. it was the portland pirates vs. the bridgeport sound tigers and that's where i saw matt martin (now #27 for the new york islanders) be super nice to a couple of the kids there. he was the away team, he didn't have to be as nice as he was. so, um, he caught me starting and smiling at him

he smiled and turned back to the game. he's a pretty physical player and after watching him i was hooked. i was out of college a couple years, went to a game with my dad, step mom and little sister and living in portland. i saw a friend i hadn't seen in a while there. we reconnected and stared going to more and more games and since i lived in the city it was easy to go to a lot.
on a side note, i like when arizona was phoenix. it just sounded better