So as everyone already knows, the NHL reached a tentative agreement on Sunday and the league is expected to drop the puck on the shortened season next Saturday, January 19th. Members of this site are obviously hockey fans as they pour their heart and soul into a chunk of ice in their backyard for that little extra ice time that would costs hundreds of dollars to rent in an arena. We know the game in its purest form so my question to you: Do you care? Are you going to return as a fan to fill that void that was ripped away from you like a bandage over a freshly healed cut? Or will you be content to bide your time on your backyard rink until Mother Nature returns your sanctuary to a grassy pasture?
I have been a fan of the game all my life. This was made painstakingly clear when I was awake at 4AM for many a morning over the Christmas break in order to watch the World Juniors (which happens to be my favourite hockey to watch over any other hockey, whether NHL or Olympics). I bleed Red and White for my national team whenever they are playing and I have always been a loyal Ottawa Senators fan since I moved to the city. I am however still quite jaded toward the NHL. As it stands right now, I don't intend to watch any NHL games right away and I know that will not purchase tickets or merchandise to support either side of the lockout for a very long time. I don't know what it will take to win me back and I know that the NHL doesn't really care because there will be many people who just want to watch hockey again. I can't judge those people because I flocked back immediately after the last two lockouts, but 3 lockouts in the last 20 years leaves pretty deep wounds especially when you consider that the money they were fighting over was our money, not theirs.
I'll stop ranting now but would like to see what other people in the backyard rink community are thinking.
Cheers
Kevin