Whether you are a Philadelphia Flyers fan, or a San Jose Sharks fan, you all have one thing in common; you love the game of hockey.
Now that the NHL has taken your beloved hockey, just like taking candy from a baby, you may feel lost and hopeless.
Breathe in and count to five. It is going to be alright.
Yes, the NHL locking out is a sad thought, but no need to get too upset because your favorite players will hit the ice sooner than later.
The last lockout, which took place in the 2004-2005 season, lasted ten months and took a tremendous toll on hockey fans nationwide. One can only hope that labor disputes can be solved in a timely fashion.
In the meantime, here are some suggestions on what to do while waiting.
The American Hockey League
“Well, I think the AHL is the best way to get an addicts fix,” ex Philadelphia Flyers player, Ian Laperrière, told The Centurion, “or jump the Phillies bandwagon.” he joked.
For students at Bucks, you have a few options.
Adirondack Phantoms no longer play in Philadelphia, but still are affiliated with the Philadelphia Flyers. They now reside in Glen Falls, NY, which is about a five hour drive from the College.
Tickets are fairly cheap and it gives you a chance to see some of the Flyers that have been sent down to play in the AHL during the lockout such as Sean Courturier, Brayden Schenn and Zac Rinaldo.
Another option would be the Hershey Bears, who are affiliated with the Washington Capitals. Their arena is in Hershey, PA which is a two hour drive from the College.
Tickets for both of teams are around $10 to $30 dollars.
The East Coast Hockey League
In the ECHL, your best options would be the Trenton Titans and the Reading Royals.
The Titans, affiliated with the Philadelphia Flyers as well as the Phantoms, play right over the bridge at the Sun National Bank Center, only a half hour from the college.
The Royals are a longer drive, about an hour and a half, at the Sovereign Center, but a great hockey team to go watch play.
If you want to watch both teams in action, the Royals will be visiting the Sun National Bank Center on Wednesday, October 17th to face the Titans. It is a 7:05 game. Tickets run from $10 to $30 dollars.
Buy “NHL 13”
EA Sports released its new NHL game earlier in September and it is quite the game. The Philadelphia Flyers’ own Claude Giroux graces the cover on the game box.
“I think I think it’s a great way to quench an addict’s thirst 24/7,” Sean Ramjagsingh, producer of the EA SPORTS NHL series, said “lockout or no lockout.”
The game has a series of new features including GM Connected and True Performance Skating. These new features have been reported to make you feel as if you are actually watching an NHL game.
The game is available for PlayStation 3 and Xbox360 and it priced at $60 dollars.
Learning the Game you Love
One last suggestion, which I think is the best suggestion, is getting a couple of friends together, and playing the sport you love oh so much.
Whether it is street or ice hockey, playing the sport is one of the best ways to feed your craving.
It gets you active as well as allowing you to understand the sport in more detail.