Your First NHL Game in Person

[DarkStar50 679]

A good friend of ours is taking her daughter to her first NHL game this week-end. They are pretty excited about the new experience. This caused me to think of my first NHL game. Sorry for the VERY old time nostalgia but the year was 1968 at Madison Square Garden in January. The Rangers were playing the Boston Bruins with Bobby Orr. My mom was taking me to the game and we had seats in the blues(aka as the upper deck). The view from the upper deck made the players look like mice skating around but the ice was very white! The roar of the crowd and the tension/excitement was overwhelming. During the second intermission I ran downstairs to buy a Rangers yearbook,The Blue Book. There were no concession stands in the upper deck. By the time I got back to my seat, the third period had a minute played and guess what? Bobby Orr scored a goal but I was still running up the stair well when it happened. I'll never forget missing Bobby Orr score at my first game. There was no Sportscenter to watch highlights on when you got home back then. I went to a lot more Rangers games at MSG the next 7 years before college that were pretty exciting, too. Its the first game that I'll never forget.

Does anyone else remember their first NHL game in person? Were you hooked for life after that or what?

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I remember mine, because it wasn't something thats so old.

I moved here from Ireland in April 2000. The company I worked with had corporate seats at the MCI center. At the time Michael Jordan was a part owner of the Wizards so everyone wanted the tickets to that, but there were always hockey tickets going free.

I got tickets for the caps/isles game, think it was the 2nd game of the season.

I have been hooked since.

Before that, I had seen the marathon playoff game between the flyers and pens that went 3 and a bit periods of OT. I thought to myself, this is a full second game played, and they are going as hard as they can.

I grew up with Gaelic Football (hurling too, but I am from donegal, so we suck out loud at hurling), where its a fast paced, team oriented hard hitting game, so hockey was definately a good fit for me.

And now I attempt to play it, had season tickets for the caps, but have since had to drop them.

I still get to about 15/20 games a season, and think in spite of all the complaints, its one of the greatest games in the world.

My mother also got me a really cheesy Irish Ice Hockey Association t-shirt (I was looking for the Jersey which is really cool, but they don't have them for sale at the minute) It's a leprechaun with skates/gloves and stick skating through his pot of gold !!!

But I am 100% addicted to this sport

[Miike 1]

My very first NHL game was the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Edmonton Oilers back in the old Thunderdome. I couldn't tell you the year. All i really remember is seeing everybody on the ice, they were so small as we were so high up.

Other then that i was at the Fleet Center the very first game they played there, i remember that well, i remember them honoring somebody i'm pretty sure as well.

My most memorable NHL game was here in Halifax, when the preseason was here. The Florida Panthers playing the Washington Capitals. We were sitting a few rows up from the glass, Chris Simon (with the Caps at the time) rang the puck around the boards, it actually came over the glass, cracked me right in the left cheek.

Still got that same puck that cracked me..

[nummer55 10]

I can remember my first game... It was two months ago Ducks @ Kings. As a European I was pretty suprised about how people live up to these games (could be a California only thing, I don't know). People were still coming in after the first period was over and started leaving after the second. The Kings (home team) lost I everybody was like 'Oh, whatever'. Very different from when I visit a game in like Germany. Everybody walks up to the stadium, singing, cheering. I they get freaking mad when they lose.

[TBLfan 25]

My first NHL game was in 96, Bruins at Lightning. The Ice Palace's inaugural season, Lightning won. Still have the ticket, still have the souvenir soda cup and puck that my dad bought for me. :)

[KingPest19 0]

My first game was 86-87. At the Great Western Forum in LA. For the life of me I cant recall who they were playing. I want to say the Isles but I know i had seen them on opening night a few years later. It was great to see all the players the Kings had back then. Luc was just a rookie Crason was a rookie Bernie Nicholls was in his prime. Dionne was still theres. Guys like Taylor and Fox. I liked hockey before then but after that I fell in love with the game. One of my betetr hockey memories.

[Rustpot 1]

First Hockey game was an IHL Vipers game, don't remember much, it was in elementary school.

First NHL game was mid to late 90's Detroit game at the Joe. My dad had gotten corporate box seats in a raffle at work, and I went with my mom. I didn't have a very good time, the corporate box isn't good for watching the games, just for the adults to chat and drink.

Didn't get any memorabilia, too expensive.

Haven't been to a game since, but I might be going to the Wings v. Wild this Friday if my friend's dad hasn't given the tickets away already

[sc37 0]

My first game was a New Year's Eve game at Nationwide Arena. Blue Jackets vs Devils...think the CBJ lost 5-3. It was nice cause we were only like 10 rows up in the lower bowl. Think it was the Jackets inaugural season, or their 2nd season. Recall Alex Selivanov scoring with like a few minutes left in the game.

I recall my second game more vividly...it was CBJ vs the Preds. I recall it cause we had a really drunk or just crazed guy that was screaming stuff at Mike Dunham since he made the Olympic squad I do believe. And he also screamed at the refs the whole night. Told the refs to blow the whistle, not Dunham...that always stuck with me cause I thought it was hilarious for some reason.

[marc_9 0]

i havent been to an NHL game :( its too expensive to fly to fly to somewhere for example montreal then buy tickets and pay for hotel etc. maybe some day.....

[kosydar 0]

Blackhawks at Canucks. I've still got the program around here somewhere. It must have been '92 or '93, so the Hawks were still good.

[mack 44]

Back in '91, it was Toronto @ Quebec.

[KYHockey3 0]

my first game was a predators vs. avalance game. it was on st.patricks day. we ended up getting seats right behind the bench. i loved it because roy didnt play, so he was right infront of me the whole game!

i ended up getting a puck from the game. it was really fun!!

[kovalchuk71 212]

First Hockey Game:

ECHL Raleigh Ice Caps Game (1995). I was 5ish, so all I remember is the players dumping the puck high in the air, and that blimp that would pass around free coupons ( Damn my ADD

First NHL Game: 1998 when Carolina had their innagural season. Remember some parts, but not much

[headonaswivel 1]

First game was the last game of the canucks season in Lindens rookie year....LA sat everybody that night, I was so angry.

next day i went to their practice before they went to calgary for round 1, and got to go into the locker room after practice with my uncle who had a friend on the team. Got all the autographs and was just in awe. Harold snepts had like a red leather suit on, no lie.

Next game was edmonton van, sat in the third row, amazing seeing it that close.

Been to tons of games since then. Went to University in Edmonton, so Id be good for 15 games a year.

Last night I played on Greg Adams wing, and it brought me back to 94 seeing him fly up ice. How many years out of hockey and he is still just lightning quick.

On a side note, he is involved in that Evolution stick company with the green twigs, had a few last night.

[Cheesehead 0]

my first game was the Caps vs. the Flyers the day after christmasin i think in '01. My dads company worked with a bank that had a box in the MCI Center. i remember Donald Brasheer(or however you spell his name) getting in a fight. It was so much fun.

[hockeymom 2]

Ohh Dark Star, Bobby Orr was my first too.... although I was much, much younger than you,,,lol.

Probably around 1970-ish.

My dad had filled my head with so many stories about the guy from Parry Sound that I begged him to take me to a game.

What hooked me tho' was the Summit Series in 1972. We got to watch it in school; the entire country shut down for every game of that series.

[chikinpotpie 137]

Mine must have been either 85 or 86 when the Blackhawks and the North Stars played an exihibition game in Kalamazoo. I don't remember much about the game but I do remember sitting really close and waving to all of the players during warm ups.

[HeatleyRules 0]

first NHL game was Predators at Toronto about 7 years back. Vokoun threw his glove on the puck and a penalty shot was called, whoever took it missed. game ended 4-0 preds. had decent lower level seats, nothing great though.

most memorable game was Flames at Toronto maybe 3 years ago. it was both Gary Roberts and Tom Fitzgerald's 1000th NHL game, which was pretty sweet. Shaun Donovan scored an incredible goal where he took the pass threw his legs and shelfed it. game went into OT and ended 2-2, so it was pretty exciting. another memorable game was a WCH04 exhibition game at the Corel Centre between Canada and Slovakia. incredible to see so many great players on the ice, including Lemieux.

worst games were Pens at Sens when i went just to see Super Mario and got lower level seats and he was scratched because of back problems. also saw Avs at Sens to see Forsberg, my favorite player, and he was scratched as well. i was wearing my Forsberg jersey and had a handfull of Sens fans all say the same thing to me after the game, "They coulda used you out there tonight, Peter". luckily i saw the Flyers at Sens last year on halloween i think and saw him play. id say he added about 3 assists to his total that game in a 5-3 win.

still have yet to go to a game and have glass seats, penalty box or team bench seats, but i hope to soon. been to HSBC, MGS, Bell Centre, the Joe, Saddledome, Continental Airlines, Corel Centre numerous times as well as the ACC, so ive covered most of the close arenas. next goal is to see the canucks.

[ktang 34]

1984, I was 15, buddy's dad had season's tickets and I was the last one he called, Montreal Forum, Adams Div playoff, Canadiens vs Bruins. Steve Penney was in nets for the Habs, Mario Tremblay was clearing the puck without icing it (good touch), a Bruin turtled against Nilan to draw a penalty. Many Bruins were in tears as they were eliminated late in the 3rd period (they were heavily favoured). The play was so much slower than on TV, but the passes looked faster. Lots of cigarette smoke in the air. Walked behind the Canadiens bench in the 2nd intermission to get to our deats.

[KYHockey3 0]

my most memorable game was the 2nd one i attended. it was messiers last game and we were once again behind the bench. it was an amazing game. even the other team cheered for him.

im about to go to my 3rd nhl game on december 29

[RadioGaGa 162]

Habs - Sabres at the old Aud. Sun Oct 11/92. Sat WAAAAAY up in the Orange Corner (Still have the ticket stub - in fact I have the stub from pretty much every concert/sporting event I've ever been too).

Can't recall much about the game...I do remember Brian Bellows scoring an overtime winner...but that was in '93.

[Chadd 916]

Caps - Habs at the old Capital center in Landover, MD. It must have been in the early 80s but I couldn't tell you for sure. Caps won and I got a free puck.

[Monty22 834]

1986 Hartford Whalers v. St.Louis Blues at the Mall. Good stuff. The kelly green Whalers trucker hat I made my Dad buy me is now back in style.

[Roach 0]

I can't recall the exact year, but it was either 1997 or 1998. The Blackhawks were playing the Avalanche in Chicago, and I was lucky to have been able to fly in that year. The row in front of me was occupied by leather-clad biker dudes with their ladies. Every time someone behind them cheered for the Avs, they would all stand up, turn around, point at the man, woman, and/or child and tell em "You, sit down, and be quiet." When the Hawks scored the tie-ing goal, we all jumped up and started cheering. The biggest dude turned around and yelled, "C'mere and gimme a hug, you lil brown man!" That was hilarious! The game went into double overtime with the Hawks walking away with the win, but I was already on my way home after regulation. Fun memories in spite of not finishing the game.

[sabre09923 0]

I went to a Bruins/Stars game when Brett Hull (my childhood idol) scored his 1,000th career point. I was hooked before then, but after that, there was no way i could turn back from hockey. November... 13th I think, 1998.