The NHL's Best (And Worst) Fans

[dsjunior1388 81]

"Except from This is HockeyTahn"

Long before Mario Lemieux called Pittsburgh home, hockey players were taking the ice at places like The Schenley Casino, Duquesne Gardens and The Winter Garden. Fans flocked to those venues to see teams like the Yellow Jackets, Hornets and the “other” Pirates play and even got a glimpse of the great Hobey Baker.

Pittsburgh has always been a Hockeytown - even before Detroit decided to call themselves HockeyTown - funny Pittsburgh has sold out I think a 162 consecutive home games and when I watch Detroit place looks empty until Playoffs. When the Pens were finally introduced in 1967 - maybe had an average of 5000 until Mario. Once the Pens finally won their first cup in 91, rinks started to appear in Pittsburgh and kids started to play hockey attendance is finally reached an average of 17000 - that's not bandwagon town by any means - yes somehow we are still in the shadows of the great Steelers - and you can tell the some bandwagoner's by the terrible towels they bring to a hockey game! But the rest of us have always been fans - I remember watching games when they were in Blue when I was a kid - believe it or not you could even smoke in your seats at that time! - Most Pittsburgher's are tough and love to give a little bit of banter to the opposition, but at the same time I've heard pens fans telling out of towners directions to clubs and hotels to have a good time while they're here - -just as long as they are not the fans that carry those big stupid flags! They get those up their ass at the end of the game - get the true meaning of Igloo Club! So for now we are the best fans in my opinion!

Not to get into a political debate, but you can blame most of that on Kwame Kilpatrick and Jennifer Granholm, not the average Red Wings fan with a fiery passion for the Wings, Tigers, Lions and Pistons, sitting right next to a pink slip.

[ReggieDunlop 3]

I hear ya - Maybe Detroit(or other cities) should start to offer student programs like the Pens did several years ago - have a valid student ID - get in for $20 - fill the place up - rather take $20 then none - also knowing once the student population graduates gets a job might later become a season ticket holder!

Also wanted to note Pittsburgh also had one of the best announcers of all time "Mike Lange" made the game enjoyable to watch for years - have to admit there are games I do take a radio along to listen to him while the game is on.

[dsjunior1388 81]

I hear ya - Maybe Detroit(or other cities) should start to offer student programs like the Pens did several years ago - have a valid student ID - get in for $20 - fill the place up - rather take $20 then none - also knowing once the student population graduates gets a job might later become a season ticket holder!

Also wanted to note Pittsburgh also had one of the best announcers of all time "Mike Lange" made the game enjoyable to watch for years - have to admit there are games I do take a radio along to listen to him while the game is on.

Seats are becoming progressively easier to come by, good deals and packages. Unfortunately, I go to school more than two and a half hours from JLA, so I'm lucky if I get to come down for one game a season.

[slacker76 3]

The Steelers have a hardcore following no matter what and hopefuly the success the Pens are having now and all the fans they are gaining now, especially the younger ones, will hopefully become diehards and be there thru thick and thin. That will be a win:win for everyone :)

I hope so too, but the Lemieux, Francis, Jagr years didn't have that impact, so it's hard to believe that it will be different this time around.

I think the Pens are starting to reap the benefits of what Lemieux, Francis and Jagr started. The two Cup wins in the early 90's created a whole new generation of fans / local players. The success then led to multiple rinks being built throughout Western PA. Fast forward to today when all those young players and fans grew up, got jobs and now possess disposable income to purhcase tickets and merchandise. I think today's success is directly effected by what happened in 1990-1991. Just like how last years Cup win and a young group of popular current players will spark another generation of hockey fans for the future.

Finally I am forever in the debt of Mario Lemieux for growing hockey in Western PA. If not for his and the Penguins success, a rink would not have been built near my home growing up and I would have never fallen in love with the greatest game, hockey. I have so many great hockey experiences growing up and in college that I probably would have never realized if the Pens didn't become successful. I can't imagine hockey not being part of my life and to an NHL Team (Pittsburgh Penguins), Fans that supported the Pens and fell in love with hockey to build ice rinks and volunteer to coach and run youth hockey organizations....Thank you.

[syko_hockey 0]

I consider Buffalo hockey crazy. The city bleed blue and gold