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The 2006-2007 NHL season kicked off today. The three games on the NHL slate were decent games with similar outcomes. All of them ended with 5 total goals, no multiple goal scorers, and the road team coming out victorious. Unfortunately for the kiddies in Chokeytown, the season began the same way it will end, without a game played by Detroit.

As Dennis Miller would say, “I don’t mean to get off on a rant, but…” I am sick and tired of the NHL season always dropping the puck with a whimper. All of the other national sports, including NASCAR, begin with enthusiasm and stamina. For baseball, employees skip work to attend Opening Day, football has a showcase game on Thursday night, basketball has at least two games on national television, but where is hockey? Today was just another Wednesday night to most people, nothing different, no party atmosphere, and some, like me, cursing the cable company for not carrying Outdoor Life Network.

Don’t get me wrong, being a hockey fan is somewhat elitist, but not being able to walk into your local “sports” bar and see your team, when no other sports are on, is somewhat upsetting. Geographic location has plenty to do with my personal setbacks, but I live in a city that has an NHL team. It’s coached by the greatest player to ever play the game. It has future Hall of Fame players on its roster. And nobody cares

Glendale Arena will probably sell out the opener tomorrow, but from then on it will surely be downhill, attendance wise, for the Phoenix Coyotes. Phoenix is such a fair weather market. Unless Chokeytown is in town, tickets are always available. Self-serve seat upgrades are always possible during the first intermission. The crowd usually arrives late and leaves early. Roenick is the “best player”. Molson Canadian is $7.00. Scalpers are out of their mind. And to top it all of most of the fans know dick about hockey. For example, I attended the preseason game on September 30th between the Anaheim Ducks and Phoenix Coyotes. The lower bowl tickets were easy to acquire since there was hardly anyone there and I sat next to Teemu Selanne and Todd Marchant. Now, I’m not sure if it was from lack of fans being there, their respect for superstars, or if the typical Phoenix fan just doesn’t know hockey, I’m guessing the latter, but Selanne was not approached. That lasted until the 3rd period where upon returning to my seat with my $7.00 Molson Canadian, I proceeded to ask Mr. Selanne for a picture with him. Suddenly everyone was catching wind of who was in the same section and sitting near them the entire game. Of course they didn’t know he scored 76 goals in his rookie season, but one would think that these great Coyote fans would know their own. Selanne, in fact, scored those 76 goals as a member of the Winnipeg Jets only four seasons prior to the franchise moving to Phoenix. Is it like this everywhere else in the country? I’ve been to games in Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Colorado, no one talks hockey and I blame the NHL.

Just 3 months removed from the pandemonium that is the Stanley Cup playoffs is lost to a new season. No promotion for the beginning of the season is done. No games are setup during the day for me to skip work for. No spotlight from the major networks. Just another day.

Technorati Tags: Sports, Hockey, NHL, Western Conference, Northwest Division, Central Division, Pacific Division, Colorado Avalanche, Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Phoenix Coyotes, Teemu Selanne, Winnipeg Jets

Todd Bertuzzi and the rest of the Vancouver Canucks only had one thing on their mind Monday night as they took on the Northwest Division leading Colorado Avalanche… revenge. The game became lopsided early as the Colorado Avalanche took a 5-0 lead into the locker room of what was a fight filled first period. Rookie forward Steve Moore of the Colorado Avalanche, deemed a marked man by Canucks forward Brad May, Canucks head coach Marc Crawford, and Canucks general manager Brian Burke for his shoulder check on Canucks forward Markus Naslund on February 16, even joined in on the fisticuffs. At 6:36 of the first period, Moore answered the bell with Vancouver’s Matt Cooke. The two players tangled for a short fight with no real decisive winner. At 16:19 of the first period, Steve Moore scored what may prove to be his last goal in hockey.

At 8:41 of the 3rd period, Todd Bertuzzi took Moore’s life, his teams vendetta wishes, and his hockey future in his hands. As Moore was skating up the ice, looking at the puck on the far side, Bertuzzi grabbed Moore’s jersey from behind and threw a wild haymaker. The punch connected with Moore’s temple, knocking him unconscious. Bertuzzi then drove Moore’s face into the ice as Moore fell and continued to land two more punches to Moore’s face. As a result, Moore was taken off the ice on a stretcher and Bertuzzi was assessed a 5-minute match penalty for intent to injure. Moore was taken to a local hospital where doctors discovered he suffered deep facial lacerations and a broken neck.

The biggest discussion of late is the suspension that should be levied against Bertuzzi. Chokeytown’s suggestion is as follows:

1. Todd Bertuzzi suspended for a calendar year without pay. If there is a lockout next year, the suspension is carried over to the next year that the NHL has games.
2. Marc Crawford suspended for 20 games (13 regular season, 7 playoffs)
3. Brad May suspended for 20 games (13 regular season, 7 playoffs)
4. If Steve Moore is unable to return to the NHL, Vancouver must compensate the Colorado Avalanche with draft picks.

Our well wishes go out to Steve Moore.

Chokeline Fact: Bertuzzi suspended for the remainder of the season and all of the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Vancouver Canucks fined $250,000. In a teary response, Bertuzzi apologizes to Steve Moore, the fans, and the kids. He also mentioned that he didn�t mean to hurt Mr. Moore. I guess a sucker punch to the side of the head is the way they hug in Vancouver.

Technorati Tags: Sports, Hockey, NHL, Western Conference, Northwest Division, Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, Todd Bertuzzi, Steve Moore