I’ve been trying to figure out a way to include sports on this blog. I’m a big sports fan, hockey especially. Let’s rewind a bit to my younger days as a boy. I grew up playing hockey since six or seven and learned to skate even before that. I loved hockey, but also participated in many other sports in my town such as soccer and baseball. I also really liked gym class at school, which I participated in every year from grades 1-12. I love trying new sports and fun twists on games, it’s a good time and gets you some exercise. I don’t look like your typical sports guy either, I think I indulged too much on food (lol) and was never in top shape or took practising super seriously. I did finish with the top mark in gym class a few times, a feat I’m particularly proud of. My dad was also a coach in basically every sport I played and I really enjoyed that growing up. We made the provincials in hockey a few times but never won (we came close once) but I was on a some soccer teams that won the provincials on three separate occasions.
Florida Panthers
Anyway, I’m obviously a big sport fan and have my favourite teams to cheer for. My favourite team is the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Not your typical choice for a favourite team, especially coming from a guy living in a maritime province. I have been a fan of the panthers since 1996, the one and only year they made the Stanley Cup finals. They were a cinderella team that year and something about them caught my eye. I would follow their highlights on sportscentre and play with them on my NHL video games (which I was a huge fan of). As I grew older I started following them online and learning more about their history, prospects and the team in general. I’ve even seen them a few times live. One time their camp came to P.E.I. for their preseason, which was nice because I didn’t have to go far. Years later I saw them again in New York against the Islanders who are my dad’s favourite team (his team won). Then finally I traveled down to Florida one year and caught a game at their arena. It was an awesome experience, I bought so much at their apparel store that day. They lost again, but I was too swept up to care that much. Ever since that magical run, the team has been mediocre to bad (mostly bad). They did have some exiting years (Pavel Bure era) but usually bad luck, bad management and injuries did them in. I’m optimistic though, the team does have a bright future with their young players and I think in a few years they can become an annual playoff team.
Toronto Blue Jays
As for other sports, I like to follow baseball and basketball mostly. I used to be heavy into baseball when I was younger. I watched games, played the games and knew the players fairly well. I’ve gotten away from that recently and mostly read the scores and check the standings and stats every once in a while. My favourite team used to be the Marlins (I used to like every Florida team by association) but now I go for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays are a frustrating team some years, it always seems like it’s their year and then they collapse. Granted, they are in a tough division with teams that can spend like crazy (Yankees, Red Sox) and teams on the rise (Orioles, Rays).
Toronto Raptors
This past year I really got into basketball though. In the past I would sort of pay attention to it, mostly to the Toronto Raptors (my favourite team). This year though, I was hooked into how well the Raptors were doing. You see, they were playing well for once and actually made the playoffs with a great record. Unfortunately, they lost to the Nets (grr) in an exciting seven game series. I can’t wait for the season to start and I hope the raps can perform well again.
Those are the sports I focus on the most. I also follow the Panthers affiliation team, the San Antonio Rampage in the AHL. For those who don’t know, an affiliation team is the team an NHL team lends their prospects and other players who the team signs. The AHL is second tier to the NHL and in a way both develops prospects and creates competition for older players or those who just can’t make the NHL. I also cheer for a local team where I live, the Charlottetown Islanders. They haven’t been the best team since they arrived here (used to be the Rockets) but apparently they should be good this year and have some awesome draft eligible players. My interest in tennis has also risen, mostly because of Milos Raonic and Eugenie Bouchard. It has been a long time since Canadian tennis players have been playing so well and making names for themselves. Other than that, besides idle curiosity on the standings of other sports, these are the teams I follow.
Charlottetown Islanders
Jarthurdoyle 