~Top Five reasons I LOVE Hockey~

I have been thinking long and hard about this whole "5 things I love about Hockey" thing, and it has been tough to come up with JUST five reasons..... Plus, when I tried to put them in order of importance, I couldn't. Then, just as the feeling of defeat was about to take over, my brain unlocked, and Eureka! The idea came to me as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. I'm not supposed to say the top five things I LOVE about Hockey, instead:
Here are my top 5 reasons to LOATHE Hockey:
Don't freak out, loyal followers, I haven't abandoned my beloved sport, just thought I would take a new twist on what everyone else was doing....

Here they are: My top 5 reasons why I loathe Hockey:

5. PUCK BUNNIES- We all know who they are and what they are about, as a female fan I hate that some people mistake me for one.... at least until they have spoken to me, then they find out how much passion I have for the game.

4. Limited availability of Merchandise. It seems like there are maybe 5-10 styles of t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats available for purchase, and for those of us who aren't lucky enough to live in a "Real Hockey city" have even more limited choices to purchase. Even with the Internet it's VERY difficult to find something good-looking and new to add to the collection.

3. Having to buy a "special" package in order to see hockey games on my T.V. when I cannot BE at the game. In addition to being a partial season ticket holder (and paying MUCH MUCH MUCH too much money on those tickets, the gas money to and from those games, a Prius to avoid going broke because of the gas, and my need for Chipotle tacos and salsa before the game, I have to spend an additional arm and a leg just to see a Hockey game that features a team other than the Penguins or Capitals.....

2. The Lack of Respect for "Small Market" teams. Seems like the beginning of Hockey season also brings the new rumors of expansion teams losing so much money that they are going to move within the next season to a city that would "Support them more". Boo to that. As a Preds fan, I have been through what the Coyotes, Blue Jackets, and Islanders (and others) are currently fighting. Just because these teams are not in "Traditional Hockey towns" does not mean that they do not have loyal and dedicated fans. Maybe the teams need some help with marketing, hmmm.... maybe they should talk to me.

AND NOW- My top reason that I loathe Hockey.....
wait for it.......

wait for it........

wait for it........



#1. I LIVE THREE HOURS AWAY FROM THE NEAREST NHL ARENA

Yep, that's right. The same thing I say all the time. I live too far away from my passion. My month has to be planned out in advance, my car has to be fuel efficient, budgets have to be created, dogs have to have a baby-sitter, and sacrifices have to be made. It's all worth it in the end though, the long drive seems a little shorter after a win, and the community of friends that I have built and hope to maintain is mind-blowing.

One day I hope to live in my favorite NHL city (Nashville) and work for the team who has my heart. Maybe someday soon.......

So that's it, that's my Top 5 reasons I loathe Hockey. Really though, these are minor in the grand scheme of things, let's be honest, I LOVE HOCKEY, and really nothing could ever change that.
Counting down the days until Training Camp.....