Does hockey bring you joy, or is it becoming a drag

[Johnny Makarov]

The only way to save hockey to make the game 4 on 4 fulltime or bring back the bench clearing brawls. It's a dying league and the NHL has no one to blame but themselves. Giving the contract to Sportsnet and their terrible production values and on air personalities will take decades to recover.

Like one poster who posted a few months back. It is Stockholm Syndrome, if i wasn't watching the Flames since i was a kid I wouldn't be watching the NHL at all.

Even yesterday's game against the Penguins. Tied up in the 3rd and i was on CNN for 90% of the period.

[Puppet Guy]

Hockey's fine, it's the NHL that I'm becoming indifferent to.

The last lockout took a lot of my enthusiasm away for the NHL. I still have fun going to Hitmen or Inferno games (university hockey is the best kept secret in Canada), but a lot of the Flames experience is leaving me cold.

[hah]

What a really great topic.

I agree with most of your sentiments. When I was younger I had to go to all the games from warm up until the three stars. I usually went with my father and it was a great bonding time for me.I knew all the players, bought the Hockey News, Goal magazine, looked for TV highlights. As I got older my father started going to less games and his interest waned. I still went to games with buddies.My dad said it was not the same.

Now I'm in the same boat as my dad, I go to the games with my boys and they are now old enough to go with each other. I'm happy that they are able to see the best hockey players in the world, as I'm starting to wane. I don't know all the players any more, and I do not always see the highlights or are bothered to look at them.

As a kid growing up in Calgary before the Flames arrived, I never thought I would see an NHL game live. Once Calgary had NHL it was like a dream come true. My younger self would be shaking my head in disbelief at my older self, as I did with my dad when he started to phase out of watching hockey.

By the way I have committed to play off tickets for the boys and will most likely renew.

[Jbo]

I know that this is about hockey in general. Which I do love. (Just caught back to back junior A games in The Penticton Vees playoff run. Best hockey I’ve seen in awhile. But majority of my hockey exposure is the Flames

Love the Flames and always will, but this season has been a drag.
1) The arena has honestly been such a bummer. No new Arena, the lingering threat of the team moving. Just been a distraction.
2) inconsistency - team play varies so much night in and night out, you never know what you are going to get. Seems more often then not the team comes out not ready to play, which falls on players and coaches
3) CP - I feel that everyone has opinions on the team, and CP has some of the most passionate ones. Having said that, the echo chamber of negativity makes this place a bit of a drag to come and read through

I’ll watch the rest of the games, but sure does not feel fun these days

[Boo Radley]

Hockey in general still brings me great joy. I am still able to play hockey here in San Diego and love it. More importantly my daughter (7 yrs. old) is playing hockey and she really loves it. It brings back a lot of great memories watching her on the ice.

As for the Flames and NHL hockey, I find it much easier to turn the tv off before the end of the game if they are not playing well. They don't necessarily have to be winning. The effort needs to be there.

[N-E-B]

I wouldn't waste a second of my time or a single dollar on NHL hockey if the Flames left.

I love hockey, but this league is a joke and I hate that I support it so much through my Flames fandom, but I'm in too deep to just quit being a Flames fan.

I still enjoy Flames hockey, but as far as NHL hockey goes I think I've moved on.

[crapshoot]

I've lost a bit of passion in the sense that I no longer allow the team to drag me down with them. When they go through a bad time like they have for a few weeks now I just phase out a bit, taking a step back and getting less invested, just following along casually. Whenever they go hot and things are looking up I still get passionate and happy with hockey and it brings me great joy.

Maybe some would label me fair-weather now, I don't know, but I have had my fair share of horrible mood swings throughout my life on the back of a frustrating hockey team, so it's good not to get dragged down like that anymore. The only time I was really flustered about hockey this season was when Anthony Mantha punched down on Travis Hamonic on his back in that terrible Detroit game. That one was tough to let go for me, but these current issues with the team just don't get to me like they used to do.

Also for me personally it's all become a bit too much information. I remember discovering Flames Nation, CP and M&G a bunch of years ago, and how I thought it was heaven to really feast on anything Flames-related on a daily basis. I've noticed I don't really have the stamina to keep up with it all. I keep coming here on CP and posting fairly frequently, and I watch most of the games, but I've basically given up on reading all the analysis pouring out of everywhere. It's just too much to handle, it sort of drowned me I guess.

[bubbsy]

I'll just add that economics is killing my investing my $ here in Toronto. I invest in the base services that get me all flames games on TV. However, i used to go to at least one leaf game here in Toronto a year with the wife (usually when cgy was in town).

Now, the 2nd market ticket price for a lower bowl ticket is something around 300-400 bucks and upper bowl is 150. When I consider the overall experience cost (some grub, a beer a period) I'd be looking at about a $500-600 total cost.

Living in Toronto, my going to nhl games stopped 5 years ago, and I don't think that will ever change now. I'll grab tickets when I'm in Calgary, at least while the prices are still reasonable.

I still buy raptor tickets here and there, a few Jays games, and maybe one tfc game a year. The bang for buck, entertainment VS $ is a way better ratio for those events compared to nhl hockey. Even with the leafs being an exciting team, it just isn't justifiable.

[Igottago]

I agree, and I wonder how much of it is the product vs just being older and changing priorities. Dedicating several nights a week to hockey, and other sports if you're into them, is a significant commitment. More and more in recent times I've been asking myself -- what am I actually accomplishing by watching all these guys, who are all now younger than me, making their millions playing a game? Shouldn't I be spending more of my off work time, developing myself somehow? Pursuing my own passions? There's a time and place for entertainment, but these days we also have so much more to choose from at our finger tips -- Netflix, video games, music, whatever. Not to mention how important it is to go get your own exercise several times a week, and maybe go out and actually socialize with people on occasion. There just isn't enough time to do it all. I still get the odd night where I'm tired and just want to watch a game after work -- but they are few and far between these days.

I will add that I echo the sentiment in the OP about advanced stats. Nothing makes me tune out faster. To me hockey is a game about emotional thrills, passion, intensity, grit and skill. I feel like that element of discussion about the game has gone missing in some ways.

[EVERLAST]

I love the game and have cheered for several different teams all at once for sometime.
I have a soft spot for the flames organization as I have worked for the owners families and they have been great customers of mine as well.

Time just doesn't allow for me to watch entire games anymore and I have grown rather exasperated watching the product on the ice in Calgary.

It's not the same feeling anymore either. In 1986 when we lost to the habs I was devastated but was proud. Then winning it all in 89 was magnificent.
2003/2004 was something else though. I remember sitting in the basement at Melrose in my new jersey I'd just bought prior to clinching our playoff spot against the yotes.
There was only one other guy in the whole bar wearing a jersey and even paying attention for that matter.
When we clinched I was so excited and had even predicted at that time we'd play the bolts for the cup to which people thought I was nuts.
I was a fan of the bolts as well as Marty StLouis was a player id continued to watch after the flames gave up on him.
We all know what happened but that was our 2nd cup win in my eyes and I have just kept cheering since.

I love the game still and cheer for 3 other teams as well as I like the style these teams play and am a fan of the coaches as well.

Wish things were different with the flames on the ice but I still cheer for them as much as possible as I have a great respect for certain players still and love our alumni.

I'm hoping we can straighten out in the offseason and start making the playoffs again on a regular basis.

Also hoping for a new majority owner as well.

[pylon]

What was once an obsession, has become a passive interest for me.

Incoming old man yells at cloud, onion strapped to my belt statement, but it does ring true.....

Regardless of the safety issues in the game now, and even though I understand their necessity due to player safety.... the game sucks now if you like tough sports. We are 5 years away from ice-soccer. And I hate soccer. Today's game is like comparing heyday, steroid fueled wrestling to today's product full of pretty average looking dudes, that don't have an ounce of the machismo of the 80's/90's guys. It was bad and unhealthy as hell for the participants, but man, was it over the top. The spectacle is on the scoreboard graphics, no longer on the ice.

Even though half the players could barely skate in the 70s/80's, man were the rivalries awesome. The brawls were awesome. The giant open ice checks were awesome, the raw emotion between players was 5 X what it is today.

Now, it's all business. The saying used to be "Even though it's a game, it's still a business." Now, it's just a business. The players are dull as crap, too PC, too robotic. There are very few characters left. Subban and Burns are the only real standouts I can think of right now.

The one thing that has bugged me more than anything about the game now is frikking data driven fandom. Seriously, Corsi is the lamest thing ever. Even the name is lame. I just picture these geeks sitting in their basement, not even watching the games, but getting excited looking at and comparing excel spread sheets after the game data comes in. It completely takes the raw emotion out of the game, and boils it down to 1100010100101010001.

Maybe if you have some sort of spectrum disorder, I get it. But where's the fun in analyzing spread sheets. I'm sure there's something to it, but it's lame, and I hate hearing about it. Even though, I understand it, it's killing a lot of the magic.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Fantasy sports leagues have really changed what and how I follow hockey.

I find myself watching the ESPN Scoreboard Tracker so I can see how I'm doing in my pools more than I do sitting down and watching entire games.

That and life has gotten to the point where I don't have the luxury of committing 2.5 hrs to watch live sports. I'm still up on what's going on in the league, but I just don't watch live.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Echo what has been said here.

My own life and adventures are much more important to me than watching others now. I do love sports, but have actually found more joy in getting back into playing than watching.
In my 30's and have recently started kickboxing, while also playing soccer twice a week. Keeping involved in sport myself is much more fulfilling than watching on TV.

[colbym72]

Hockey brings me joy and I rarely miss a Flames game.

[Mattman]

Being a younger Flames fan on this site, the '04 Cup run was one of my earliest hockey memories, and I'm so fortunate to be able to experience and grow up with the Kipper/Iggy era of hockey. Hell I joined CP when I was 14 because I just couldn't get enough hockey! I can remember being in school and our class got a surprise visit from Flames 2004 1st rounder Kris Chucko. The kids in our class lost their minds being able to meet a player who was not even on the Flames at that point!

Take it for what you will but my nephews school was visited by Sam Bennett, and TJ Brodie earlier in the year. I sh*t you not they had kids voluntarily sit out of meeting them because they 'Didn't know who those players were' or 'Just not interested in hockey'...

So for all those who think they might be old, and the game of hockey has passed you by, it's not you. I think it's today's NHL that has lost the passion, and the fan involvement that it used to have.

[direwolf]

I think people would be much more passionate about the game if the Flames were actually a perennial playoff team and we had something to cheer about from year to year. Since that amazing 2004 run, we've had nothing but piss-poor to mediocre results, which has definitely had an impact in regards to my give-a-crap meter.

I still watch the games and follow along with the game thread on CP, but the Flames play a very boring, uninspiring style of hockey these days. More often than not I find myself drifting away from the TV and doing other things while the game is on in the background. I'm just not as emotionally invested as I was when I was a kid. Granted, if the Flames suddenly went on a long playoff run, or if they miraculously won the Cup, I'm sure my 12 year-old hockey mad self would return pretty quickly.

Also the officiating over these last couple of seasons has been the worst I've ever seen in my 35+ years of watching hockey. When the refs are dictating the outcomes of games with bizarre phantom calls and coin flip goalie interference decisions, it really makes it unwatchable at times. Not to mention the stupid coach's challenge and the over the glass rule. Ugh..

And don't even get me started on advanced stats/analytics. To me that crap has sucked a lot of the joy out of the game in recent years. As soon as people start talking about Corsi, Fenwick, etc.., that's when I usually exit the conversation. I just don't give a rat's ass about any of that stuff.

All that being said, I still have a strong love of the game, and I'll still be cheering on the Flames for the rest of my life. And I also still really enjoy Olympic and international hockey, NHL players or not.

[klikitiklik]

And don't even get me started on advanced stats/analytics. To me that crap has sucked a lot of the joy out of the game in recent years. As soon as people start talking about Corsi, Fenwick, etc.., that's when I usually exit the conversation. I just don't give a rat's ass about any of that stuff


Well said. I hate that stuff.

My issue with today's hockey is that with free agency, there is no team loyalty. They are playing primarily for a paycheck and not for the jersey. This is very fair for the players and I agree with the way it is but I think this tore the heart out of the teams.

No emotion. No playing for a community/city you are invested in. There is no hate. No love. Just a 9 to 5 job to drive to. Watch a Flames game. Some games are so boring.

It has lead to guys not willing to give out 100% for the jersey, with only the thought of self preservation until your contract year. That's why you get the players having great performances on their last year.

That is why Junior/minor hockey can be so much more exciting.

Too many teams in the league has also diluted the talent. 1/2 the players in the league should be in the AHL.

Just my two cents.

That being said, Hockey is still the best sport in the world.

[Brouhaha]

Good topic Cap. I'm on board with many that are just not as interested in NHL hockey as they used to. There are many reasons for this.

I'm older now and just not willing to invest as much time in watching sports like I used to. This is not only with hockey, but all sports. I'm in my mid 40s and grew up in eastern Canada (NB). When I was younger, many a weekend went like this: Saturday night, back to back Hockey Night in Canada games. The east game (Toronto or Montreal) and the west game (Calgary, Edmonton or Vancouver). Sunday, 3 NFL games. That's about 15 hours of sports, not to mention pre and post-game coverage. I used to eat that stuff right up. I can't even remember the last time I did this type of thing during the football and hockey seasons. I also have the same non-committal time issue with watching NBA and MLB. Between kids and other options where I can entertain myself, my overall interest in watching sports has diminished greatly. I play around 60 to 65 hockey games a year. That I enjoy. Great workout too. Actually, I watch little television at all. If it's not sports, I don't watch. Next.

The game is not what it used to be. You can find other threads where people point out reasons and areas the game has changed. Personally, I like my hockey fast-paced, physical and teams able to generate a good number of scoring chances per game. Some may say this happens every game, and to a certain extent, that's true. However, there seems to be an overall lack of passion to the NHL game. It seems I care more about what goes on during a game than some players. A lot of fly-byes, no contact bug me. I'm not saying I need to see players go flying, get their heads knocked off, everyone trying to throw bone-crunching checks, etc. Just hit players when the opportunity comes up, wear these guys down. Anyone who's ever played defense knows what it's like chasing down a puck in your zone with an opposing player on your heels. I know I expected contact, a lot more often than not. Anyway, just a bit of a gripe I have. Someone can disprove this and great for you. I am just not as entertained. Maybe age-related again.

I know this isn't supposed to be about the Flames necessarily, but as a long-time fan of the club, it has been a frustrating time indeed. I remember the cup run in 86, the cup win in 89 and the great run in 04. Having said that, since the Flames won the cup in 1989, they have made it out of the 1st round of the playoffs what? twice? I'm just going by memory here, maybe 3. That's... Yikes... that's deplorable. It sure puts your love and commitment in this team to the test. Still a fan, even out here in the Atlantic time zone.

Work stoppages / Lockouts. The MLB one in the 90s killed a lot of enthusiasm I had for baseball. Yes, I liked the Expos. What could have been for that franchise... anyway. The NHL has more than it's fair share. This has been killer for me. It's amazing the things you can find to do when you are basically forced to. And to top it all off, the talk I hear is don't be surprised if there is another work-stoppage once this deal is up. Ugh. People who follow hockey get sick of it. However, younger people seem to be like, meh, who cares. The younger generation seem to be less willing overall to spend their dollars on sports in general. Isn't this an issue with television watching overall? Either way, lockouts cannot be helping this cause.

There are other reasons but these are my main ones. Age, interests, lack of entertainment, apathy. Take care everyone. Enjoy your Tuesday.

[codynw]

I love hockey and always will.

The NHL however? I'm burning out on it a little. Between the Flames being mediocre for almost 15 years now, the arena situation and the bad officiating league wide.. It's getting harder and harder to care.

[mikephoen]

I've been actively trying to stop watching hockey this season. I decided a while ago that overall hockey has been a negative in my life, not a positive. I've been seriously watching since 1985, and in all that time there have been about 4 years where I've got more joy out of it than frustration (85-86, 88-89, 03-04 and 14-15). When I think of the amount of money spent on season tickets over the last decade or so, I feel sort of ill.

Financially and emotionally, hockey has been a net negative in my life, without a doubt. And the time wasted that could have been used on my numerous other hobbies is also a big negative. If I could quit cold turkey, I would, and never look back. I honestly blame CP more than anything for keeping me around. I watched almost no hockey this year until the 7 game winning streak drew me back in. But I was still reading most threads on here every day, so I failed at giving things up completely. I've still watched far less this year than any time since the early 80s.

Things that have turned me off in the last few years are mostly the same as what others have said, the lack of passion, the insane greed from the owners and the players, the incompetent reffing, sportsnet's piss poor coverage etc etc. Also, the game is coached now in a way that really grinds out the exciting plays. Now that every player can skate, the miss-matches are mostly gone and more often than not everyone on the ice is in position defensively. This means offensive chances are mostly down to random deflections.

One final factor that has affected me personally is that I've known Kris Russell since he was a little kid, and I've known his parents since I was a teen. It was cool when he was first traded to the Flames, but when fans here turned on him it was painful to read. And I've never even known him that well, I was 12ish when he was born, so it's not like we grew up together or anything. He is a cousin of my best friend growing up, so I just saw him and his parents around my friends place. Never-the-less, seeing the vitriol that some people had/have towards him really made the game not fun. I can't even imagine what it must be like for people who are closer friends or family members of players, they must avoid fan boards like the plague. At least I hope they can. And seeing him in oiler colours is even worse.

Anyway, I continue my efforts to move on. It's like someone said above, it's Stockholm Syndrome or an addiction to drugs or something. So far the addiction is winning. I wonder if there are rehab clinics for this?