Draft Day rituals

[Robbob]

Last year was the first year I didn't stay home to watch the draft. Instead I attended the draft last year and the thing I missed the most was following along on CP. Although it was a great experience, especially with 3 first round picks, I felt a little disconnected and spent a good part of the next couple days catching up on threads. This year, even though I won't be in Calgary, I made arrangements to be in front of a TV with CP by my side. I will probably still PVR the draft at home incase I want to go back and revisit anything.

If the flames hit another draft out of the park I may never watch the draft at home again.

[Mass_nerder]

The girlfriend is gone for the weekend, so probably eating pizza and getting drunk with CP.
None of my friends are into hockey enough to be interested in watching the draft and analysing selections.

[Poe969]

I've watched it with one of my good friends for the past 5 years and he just called me and told me he's going to be down in London ON at the sick kids hospital with his 3 month old son. He still wants me to keep him posted so I'm going to be praying for the little guy while trying my best to keep my friends spirits up by talking about hockey.

[DJones]

I pick my daughter up at 5 and have to drive to Vulcan so looks like it'll be the Fan 960 for me.

Going to the girlfriends parents cabin and I told him I want the German so hopefully that works out and I look smart since he's the one with the season tickets haha.

[Bezer]

This will be my 8th year running with a bunch of guys from work. We go out grab a side room at a bar and have some drinks and watch the draft.

I've had 3 guys who no longer work with text me asking where we are going this year.

We have a variety of teams that are represented but mostly Flames fans.

I don't mean to be boast how much fun it is but man the draft and trade deadline day are like Christmas for me.

[Table 5]

For some reason I always seem to be on the road during the draft, so I tend to have to find alternate means of coverage. This year I will be in LA at the time, and I doubt they will have the Draft on regular cable...so CP and the radio will have to do.

[undercoverbrother]

Not a draft day ritual, nor is it a Flames memory, but I remember drinking beers on the back deck of my neighbour's deck when her dad called. He was calling from the draft floor to tell her about the Pronger trade.

Sadly, this is my only /coolstorybro

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The NHL draft is one of those has to be right scenarios that sports fans have every year.

You can't ...

* watch with kids
* watch with non hockey fans
* watch with moderate hockey fans
* watch with strong hockey fans that constantly want to ask questions and miss what is being said

Also ... you can't PVR it. Missing part of a hockey game and catching it up is one thing. But I can't stand not knowing how the draft went in real time. Can't be PVR'd

Need Calgarypuck.com up of course, and the Hockey News ... some years I've taken a whole bunch of rankings and put them all on a spreadsheet so I can peruse the possibilities.

Beer ... needed, and the best reason to move the event to Friday night from Saturday morning.

My favourite two drafts both involve decks.

1. Nemisz draft with the Tanguay trade. Was staining my deck with a TV wheeled outside. Took a break for the Flames part of the draft but stained for the rest. Was easy to pay attention doing something mindless.

2. Irving draft with the other Tanguay trade. In Saskatchewan at my cousins' house on a 30C day watching outside on his deck in a hot tub.

What's everyone doing this year?
Anyone going to the draft party? (guessing that would be distracting as hell)

I was having lunch at Whistler after a few hours on the mountain bike park when I saw that trade. Really wished I had some hockey fans to talk to right then. Most mtn bikers don't give a crap.

[united]

Casually watch and enjoy it, and laugh at people who blow up when their team picks or doesn't pick a prospect they've watched less than five times.

[GreenLantern]

I will be in the middle of a lake crushing wall-eyes, with the feed going through satellite radio. Then I will check CP on my phone every now and then to see the reactions to our picks/trades.

[FeyWest]

I hope remembering the Poirier pick will be a nuclear deterrent here and prevent an angry forum explosion.... or at least delay it until we can do an in-depth analysis...

Or not hahaha. I'm just stoked for Friday!!

Beer - Check
Pizza - TBO'd
Buds - Shall see
Laptop with CP open - Always
TV Feed - Have to get NBCSN set-up (I'm in San Diego right now)

[GoJetsGo]

Looking forward to the yearly ritual of one or two posters throwing out a well thought out suggestion for our 2nd or 3rd round pick, and the hilarity that ensues with it snowballing while a group of others look that player up and echo the sentiment.

As the pick draws nearer and nearer and that name is still available, the name starts to get posted more and more as the anticipation nears.

Then we don't pick that guy and there's a good hour of solid outrage by a majority of who had never heard of that player before draft week.

It never fails.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

A few of us try and get together every year for it, one friend of mine has taken the lead to host the festivities and added the rule every attendee must wear their team's jersey. We usually get a good crew, this year I believe we'll have fans of at least:

• Calgary
• Edmonton
• Winnipeg
• Toronto
• Montréal
• Detroit
• Anahiem
• New Jersey

Also Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Boston are likely to show up.

Perhaps I'll be able to get a good group shot.

[cKy]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

A few of us try and get together every year for it, one friend of mine has taken the lead to host the festivities and added the rule every attendee must wear their team's jersey. We usually get a good crew, this year I believe we'll have fans of at least:

• Calgary
• Edmonton
• Winnipeg
• Toronto
• Montréal
• Detroit
• Anahiem
• New Jersey

Also Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Boston are likely to show up.

Perhaps I'll be able to get a good group shot.

Thats really cool.

[Stay Golden]

Popcorn and the movie Slapshot has been a staple in our house for years after the draft.

[Tyler]

Still can't get the look of awe and terror of the 15 people at my house when we drafted Jankowski out of my mind whenever I think of draft day. That was then followed by at least 10 seconds of pure silence, then tantamount vulgarities hucked at the TV screen and Feaster

[Roof-Daddy]

Jankowski Law strikes again.

[UKflames]

It sounds like some of you have a great party around the draft or get together with frieds, this makes me real jealous.

[Trailer Fire]

Hopefully I have access to beer, pizza, and a TV, but in all reality I'll be on my phone (CP) keeping updated.

[Samuelsson]

Starts at midnight over here, so if anyone's having a party in England, let us know