Start the celebration. Tonight is my first Oiler’s game at Rexall since we moved to Edmonton. We arrived in Winnipeg too late to see a Jets game. My first live NHL game was an exhibition game between the Canucks and the Wild. They share a farm team, the Manitoba Moose, and held a game in the old Jets arena.

Growing up in the Maritimes, I didn’t have an opportunity to watch NHL hockey. At university, my dorm was a stone’s throw away from Aiken Center in Fredericton and I often attended the baby Habs (AHL) games – especially if they were playing the baby Leafs. Like many other Maritimers, growing up I was a huge Habs fan. It seems most of us followed the Habs or the Leafs… The Oiler’s dynasty was in full swing but we were loyal to the eastern teams. Sure, I’m dating myself here. This was back in the day when the Nordiques were still in Quebec, the Jet’s were still in Winnipeg, and Hartford still had the Whaler’s. The Ottawa Sentators didn’t exist yet and no one imagined that hockey would fly in Florida or Tennesee…

The hubby has been to many games over the years, but I’ve usually been out of town when he’s managed to get his hands on Oilers tickets. Being from the Golden Horseshoe, he had quick and easy access to the Leafs and Sabres.

We have great friends who purchase season tickets each year and who were unable to attend tonight’s game against the Florida Panthers. So, they did what all amazing friends do – they passed their Club Access seats on to us.

Of course, I’ll be wearing the new Oiler’s jersey that the hubby gave me for Christmas. I should fit right in with this hockey obsessed crowd. I’ll learn lots in time for my second game (against Calgary Flames) on the 20th.

Technorati Tags: hockey, Edmonton Oilers, NHL, AHL

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