HELLO NHL HOCKEY SEASON!!

 It’s official! We’re going to have an NHL Season! (Yes, I know I’m a few days late with this news).

I woke up Sunday (okay, late Sunday morning) to the news that the NHL season is officially going to start on January 13. I was happy and excited knowing that there will be NHL hockey this year!

First of all, the 2020-21 NHL Season is going to be a 56 game season without any preseason games. The goal for the NHL is to get back to a September training camp, October regular season start, April end of season/beginning of Stanley Cup playoffs with the season officially ending with the Stanley Cup being awarded sometime in June. The upcoming schedule should be released today (Dec. 22. They also have a couple of contingency schedules in case the Canadian/provincial governments don't allow the Canadian teams play in their home cities). 

The critical dates for 2020-21 (courtesy of nhl.com)

The other major difference is that the divisions are going to be different just for this season. I believe it’s something about reducing travel. However, if you look at the realignment for this season, the Minnesota Wild got the short end of the stick being stuck out in the Western Division (and stuck with late night games, but that will be determined once the schedule is officially released on December 22). These divisions are only for this season. What will be interesting is all of the Canadian teams being in one division for this season. 

The divisions for the 2020-21 season (courtesy of nhl.com)

As a hockey fan, this is great news! It means I'll have something to watch on TV (or have on in the background when I'm working evenings), along with having topic ideas/material for this blog (as I've stated previously  in this blog post, I'm tired of football already). 

I also mentioned in a previous blog post that I appeared on episode 105 of The Sota Pod podcast, but I didn't post the link. The link to it is here. I come on half way through after Isha and @StateofHoppy (twitter) discuss Malt Madness. 

This season, it should be a national holiday! 

Favorite Hockey Memes and e-cards

It IS October and with that, it’s like Christmas for us hockey fans—the 2014-2015 NHL season starts this week. More importantly, the Minnesota Wild season starts on Thursday, October 9. (I can already hear that “Let’s Play Hockey” in my head!)

In honor of the season opener, I thought I would compile my favorite hockey memes and e-cards (I can’t leave those out!) These have been compiled from the internet, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.

(FYI--this MAY become a regular thing!)

So, here we go! 

These two memes about the officiating are ones I found during the 2014 Stanley Cup play-offs. Some of the officiating was HORRIBLE! 

Definitely was true during the playoffs! 

Another good one from the playoffs 

This meme I had actually posted on my Instagram account during the first round Avalanche-Wild series. 

I had to include one about Sidney--can't stand him at all, but I will not deny the fact that he is a good player (and an excellent diver).

I had to include this one--I'd say the comparisons are true.....

One of my favorite hockey e-cards. I had to include this after having to listen to someone talk about football being better than hockey....

This will be me come Thursday night 

GAME ON! 

I had to include this minion pic! 

This is just a sample of what I have. Let me know what you think. If you have some good ones and are on twitter, this blog is on twitter at @stickshappen. The e-mail for this blog is stickhappensblog@gmail.com

Happy Hockey season everybody!!