How I Fell in Love With Hockey: A Community Story
November 26th, 2019 by Studenteers | 0 comments
By: Domenic Presta
VAUGHAN, ON—Zipping down the ice on blades of fire, wiring a "wrister" past a goalie with mitts of swagger, laying the body on an opponent with determination unlike any other. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to reasons why to watch hockey, and how it positively affects the community.
Kids from a young age are involved in hockey, whether it be starting on a youth hockey team, playing in the streets with their friends, or just watching Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday with their parents, supporting their favourite hockey team.
Hockey Night in Canada was always a way I bonded with my dad every Saturday night when I was very young, watching Tomas Kaberle, Joffrey Lupul, and the Toronto Maple Leafs play (and probably lose). The speed and the skill of the game mesmerized me, and I fell in love with hockey.
When your favourite hockey team isn’t doing so well, it makes fans angry. But when they do good, it brings people together. When the Maple Leafs made the playoffs in 2013 (in a lockout-shortened season), it was the first time since 2004 they had done so. The city of Toronto and beyond the GTA were ecstatic, and it showed. Fans from all around gathered in Maple Leaf Square, all dressed in blue and white, outside the then-Air Canada Centre.
Dark days would follow for over three years. Coaches were fired and hired, losses became more frequent. Then, a new idol came to town. His name was Auston Matthews, and boy did everyone love him. As he was the first pick of his draft, many fans were excited to see the next few years of the franchise. Along Matthews, were Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and new goalie Freddy Andersen. The team now has loads of potential, and some people thought the playoffs were a possibility.
There are now two games left in the season, and the playoffs are in sight. I watched Game 81 at my grandparents’ house, we were facing the Pittsburgh Penguins, a team in the midst of a dynasty. Former Leaf Phil Kessel scored, and our star goalie got hurt, and everything was falling apart. I thought it was over, I went upstairs in disappointment. After 5 minutes, I came back downstairs, and the Leafs were buzzing. It was tied at this point, until hometown boy Connor Brown tipped a point shot from the often-hated Jake Gardiner. The night was complete after an empty net marker from (you already know) rookie Auston Matthews, and that was his 40th goal of the season. The Leafs were back in the playoffs.
Although we were eliminated in the first round by the powerhouse Washington Capitals, the future looked bright, and Leafs fans couldn’t be happier.
The playoffs came and went the next year, after losing in the first round once again to the familiar foe Boston Bruins in seven games. Then, our young and recently-promoted GM Kyle Dubas made the biggest free agent signing in franchise history. We got John Tavares, for seven years. The Leafs looked great in the regular season, and we had to face Boston again in the first round. Unfortunately, the Leafs lost once again in seven games to those darn Bruins. Fans were really angry and upset, and a majority of the fanbase, including myself, wanted head coach Mike Babcock to be fired. He wasn’t fired, yet.
For the second consecutive Canada Day, Kyle Dubas made a big splash which was looked at in our favour. Tyson Barrie and Alex Kerfoot were Leafs, in a huge trade with the Colorado Avalanche. We gave up just Nazem Kadri (who was suspended for two straight playoff series against Boston), and a low potential prospect in Calle Rosen. Fans were super content with this trade, and there were people saying that Lord Stanley is a possibility. Dubas then signed restricted free agent Mitch Marner to a six-year contract, after a long wait.
The new season comes around, and the Leafs are hot garbage. Is it the coach? Is it a bad roster? Is it the players not trying hard enough? It took six straight losses, but Dubas finally decided it was the coach Mike Babcock, and so he was fired. Bring in Sheldon Keefe.
In Keefe’s first game, it’s against the Arizona Coyotes (also happens to be Matthews’ hometown favourite team). The Leafs show new attitude and poise, and they win!
That brings us to the present day, and I can’t wait for this new team to compete! Go Leafs go!