Personal Narrative: Nassau Coliseum

To the average individual, the word “miracle” has many meanings. However, to the avid hockey fan, the word “Miracle” is vernacular that will be forever engrained in their hearts and history books. While the term itself is broad, miracles turn doubters into believers. This was exactly the case during the 1980 United States Olympic Hockey team shocked the world. In 1980, the U.S. men’s hockey team, consisting of college players and hopeful pros, won Olympic gold. No other Olympic performance was so uniting and inspiring to our nation. Upon scoring the game-winner and clinching the gold medal, Eruzione's goal triggered a spontaneous national celebration of amazing proportions. Overcome with joy, our nation celebrated with a display of

Amazing is a place that has old historic value and will blow you away with the sights you see. For many of us amazing is something we feel when; we accomplish something positive. Not for Me. Amazing to me is that place you know you can go to at any time to find peacefulness and happiness. This place for me is Wrigley Field. Home of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field has a ton of history.

When America pulled off probably the biggest upset in all of sports history, America was instantly going nuts. People who have never seen a puck in their life were even going crazy. It wasn’t just hockey fans that were able to realize the size and importance of this upset and even bigger was a win in the ongoing Cold War.

There is 1:15 left in the game and the Chicago Blackhawks are down 1-2 against the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final of 2013. The Blackhawks are winning the series 3-2, but it looks like Boston is about to force the series into a game 7. The puck is passed across net to Brian Bickell who releases a shot that goes right between the goalie's legs for a goal. The Blackhawks have tied the game up 2-2. Then they are off again, trying to score to escape the overtime that seems unavoidable. No less than 17 seconds later, Dave Bolland from the Blackhawks put the puck in the back of the net with 58.3 seconds left in the game. The clock quickly winds down to zero and the team explodes; jumping up and down in celebration because the Chicago Blackhawks

In “Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey Goodbye,” Tim Bowling, an author, poet, and a fishing boat deckhand (Stewart et al 237), articulates how professional hockey has evolved over his lifetime. He laments how a game he was enamoured with no longer captures his complete attention and is not as relevant in his life as it once was. However, Bowling admits he still has a sheepish curiosity for the latest news and highlights (238), is still “mildly attracted” (239) to the game for its grace, beauty, and skill (239), and yearns for a Stanley Cup Final with two Canadian teams; most importantly a final with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the

The win brought hockey to the front page of newspapers all over the country.This was a national celebration. It opened the door to American-born players below the 49th parallel.(“The 1980 US Olympic Team”).People in the streets honked their horns after hearing about the game on the radio(“The Miracle on Ice,35 years ago.”). The US had grown at every level of hockey. After the Olympics the team went their separate ways. Some went to the NHL others went on business and others stayed in the programs. They all met up in 2002 to light the Olympic torch in Salt Lake City, Utah(The 1980 US OLympic

It was my first Blackhawks game and I didn’t think anything could make that night better, even though we ended up losing in a shootout. I was wrong. As my family and I stepped out of the United Center into the dark, cold, city smelling air of the October night, we couldn’t believe our eyes. Blackhawks’ alumni Bobby Hull was outside signing autographs and taking pictures. Since I was still a kid and just getting into hockey, I didn’t know who this was, but the rest of my family did. They all said we had to go by him since there wasn’t a large crowd. Because I was young and curious, I agreed.

Silence intoxicated the stadium as Patrice Bergeron glided to the face-off dot against Nazem Kadri. Tension was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Above, the massive scoreboard read 1-1, which was way too close for comfort. The ref then took a brief glance, analyzing the positions of each player, to ensure they were in their correct positions. He blasted the whistle and the game was on. Next, the puck was dropped in a sudden motion, keeping it remaining completely horizontal the whole way down until it was swiped at rapidly by the Men’s sticks. For me, it felt so surreal to be at the Air Canada Center, observing the action with my own very eyes. In front of me, were the very players I’ve dreamed of witnessing all my life. I could

I had my “broom” ready for a sweep. It was the opportune time to win and complete the goal they wanted to achieve. As the game began, my dad and I were ready for them to produce history. It took about half way through the first period for the Red Wings to score. We were thrilled to notice a strong commencement, although it was long from over.

The day was loud and cold. The air was lingering with the smell of hotdogs from the night before. Everyone was cheering as the game was about to begin. The stands we’re full upon the kick to begin it all. There were people on both sides cheering for their team. The whole first quarter of the game we played was blank, there was no scores or anything that big of a play. But in the second quarter they opposing team Kettle Moraine took over. They were just driving on us the entire quarter. With the ending score of the half them up 14-0. During the break in between 2nd and 3rd quarter everyone was angry about how we weren't able to stop them. After are stretches we got ready to play again. Upon the kick being received in 3rd quarter it was about

Inside a packed Nassau Coliseum at the end of a game crying out for an overtime winner, John Tavares delivered the goods with 24 seconds to go. The incredible atmosphere inside the Coliseum set the stage for the play that would end in Tavares’ ninth goal of the season. The fans sang the familiar “Let’s go Islanders” chant, while children could be heard screaming for their team to push forward. When Tavares received the puck on the right hand side of the rink, the volume inside the stadium stepped up to that of its ancient Roman namesake. Cries of “Shoot!” rang around, and the Islanders forward listened with aplomb. Cutting inside, he unleashed a fiery shot past the despairing Capitals goalie, and mass celebrations ensued. A wave of elation

Well that's more like it, right fans? Boy did the team respond with vengeance. Playing the last ever home opener at the Joe and they did not disappoint. The crowd was electric and the players fed off the energy only us, Red Wings have when it comes to home games. Tomas Vanek so far is worth every penny we gave him so far. He is playing like a man possessed. Helm has proven himself so far that I will admit bringing him back so far was a smart move. Let’s not forget the man of the hour, Mike Green, first career hat trick as he finally busted thru that career milestone. Mrazek was sharp in net as he needed a bounce back game. Blashill did put the lines in the blender again and honestly they looked good, even the defensive pairings played well. Tatar and Nyquist still looking for first goal though and Larkin may be feeling the sophomore jinx to start the season. The Wings need to avoid those 2nd period mind lapses that seem to plague the team so far this season

So there I was minding my own business, casually rotating some kiwis, and that’s when THEY came in. They were a mildly intimidating group of rowdy basket ball types. By that I mean one of them was literally carrying a basket ball through the store. One of his goons pointed to something in the distance and nodded the other eloquently said, “Oh ho ho!” This was followed by a violent head nod from goon number one, and passionate laughter from holder of the b-ball.

Within the last four minutes of the game the Royals score two more astonishing goals. The crowd is flipping out! The Royals all join together in a very heartwarming hug. They start chanting and many fans from the packed crowd unite together and chant along with the very happy team. Who ever knew that in just a few minutes the whole game would be turned around. All sorts of sirens and bells start going off as the game has ended. The Santander Arena sounds like Times Square when the ball drops on New Year’s eve. Many ecstatic people are waving towels around and a man from the crowd has even brought drums to stir up the crown even more than it already was. The Royals have once again had a big

This photo was taken at the Pardubice and Chrudim hockey game. In this photo you can see the action going on, on the ice and the excitement of the fans watching their teams. There is a lot of excitement in the stadium as hockey is a loved sport here in Prague. In America, I am not a big hockey fan, but I will watch any Philadelphia sports team (even baseball), so I was excited to see a sport so important to my host country and to dive more into the culture. There isn’t as much of an obvious sports culture in Prague as there is in other cities I’ve lived in and it was a great experience to feel that excitement again, which is why this photo is so important to my time in Prague.