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My First NHL Game



RALEIGH, NC -- Whoa. I finally went to a real, live NHL game.

 And, let me tell you--what a game.

 I went to Raleigh on Thursday to see the Hurricanes take on the Rangers, since my roommate (and best friend) is a huge Rangers fan. I didn't really have a dog in the fight, since my teams are in the Western Conference for the most part.

 But, I think that's why this was a good game for me to go to for my first one. Going to United Center for a Blackhawks game would have been way too overwhelming. Last night was overwhelming enough for me to ride the high for a few days, I think. (Though, there's a good chance I'll be in United Center for a game by the end of the year.)

 First of all, PNC Arena is awesome. We sat in the 300-level seating, but I could still see everything. I don't think there's a bad place to sit in there, honestly. And, we got to see the Rangers score on our side for two periods! Er, attempt to score.

I really only know some Rangers players and some Canes players, so I was just kind of cheering for names I recognized. It was cool to hear 'ZUUUUUUUC' every time Zuccarello touched the puck, and inevitably when he scored. Kreider scored, too, and I love him. And Nash's goal was just awesome.

I loved the atmosphere, and though we were cheering for the opposing team,we didn't feel threatened or worried about our safety. We could just enjoy the game.

And, now that we know the logistics, I'm sure we'll be back in Raleigh for another Canes game soon. I'd love to see the Blackhawks play there, or even the Rangers again. The energy was awesome, and though it was a Thursday, the turnout wasn't too bad.

Oh, and I loved the hurricane sirens. As someone who lives by the beach, I've heard those quite a few times, and though it should scare me, it really just gets my adrenaline up and got me fired up at the start of each period.

At the end of the night, though the team I was rooting for didn't win, I was riding a high. And, I still am, as I'm writing this. It's a crazy feeling, being at a live NHL game. If you can, go. Even if it's not your team.

Something about this sport is just downright magical.

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