It's a Love Affair... Between Roots and Hockey

Michael Budman and Don Green have long been hockey fans. So it makes perfect sense that we've just launched our new NHL Vintage Awards Jacket. (Perfect for the hockey fan that wants to represent their favourite team in style. All made right here in Canada, where hockey was born!)

So in honour of this collection, the upcoming play-offs and the fact I'll be going to my 3rd game ever Tuesday night (Leafs vs. Capitals), I thought I'd share some hockey facts along side each team jacket.

NHL Vintage Awards Jacket Leafs

• Part of the original 6
• Second all time with 13 Stanley Cup wins
• That being said, they also have the second longest drought - haven't won the cup again since '67
• According to Bernie I "shouldn't get discouraged. Some teams have never won it."

 

NHL Vintage Awards Jacket Oilers  

• At one time they were named the Alberta Oilers
• Hold the record for most team goals in a season (446!)
• Presently celebrating their 30th season
• They're located the furthest North of all the franchises

NHL Vintage Awards Jacket Canucks

• The only team in the NHL who's Captain (Roberto Luongo) is their goalie
• They're also the ones who started the towel-waving culture in games (towel power)

NHL Vintage Awards Jacket Senators

• Christian from Motherpucker.ca tells us "when firing on all cylinders, the Senators have one of the most potent offensive lines in hockey comprised of Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley". I'll take his word for it!

NHL Vintage Awards Jacket Canadiens

• According to Barry, "this is the only team to root for (no pun intended)", although I suspect there are plenty of fans who would argue this
• They've also managed to win one Stanley Cup each decade - bringing their total to 24 - the most of any team

NHL Vintage Awards Jacket Red Wings 

• Meet our current champs!
• They also set an NHL record this year by reaching the 100 point plateau for the 9th straight season
• Apparently they are known for throwing an octopus on the ice for good luck (Really Yohance?)

NHL Vintage Awards Jacket Blackhawks

• Named after the owner's military unit which honoured Chief Blackhawk, a prominent figure in the history of Illinois
• They joined the NHL in 1926 in the NHL's first wave of expansion into the US
• Sadly they have the longest cup draught in the NHL - 48 years

NHL Vintage Awards Jacket Bruins

• One of the original 6 teams and former home to one of the greatest NHL defencemen of all time, #4, Bobby Orr
• Their last cup win was in 1972, one year before Roots was founded

NHL Vintage Awards Jacket Rangers

• They were the first US team to win a Stanley Cup in 1928
• In 1994, they finally won the cup once more, ending a 50 year drought lead by Mark Messier

NHL Vintage Awards Jacket Flames

• Previously known as the Atlanta Flames until the 80's, when they moved to Calgary
• They won their first and only cup in 1989
• The stadium they play in looks like a saddle (Saddle Dome) and was originally built for the Olympics

I leave you with these last hockey bits:
"The Wiki entry tells you all you need to know. Google is also your friend." Paresh
"Always move the puck & your feet!! The puck is the fastest guy on the ice and never gets tired!!" Davin
"Act like you know the icing rule and whoever you are with will think you know the game pretty well." Bernie
"I love this game because it's truly Canadian, it's tough and smooth at the same time. One minute, you see a mighty hit, next a beautiful trick that leads to an even more beautiful goal. It's not a game for whiners. It's going out to the rink in the middle of winter and shooting some pucks with your friends." Christophe

I owe all my new found hockey knowledge to my colleague (Yohance), our Twitter friends Bernie, Barry, Davin and Christian,  and Christope (one of our Facebook fans). Thank you all!