Celebrating an american holiday with the most canadian of sports.

Minutes ago I realized that I hadn't updated you, my loyal readers, on what I did on the weekend of Thanksgiving. Well get ready and get off my back. Don't tell me what to do or i'll cut you. Wait, that's a bit harsh. I love each and everyone of you and using threats of violence will only serve to scare and hurt. Perhaps this exchange will give you an idea of what I witnessed on Black Friday, the night I saw my first hockey game. Steve, my friend from the great white north of Canada (seriously, i've heard some wear shorts in the snow), was in town and we had made plans to hang out. The tentative deal was that I would show him the wild city of Bellevue, while afterward we would drive down to Kent to see the Seattle Thunderbirds play. We decided that we would fill our bellies with a good bowl of Pho before the game at a place called "What the Pho". Obvious, slightly corny play on words aside, it was actually pretty good as this place usually tends to be.

After we finished filling our tummies, we drove down to Kent to attend the game. My first impression of the atmosphere made me realize what I miss most about going to public sporting events. That thing being the copious amounts of drunk people that attend, especially when said event is not only located in the south end of King County, but is a sport as violent as hockey. For those wondering why I would hold a stereotype of southenders being loud and drunk, watch any episode of Almost Live aired in the last 20 years. Not that I should be judging, as I love the whole atmosphere of people being loud and crazy. The best part of it was probably when a group made up of people dressed in Seattle Sounders gear started shouting soccer chants, leading the crowd to heckle them back for roughly the first half of the game. Anyways, the real action was what was happening on the rink. The game started off fairly calm, and Seattle was up by 3 points at the end of the first half. However, like Seattle based teams are apt to do, the fell apart roughly half way through the third quarter. This brought on probably the best and most famous part of the game of hockey, that being the fights. It was at this point I realized one point that separates hockey from other games here in the states. In baseball, players are suspended for multiple games and have to deal with weeks of controversy if get in so much as a pushing match. However, in hockey, you are allowed to finish a fist fight with another player to completion before the ref will step in a give both players a 5 minute timeout. In the end, We ended up losing by two points, though it was still a fun experience that I recommend to anyone who wants to see something different than what people usually think of when they think of a Seattle sports time.

In closing, it is snowing outside right now. I wish it would stop. I have to drive enough during the week and not knowing how the roads will be can be hectic. Hopefully the roads will be clear in the morning, as i'd much rather look at the snow than have to drive in it.