50 Hockey things to do before you die

At least until the “normal” hockey season resumes (2 months).

Also, I’m dismayed to discover the link to the original article is broken, and I can’t find it in its entirety anywhere.

Oh well, more on this goal in a couple of months.

I just read this article
and was surprised to see that I’d already done (or kinda/mostly done) 20 of the activites listed:

1. Have your picture taken with the Stanley Cup
2. Volunteer at a youth hockey tournament
4. Get Wayne Gretzky’s autograph (didn’t get his autograph, but I was next to him, and I let the kids get the autographs)
7. Strap on the goalie pads (once, in a practice. That’s something I never have to do again!)
8. Drive an ice resurfacer (didn’t drive it, but rode on a Zamboni)

11. Referee a hockey game
17. Take a hockey road trip (Hartford Civic Center to see the Whalers vs. the Oilers, and Great Western Forum to see the Kings vs. the Oilers, both trips in the 80s. Also several trips to play in tournaments.)
18. Listen to Mike Emrick broadcast an NHL game
19. Watch “Slapshot” – again
22. Play with a wooden stick

23. Trade hockey pins
26. Go to an NHL All-Star Game (San Jose in 1997)
30. Play bubble hockey
31. Kill off a 5-on-3 power play
38. Play cross-ice hockey (no matter how old you are) (Played a couple of seasons of 3-on-3, which is close enough.)

41. Donate old equipment to a youth hockey program
43. Collect and trade hockey cards
45. Turn a friend on to hockey
47. Clean out your hockey bag – it stinks!
49. Run the scoreboard and clock

And here’s a few more notable hockey things I’ve done:

1a. Attended a hockey officiating seminar at the USA Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO
2a. Joined an NHL team fan club- once for the now-defunct California Seals, and later for the San Jose Sharks
3a. Officiated at NHL arenas, although for amateur games (San Francisco Cow Palace, San Jose Arena)
4a. Played at NHL arenas, although for amateur games (San Francisco Cow Palace, San Jose Arena)
5a. Get autographs from NHL players: Gordie Howe, Ron Sutter, Doug Wilson, Link Gaetz, Tom Pederson, Jeff Odgers, Bill Guerin, Douglas Murray.

So that’s 25 things I’ve done!

From the rest of the list here are the things I’d like to do and might actually do:

5. Attend a Stanley Cup finals game (2008 will be the Sharks year!)
6. Score a natural hat trick (or even just an “unnatural” hat trick)
9. Visit the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto (or Eveleth, Minn.)
12. Shoot a one-timer
13. Attend a Frozen Four

15. Cheer on Team USA at an IIHF World Championship or the Olympics
16. Try sled hockey (hopefully, not because I HAVE to)
20. Skate at the Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, N.Y.
21. Score on a penalty shot
28. Try to catch a game in every NHL arena

32. See a game at Yost Arena at University of Michigan
33. Coach a special hockey team (or just coach a hockey team)
35. Subscribe to the NHL Center Ice package
36. Go top shelf on a breakaway
39. Tip-in a shot from the point

40. Attend the Beanpot Classic in Boston
42. Write a hockey haiku
46. See the original episodes of “Peter Puck”
48. Sharpen a pair of skates
50. Grow a mullet (!!!)

Which leaves 5 other hockey activities I’d like to do:
1b. Meet an NHL Referee or Linesman
2b. Score a game-winning goal
3b. Score a short-handed goal
4b. Play hockey on an outdoor rink
5b. Lose my voice when the Sharks win the Stanley Cup!