It’s a cold afternoon day in January. The snow is falling, sand you sit down, and watch the Penguins take the ice. That’s an image that you might have thought to be unrealistic even a month ago, but now it’s a reality. It’s time to get back in the swing of things. It’s time to stop thinking about collective bargaining agreements, and start thinking about slap-shots. It’s time to stop thinking about Gary Bettman and David Fehr, and time to start thinking about Kris Letang and Pascal Dupuis. The Steelers are done for the season, and Baseball season is still 3 months away. The city needed this. This time of year, that’s hockey time! 48 games, 16 teams in the playoffs, all fighting for that 1 spot, that chance to get your name on Lord Stanley’s Cup!
The Pens take the ice, 18,087 fans screaming “Let’s Go Pens!” You’re sitting at home, watching Steigy and Errey on ROOT, as you cheer on the Pens. The kids are running through the house playing hockey and fighting over who gets to be Mario and who gets to be Sid. Every bar and restaurant in the area has the game on, and every person, man, women, or child in the area is wearing Pens gear. A baby-blue Pens jersey, and Pens baseball cap, and Stanley Cup Champions t-shirt. It’s all there. Every car around is blaring Mike Lange through the radio as the Penguins score and you hear “Grandma get in the fast lane, because the bingo game is ready to roll!” You plan your entire week around the games. You rush home from work, church, or wherever you are just to make sure you are home in time to see the Pens play their hearts out. That’s Penguins hockey.
There’s something special about being a sports fan in the greatest sports city in the world. The fans are the best of the best. Win or lose, they will always be there. Pittsburgh is obviously a Steelers city, but I make the case that it is a Penguins city too. This city breathes hockey in the early part of the year. They live and die with Crosby, Malkin, and Fleury. Kids go to bed with pictures of Lemieux and Crosby on their walls, and hear stories of Lemieux and Jagr before they fall fast asleep with visions of the Pens raising that cup up one more time! When the Penguins win and there is a great energy about the entire city, and when the Pens lose, there is a glum look. The CONSOL Energy Center just hosted a new NCAA tournament, The 3 Rivers Classic! A huge success, and looking to expand for next year already. The Frozen Four will also be held at the CONSOL Energy Center later on this year. That marks the first time an NCAA championship game will be held in this great city. Pittsburgh is a football town, but if you ask me, right along with football, Pittsburgh, is a hockey town.
