Allegiances Are Changing

Growing up just outside of Parry Sound, ON, I was exposed to hockey at a very young age – just like many of you.  From early morning arena arrivals, building rinks on my lake, to watching Hockey Night in Canada, I felt like I had it all.

My exposure to the NHL was nothing great, especially in a small northern town. I’m sure a lot of you can relate.  Sure we had the newspaper from the corner store everyday with stories and pictures.  But the only chance we really had to see the players play was on Saturday nights.

Born in the 80′s, the Maple Leafs were in the midst of an extremely difficult decade.  Then owner Harold Ballard put his stamp on the team by trading away its best players, and refusing to put money into an unsuccessful franchise.  Even still, the life blood of hockey was blue and white, and I was brought up under this regiment.

The trend continued well into my teens. I found myself cheering louder and louder as I grew more involved with the game.  But then, disappointment after disappointment took place – culminating with Bryan McCabe’s own goal against Buffalo a few seasons back – one of my most upsetting moments in Leaf history.  I vowed at that point to begin the search for a new way to enjoy hockey and the NHL on the whole.

It led me to viewing the game in a wider scope.  Cheering for specific players based on different criteria or the way they played the game; or enjoying the style that a particular team played, whether it be a shut down defense or a run-and-gun offense.

Because of this adopted mindset, and being apart of the hockey media, I find myself in love with hockey all over again.  No longer am I set on the Leafs making the playoffs every year and I’m done with getting upset if they don’t win a regular season game.

I used to HATE the Philadelphia’s, the Pittsburgh’s, the New York’s, the Jagr’s and the Gretzky’s.  These days I follow  the Richards’, Crosby’s, and Tavares’ with a passion – and couldn’t be happier about it.

I remember being so narrow-minded. The Leafs were above and beyond all of the other teams.  Much like how most of Leaf nation feels throughout their entire lives.  With so much optimism coming into this season – built up by Brian Burke and Co. – they seem poised to once again let down their fans and throw away another season.

At what cost you ask?

The fans will be back, but for how long?  Until they realize that so much is made out of nothing?  Until they’re tired of being duped into thinking “this is the year”?

I’m not saying I’m not a Leaf fan at heart.  I will always remember the playoff runs of ’93, ’94, and ’02 and the players that captured my young imagination.  I want the Leafs to re-build; not lie to us and say that they think this team is playoff ready.

In a way, I guess this is a plea to Leaf fans to be patient.  But don’t feel like a “bandwagon jumper” for simply cheering for that one player that makes you turn on the TV every night.

Take it from me.

My allegiances may have slightly changed, but my love for the game is stronger than ever.

For OpenIceHockey, I’m Jesse Michael