Hate It or Love It The Underdog's On Top...

And I'm gonna shine hommie until my heart stops.
Go ahead, envy me, I'm raps' MVP.
And I ain't going no where so you can get to know me.

Well not really, but there are some things that I hate and love about the so-called "new" NHL. Actually, there are a lot of things. Would anyone be surprised to find out that I'm really, really opinionated?

1) What is your favorite thing about the NHL?

My favourite thing about the NHL is clearly the game. I love hockey, period. I love the hits and the goals, the shots and the saves. I love the chippy play, I love the big personalities that exist in this league. I love the fact that on any given night, any team can win a game.

I love watching the highlight reel plays. I love the action and the speed of the game. Sitting inches from the ice as Dion Phaneuf runs someone into the boards. I love hearing the players shoot off their mouths on the ice.

There's nothing I like more then sitting at a game, a beer in my hands, cheering on my boys. Whether I'm screaming at the Flames, or cheering for them, watching the Habs playing on Hockey Night in Canada or RDS I am a hockey fan, and nothing will take away from my love of this game.

I love watching the next generation of great players. Sidney Crosby. Alexander the Gr8t (whoever decided to let teenage girls decide how to spell his nickname anyway?) Getz. Pears. Neufy. Zachie Parise.

Not to mention cheering on my Saskatchewan boys. Army. Uglier Army (aka Riley). Das. Endo (yes, even Endo). Stolly. Getz again. Garth Murray (ugliest guy in Regina with the biggest well, you know). Paestch (even if I can't spell or pronounce his name). Blakey Comeau. Riley Holzapfel. Hards. Travis Moen. The Reghers. Ward.

And the boys who just played IN Saskatchewan. Reggie Beauchemin. Dusty Boyd. There are more, but my brain is failing me right now.

2) What is your least favorite thing about it?

Clearly I hate the schedule. Crosby's second season in the NHL and I haven't had a shot in hell of seeing him play because of the unbalanced scheduled. I haven't seen the Montreal Canadiens, though I think they were here last year. I mean, tickets to see Ovechkin and the Caps play the Flames were sold out within MINUTES. It was nearly impossible to get seats to most of the good games this season. Fortunately I have connections and a willingness to spend 200$ on a ticket, otherwise, I'd be screwed.

I think if you REALLY want to sell this game - both here at home AND south of the border, then you need the superstars in EVERY arena every year. This three year cycle thing is shit.

The other thing I hate? The officiating. Officials clearly have players who'll get the call every single time, and other players, who for some reason or another, can take dirty hit after dirty hit and no one seems to catch it. The officiating in the league really needs an overhaul.

I get sick and tired of watching Crosby dive all over the ice. I think we all do. The fact is, he feels that he HAS to do that, in order to EVER get a call. I don't like watching Saku Koivu bleeding from his freaking eye with no call. I don't like any of it.

Hate it or love it, the underdog's on top
And I'm gonna shine hommie until my heart stops.
Go ahead, envy me, I'm raps' MVP.
And I ain't going no where so you can get to know me.