And it begins... PT III

2008-2009

It started out with at the end of summer. Attending all 4 Ducks training camp practices(called out sick from work for two of them). I was deep in it. Their disappointing early exit of the first round from the previous post season left all of us fans wanting more and needing it. I was by then a hardcore supporter and it was like being a 12 yr old kid again. Fascinated with the game and with my team. I was joining Ducks message boards, keeping my eyes on the news as much as I could (I didn't have the NHL Network then), going to every Ducks Watch Party that I could, attending practices and other events(the free ones). Like I said, I was in deep and I loved it. I looked into getting the lowest priced SSH package but by the time I looked into it and talked with a Ducks SSH representative, they were sold out. Next package was the 'Buy two-get two free" however, at $1,500, I wasn't able to afford it. I did the next best thing, Ticket-Exchange and Stub Hub were my way of seeing games. I also had met fellow SSH's that would have an extra ticket here and there. My girlfriends-friend who took us to a couple of games the previous season, also helped out and there was craigslist.com. Overall, I missed about 10 games the whole season and that includes 1 from the pre-season. I also went on my first away game to Glendale, AZ. It was the Ducks last game of the season against the Coyotes. The night before, I attended the Playoff clinching game with who happen to be my most hated team, the Dallas Stars. The following day, my girlfriend and I hit the road to AZ. It was a fun trip and was three months away from what would be coming...

In 2007, my girlfriend and I visited her hometown: Olympia, WA. I will say that when we first started dating and when things got serious she had mentioned to me that it was her plan to move back home. We spent two weeks and I feel in love with the state. It was a big change from living in Anaheim, and personally I wanted something new and different, somewhere were I could live and not have to pay an arm and a leg. So after giving much thought about it. We decided that we would move in the summer of 2009. I knew that I would be leaving a lot behind: My friends, my family and yes, my team. It's was a tough decision that I am still trying to adjust to this day. I knew that the only place for me to drive to see a proper hockey match would be in Vancouver, B.C.

For a proper send off, I made sure to attend at least one post-season game. I had always wanted to be in a playoff atmosphere. We attended game 3 which was at home. The Ducks were coming into the post as an 8th seeded team but didn't show it when they took games 1+2 in San Jose. They lost game 3 at home but won game 4. I was not satisfied going to a losing playoff game. I wasn't able to get a ticket for game 6 which was back at home after the Sharks took game 5. It would have been the ideal game to go to being that the Ducks closed out the series to upset the Sharks and moved to round 2.
I needed to go to a 2nd round game and through my roommate he surprised me the day of game 3 with a club seat ticket that his dad gave him! It was amazing! The Ducks V The Red Wings in a Semi-Final series. The Ducks had won a few days before back in Detroit in an triple OT goal by Todd Marchant. They would go and win game 3 but lose the next to. The morning of game 6 at home, a few of us went to the Pond at 6 in the morning. One of the local news stations was doing a morning piece and fans were invite to attend. My roommate, my good friend and I myself entered the Pond and we were directed through one of the section 200 tunnels. Another dream came true that day, we saw other fans walking out on the ice and so we joined. Along with that, we sat on the teams bench and took part in the event where it ended outside and all who attended were given two tickets for the do-or-die match!

This would be my last game at home before moving up north. I didn't know who else I wanted to spend it more than with my girlfriend whom, bless her heart, has to deal with my addiction(it's like Fever Pitch). The Ducks would win game 6 but lose game 7 by one late goal in the 3rd Period after they rallied to a 3 goal comeback to tied it up. I wish they could have gone to the Conference Final. I would have been there. I would have been there if they made it to the Stanley Cup Final. I know that when it happens again, I will make the trip down. So the move was made on May 31st and we arrived in Olympia on June 1st. Like I said, it's been hard to adjust without my team and my new friends that I have met since who still live back home and get to attend games.

And that brings us caught up to today...

My reason for this blog is to share what it's like to be a fan outside of my home, outside of my beloved Pond. For now I have been following the early new season through Center Ice and Game Center Live. It's interesting as well being that Washington state has no NHL hockey team, which I could see one being here. So far it's the WHL and I hope to see a couple of games but until I fly down home, this is were I will be unless I can make it to Vancouver.

So here we go. My thoughts on the game and on the Ducks for all to read. I hope this is a success and I hope my team wins.

We are go....