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Off To Stockholm

It must have been in the 93-94 or 94-95 season. I was 14 or 15, up in the middle of the night watching NHL hockey live for the very first time. The Blues were playing and Brett Hull scored a hat-trick.

Brett Hull. He's the one who started it for me. I'd watched plenty of hockey already, or at least I thought I had. Tre Kronor, the Swedish National team, was successful during this time, a player called Peter Forsberg was just getting started, Mats Sundin was already a household name. I'd been to quite a few hockey games live, too. But I'd never seen anyone like Brett Hull. The speed in which he played the game, the precision and power of the shot, the killer instinct. From that day on, whenever someone would ask me what team I rooted for I'd answer with Brett's team -- the St. Louis Blues.

I admit, I didn't follow the Blues, or the NHL for that matter, all that much during my teenage years. North American hockey was cool, I saw a game now and then, sure, but c'mon, I was a teenager. Girls, rock music and getting drunk was my main interests. But hockey was always there, and it grew.

Now I'm as much a Blues fanatic as you can be. I check all the websites for updates several times a day. I constantly tell my fiancée about the team, whether she wants to hear about it or not. I sit up watching all fucking night on a Tuesday when the Blues are playing an away game in Nashville. I'm easily irritated days after a loss, I'm happy and on my game after wins. I taught my goddaughter to (almost) say "David Perron, Blues de St Louis" this summer. This team is everywhere for me.

And now they're even here, playing in the capital of my home country, against the arch rival's, the bastards, the FUCK Detroit Red Wings, with those stupid-looking farmer boys Franzén and Holmström and their equally stupid-looking fans. It's been said over and over how much red jerseys there will be in the stands in the Globe Arena tonight and tomorrow. I don't think that will be the case. The Red Wings is a popular team over here, but their fans will never be as passionate and as engaged as the Blues' fans. I'd say the audience will mostly be made out of normal Swedes. They will think that it's cool that the Red Wings and Blues is coming over, they'll be there to watch an NHL game, not a specific team. We'll see tonight if I'm right.

I'll be there, rooting the good guys on, the players I follow everyday. The awesomeness-on-skates that is David Backes, Mr Cool David Perron, Oshie with his furnace face and beautiful checks, Cam Smash Cam Bang Janssen, old man Walt, sneaky little Andy Mac and of course Pretty-boy TechnoViking Patrik Berglund and the rest.

It's Friday morning, I'm getting on the train to Stockholm in 30 minutes. For me this truly is a dream come true. And damn, this is going to be great!

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Absolutely awesome

You’re story sounds a lot like mine — falling in love with the Blues based on the awesomeness of Brett Hull, only Hull played in my backyard. Have a blast at the game, sir.

Man I’m so ready for this. Let’s play some fucking hockey.

by averagejoe on Oct 2, 2009 2:49 AM CDT reply actions  

nice!

Great story, and I totally agree on that dream come true.

Off-topic: your country REALLY has lots of good-looking women! :)

THE NETHERLANDS has its capital AMSTERDAM.... and: ONE BLUES FAN..!!

That's me, 28 years, FanfromEurope aka 'Gerard from Amsterdam'

(Even the subtject of a story in GameTime, Feb 21 2009 lol)

by FanFromEurope on Oct 2, 2009 5:04 AM CDT reply actions  

Awesome story

A lot like mine, except I got to see Hullie play in the minors. Have a fun time at the game today, give Fuck Detroit hell!

Baltimore Blast - 6-time MISL/NISL Champions
Let's go Blues!

by UIWWildthing on Oct 2, 2009 7:23 AM CDT reply actions  

Love the MISL tag line, but

you need the old-school Blast logo

St. Louis Game Time- The Game Day Guide to St. Louis Blues Hockey- www.stlouisgametime.com

by Chris Gift on Oct 2, 2009 7:59 AM CDT up reply actions  

Great job Marcus

We want to hear you screaming.
I’m old and was a fan from practically day one when my dad took me to my first game at age 5 in 1968

by luvhockey on Oct 2, 2009 8:11 AM CDT reply actions  

Just out of curiosity,

Are any of our friends that are in Sweden tweeting?

St. Louis Game Time- The Game Day Guide to St. Louis Blues Hockey- www.stlouisgametime.com

by Chris Gift on Oct 2, 2009 8:27 AM CDT reply actions  

I am *so* jealous...

The women over there really are gorgeous.

by The Goalie Guy on Oct 2, 2009 8:54 AM CDT reply actions  

I'm happy for you, man...

now you Blues fans in attendance make sure to make some noise! I have a feeling the crowd will be behind the Wangs at first…that is, until Oshie turns Zetterberg into a Fathead against the boards.

Any idiot would know that.

by Epic on Oct 2, 2009 8:57 AM CDT reply actions  

Nice job Marcus

There are some dedicated motherfuckers around here, but most of them live in North America.

Much respect to our friends on other continents. You people are crazy.

www.stlouisgametime.com

by Brad Lee on Oct 2, 2009 9:14 AM CDT reply actions  

Brad means motherfuckers in the most enearing way possible.

St. Louis Game Time- The Game Day Guide to St. Louis Blues Hockey- www.stlouisgametime.com

by Chris Gift on Oct 2, 2009 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions  

Again, can I reiterate...

… just how damn jealous I am of you guys who can go? Because I am. Really.

I agree, though, they might be Wings fans at first… until they realize that we’re the team with some personality and who aren’t robots.

Lidstrom, I’m looking at you on that.

Reporter: There`s a "stamp out the Beatles movement" underway in Detroit. What are you going to do about it?

Paul McCartney: We`re going to start a campaign to stamp out Detroit.

by hildymac on Oct 2, 2009 9:25 AM CDT reply actions  

I'd imagine that a 10% share of a building filled with Swedish Blues fans . . .

would be louder than 50% share of the same building filled with Fuck Detroit fans. I’ll assume 40% indifference just for these two games.

Have a blast Marcus!

One day, David Backes and Albert Pujols will combine forces to become the most awesome piece of violent force known to man.

by Donut King on Oct 2, 2009 1:01 PM CDT reply actions  

Your about right on the money on all counts.

But our own group of fans that traveled there were FAR louder than anyone, but I think I may be biased.
As I do not have a voice anymore… and I screamed so loud I gave my self a headache…
Sighh..

by DanGNR on Oct 2, 2009 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions  

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