Editor's note -- I'm a big fan of Paul Kukla's website Kuklaskorner.com. The other day, Paul posted his plan to invite non-hockey fans over to watch Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Paul graciously agreed to keep a running diary of how the experiment worked. Many thanks to Paul and check out his site.
-- Phil Coffey
It started with six and ended with 47.
I planned to have a few friends over to watch Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday. I am lucky enough to have two HDTV's and, as my friends have told me, watching a game on HDTV is like being there. Of course, they are just buttering me up for the next big game.
An idea came to me recently. After reading many negative stories about the NHL ratings, I wanted to do something about it. I decided to tell my invited guests to invite a few of their friends, with one catch -- they had to be non- or casual hockey fans. I wanted to first introduce them to the game I love, knowing if they came in with an open mind, they would actually enjoy everything Game 7 would offer.
People started strolling in around 7:30 p.m., I introduced myself to some of the invitees I had never met before, made sure I had the remote in my pocket, in case someone had the urge to turn the station.
With a surround sound audio system in place, my guests were to be enveloped with the sights and sounds of hockey for the next three hours or so. Some of the guests included people from all walks of life. Two dentists, a few factory workers, a waitress ( I think my buddy invited her because he was planning to ask her out), an attorney who knows Bob Goodenow, a couple sales guys, and a husband and wife who lived down the street from Aaron Ward (when he played in Detroit) who had never watched a full NHL game.
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So you have the picture, add 500 wings, 10 cases of my favorite Canadian brew (Windsor is close, made a beer run Saturday) and many more goodies brought in by my guests.
We settle in for the game, I am moving between two rooms that are tuned in to NBC and I hear a voice from afar; "Why is he called 'Doc' Emrick?" Uh oh, hockey expert and host Paul has no answer. I quickly turn to my lifeline, the world wide web and find out Mike Emrick received a Ph.D. in Radio, Television and Film from Bowling Green in 1976. First disaster avoided!
National Anthems are finished, Phil, one of the dentists, wants to know if anthem singer Holly Wilver is married and I notice a few other males watching seem to have an interest.
I can't answer the question, but now I am a bit curious too. Another
question pops up -- How long does the game last? Oh boy, it may be a long night, and a buddy responds; "Until it is over!" Good answer.
Carolina scores early. When the Aaron Ward connection couple realizes it, they start talking about "Wardo", what a great guy he is, fit in the neighborhood perfectly. They just knew he was going to score a goal tonight, they felt it in their bones. Soon after the goal, they are on their cell phone, calling their neighbors and congratulating each other.
My little experiment was going well. I was keeping one eye on the game and the other eye on the reactions from the non-hockey fans. They all seemed intent on the game, my hockey buddies were showing off their hockey knowledge, Frank, an accountant and a hockey fan for 30 years, started rattling off the top 20 playoff goal scorers of all time, I nudged him and told him he is putting people to sleep. A girl who works for Ford as an executive assistant, seemed to be tracking Michael Peca. She suggested the guys play without their helmets, so we could see their features better.
I pulled out an old photograph of Bill Gadsby and told her they would all look like this if they didn't wear a helmet and shield.
I started preparing the newbies for the first intermission and Coach's Corner with Don Cherry (living in the Detroit area, I am able to receive the CBC broadcast from Windsor, Ont.).
I pull the remote out of my pocket, flick to Don and Ron, but a slight moan comes from some of the hockey fans. Don is dressed down, at least compared to his recent appearances. Plus, his comments were a bit toned down. A little disappointing until someone points out his shirt collar. Then a five minute conversation begins. I run Coach's Corner from Game 6 on the DVR and gasps are heard, people are shocked, laughing, saying he took an old bedspread and made a suit out of it.
Some of the comments and questions made during the second period include:
*Why don't the coaches were something more casual?
*Why is the puck round?
*How thick is the ice?
*Michael Peca is hot (OK, that's not a question)
*Why is that blue line blue?
*And where do the wives and girlfriends sit?
As you can see, many of the people watching the game are novices, but I begin to ask if they are interested in the game. The majority say they are, they did not realize how much effort is put in and one person pointed out they never could figure out why they only stayed on the ice for a minutes or so. But after seeing the all-out effort from every player on the ice, she now understands they are exhausted and need a break.
Most of my guests were not concerned about who won the game. When Frantisek Kaberle scored early in the second period, I realized Edmonton would need to score the next goal to get back into the game, but others were more concerned about focusing on each shift. It was refreshing to see, to be truthful. At times, I am a victim of getting too wrapped up into a game. Taking a step back and just enjoying the moment was something I plan on doing in the future.
The intermission before the third period was turned into alert time. Friends kept on repeating the Oilers' needed to score, gain some momentum back and make it a one-goal game. Many hockey cliches were flying around the rooms, some of the non-fans were beginning to see the emotion from true hockey fans.
Bingo! Edmonton scores early. Now we have a game, a third period to remember. Overtime is a real possibility, one girl nudges her husband and mentions she has an early appointment tomorrow. I think to myself, there is no tomorrow
for one of these teams.
Most everyone in both rooms seems to be following the game with a little bit more intensity. A shot goes off the post for Carolina, someone mentions they thought the goal posts where plastic, comparing the goal to her son's street hockey net.
Crunch time, both teams are following their respective coach's directions. The waitress wants to know why the coach doesn't go on the ice and let all the players sit during the timeout.
Justin Williams finishes off the season that refused to end. I begin asking if they would watch a game again. About 90 percent say they would, they never realized how entertaining the game was. It helped them by having hockey fans watch the game with them. Having people point out some of the small things they would normally not see was much appreciated. They have learned not to just follow the puck, but try to see the game in advance, look to where the puck
should go and anticipate the game two seconds ahead. Think like Wayne Gretzky and
Bobby Orr when watching the game, that was the lesson they learned when watching.
All in all, the party was a huge success. Even if I turned on one more
person to the NHL, it was a start. I plan on doing it again next season.
I invite you to try the same thing when next season starts. It was a great time, a way to meet new friends, and you never know what can happen when you invite six of your friends over to watch the game and it turns into 47.
By the way, the waitress is going out with my buddy!
