I stopped watching hockey in 1996, the year Wayne Gretzky left the Los Angeles Kings.
It wasn't because I was mad at Gretzky for leaving or because the Kings have sucked ever since. It was just because hockey didn't appeal to me anymore.
I preferred sports with player's names I could pronounce and players I could follow through the college and even high school ranks.
I went from being a Kings season-ticket holder to not even realizing the National Hockey League season started.
That all changed Friday night.
I was asked to go to an Icecats game. At first I was hesitant, but I couldn't exactly say no to the girl who asked me.
"How bad could it be?" I thought to myself. It would be a night out on the town and a chance to see the Icecats play in person for the first time.
I knew the Icecats were a good team, and I heard the games were fun - but I had to see it to believe it.
The Icecats played higher-ranked Saint Louis, a squad that was supposed to give UA trouble - at least, that's what my inside source said. We'll get back to him later.
As we walked into the Tucson Convention Center, we were able to take pretty much any seat we wanted. I heard the attendance was a little lower than usual, but that might have been because the fans are awaiting next week's matches against Arizona State.
We got seats right behind a section filled with UA students, who were awesome. I actually felt bad for the opposing team - especially Billikens goalie Casey Martin.
Each time the Icecats scored a goal - they scored six Friday night - they would chant, "It's all your fault! It's all your fault!" and "He shoots! He scores! Hey goalie, you suck!" over and over again.
It was classic.
The only yelling I heard at the UA-Kansas basketball game was directed toward the officials, not at the superior Jawhawk basketball team.
A lot of that could be due to the lack of a student section in McKale Center, but I don't even want to go into that now.
Back to the TCC.
They actually serve beer at the games, unlike all other UA athletic events, because the Icecats - although they wear the school's colors - are not a UA sponsored team. In fact, Icecats head coach Leo Golembiewski owns the team.
One thing I have learned after attending Green Bay Packer games at Lambeau Field over the past couple of years is that: Beer + Sports + Fans = a lot more fun at the games.
It didn't take long for the fans to start making an impact.
One fan in particular definitely stood out. Some of the things he was yelling at the opposing team can't even be printed in a paper like this.
You could tell he was hammered because each time he would get a beer, he would spill more and more of it on himself walking down the stairs. That is always a good way to tell if it is time to stop drinking.
The Icecats dominated the entire game, taking 20 more shots than SLU. Sophomore Braden Koprivica, who scored two goals and had an assist, led UA. He is also my next-door neighbor, so I credit myself for bringing him good luck.
The game wasn't even close, with the Icecats winning 6-2. They also won the second game of the two-game series 5-1 Saturday night.
I was told the Icecats were supposed to have a tough time with the Billikens. If 78 shots to only 42 shots is considered having a tough time, then my inside source better do a better job obtaining information. Or maybe "a tough time" is hockey lingo for "they're a bunch of patsies."
I don't know if I could ever love the NHL like I used to, but I have jumped on the Icecats bandwagon. Sure, it may have taken me awhile, but it's been awhile since the Kings were any good, too.
If the UA were smart, it would start serving beer at volleyball games.
