Watching the Finals with about 50 Red Wings Fans was something else...

by mhuff13 on Dec 25, 2009 5:28 PM EST

Hello everyone, thought I'd introduce myself to the blog with the story of how I spent the Finals last year. It was one of the most rewarding sports experiences of my life.

I grew up in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia. Been a Pens fan my entire life. I remember going to one of my first games back in the mid 80's and watching Rod Buskas's nose get plastered on the glass right in front of me. Oh, the good old days when you could get a seat right on the ice for nothing! Anyhow, I joined the Air Force and met my wonderful wife while there, and although she is wonderful....she convinced me to move to Michigan with her. I'm now in the Michigan Air National Guard, and last year during the finals I was deployed in the Middle East with my unit.

Needless to say, I was the only Pens fan. All I heard about was how this year was going to be just like last year. During the Game 5 nightmare, I was flying and didn't know the score until I got back from my flight. Of course, as soon as I landed, one of the many Red Wings fans instantly told me that they had destroyed us 5-0. The series was over, and they were ALL rubbing it in my face. No way could the Pens come back from being down 3-1, especially now that Datsyuk was back. The season was over, and another cup was coming to Hockeytown. I told them all that they better not get too cocky, because in sports...especially hockey, it's not over until the final game is finished.

After Game 6, I could feel the unease of everyone I was with. My unit filmed a little short video of everyone cheering on the Red Wings (which of course I didn't participate in) and it was actually played during Game 7 up in the Detroit area. Everyone continued to make fun of me, but I could sense that they were a bit scared.

Game 7 was a surreal experience. Luckily I wasn't flying that day, and me and about 20 Red Wings fans packed into a small room to watch the inevitable coronation of the latest Red Wings dynasty. When Max made it 1-0, the entire room went silent. Then when he made it 2-0, you could almost feel them giving up. When Detroit scored their only goal, they began to get cocky again. Of course they were going to come back. In the 3rd when that shot hit the crossbar, it was one of the funniest moments of my life. Everyone saw all the fans in the Joe jump up, so of course everyone jumped up and turned around and screamed at me. When I finally convinced them that it had not gone in, and it had hit the crossbar, they all sat down and didn't say much the rest of the game.

I spent that final faceoff and flurry on my knees, and when Flower made that stop on Lindstrom, the tears started to flow. Within minutes the room was empty other than me and a few good sports. Watching Sid lift that Cup on the Wings home ice was a moment I'll never forget!

Anyhow, sorry about the wall of text. Just thought that story might interest someone out there. Great blog, and hope to contribute to it much more in the future. Go Pens!

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Great story! Don’t be a stranger. :)

by JustinM on Dec 25, 2009 7:40 PM EST reply actions

Awesome story man!

by packallday555 on Dec 26, 2009 2:04 AM EST reply actions

Hey Huff, welcome aboard. Hope to see ya around these parts.

Great story. I think everyone can definitely relate. From where I stood, I had a bunch of people over my house to take in the game. The series itself was intense through and through, but I don’t really know many Detroit fans who would try and rub it in. I know a fair share of Devils/Rangers and Flyers fans though, so they were doing their part to try and fill the role.

During G7 I had about 15 people in my living room. We were all throwing back some beers, eating some pizza and sweating like crazy because it must’ve been about 95 degrees in that room. When Talbot scored his first goal I was so excited I punched my ceiling fan during the cheer. Then after the second one I settle for a fist pump, having learned my lesson the first time. By the time it came down to Fleury’s ridiculous game-saving save I too was just beyond excitement. I remember seeing that play develop too. MAF looked out of position and all I could scream was “SHOT SHOT!” His stop made all of us bust out a “WHAT?!?!” and then shortly after an explosion of cheers. I still smile thinking about it. High fives, hugs and beers followed.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Dec 26, 2009 11:30 AM EST reply actions

Hell of an introduction there!

I’m so glad you were able to watch it at all, given the fact that you were stationed overseas! Very glad you didn’t have to fly for Game 7, too. That had to be an experience and a half. Definitely the best story I’ve read about 2009’s SCF.

I watched it at my home with a couple of die-hard Wings fans. Most people there (about 20 in all) just wanted to watch the Cup and took sides based on which team they hated less. But my friend’s daughter, 8 at the time, is a Pens fan like me. When that last second ticked away, we ran to each other, screamed, and exchanged double fist-bumps. Then I picked her up and twirled her around while we both screamed, even though she’s almost as tall as I am. Her father and my Beloved, the Wings fans in the room, looked less upset at that point. Everyone else fist-bumped me and hugged the girl.

Are you still stationed overseas? Whether you are or not, welcome, and hope you come back soon!

"Darling, you say Brooks Orpik 'checked' that guy. He did not 'get under him and put him into the wall'."--Beloved to me, Winter 2007

Cocktails With the Penguins, where Pens fans toast victories and drown defeats.

by GreenEyedLilo on Dec 26, 2009 12:34 PM EST reply actions

Nope back home now

Was only over there for a few months, got back on the 4th of July. Although, I am out of the country a lot these days. Only for short times though, like a week or so.

Thanks though!

by mhuff13 on Dec 30, 2009 4:19 AM EST up reply actions

No joke- I have Mike Lange’s Game 7 call as my ring tone. Whenever I’m having a shitty day or feel home sick, I just listen to him say that call:

“Oh big save by Fleury. And it is! That’s it! The Pittsburgh Penguins have won this hockey game! The Penguins have won the Stanley Cup! And Lord Stanley, scratch their names on your fabled cup! the Pittsburgh Penguins are Stanley Cup Champions, 2009!”

It brings tears to my eyes when I’m feeling down or need a pick me up. Amazing.

by AlexStitch on Dec 26, 2009 3:09 PM EST reply actions

When I got home from my deployment I had a text from a friend of mine of Lange's call

Still have it on my phone too lol

by mhuff13 on Dec 30, 2009 4:19 AM EST up reply actions

Great story!

Good one, man…

It made me relive that incredible game 7 myself… living in an absolutely hockey-dead country… around 5:30 a.m… grasping my hands tight around my hockey stick… and Fleury made THAT save… I was jumping with joy and there’s still a dark mark on the ceiling where I hit it with the stick… I screamed out of the window, but even if somebody heard me he would’ve thought “another drunk man coming home in the early hours”… nobody could share the passion… the joy…

That’s why I’m so happy to be a small part of the blog here… it makes me feel I’m not alone…

Thanks man… and thank you all!:)

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Dec 26, 2009 3:11 PM EST reply actions

I almost feel like I'm in hockey-dead country, at least for me

Everywhere you look, it’s Red Wings stuff EVERY-freakin-WHERE. Sometimes I’d rather it be hockey-dead, and I just rely on my Open Ice on DirecTV.

But oh well, it’s the only thing Detroit has going for them. The Lions are, well…the Lions. The Tigers traded away their entire team. The city itself is as bad as you hear. And the economy is just sad. So yea, they can have their Wings love I guess…

by mhuff13 on Dec 30, 2009 4:22 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah. When we went to Detroit last week, I swear, I felt good about every dollar we spent.

Glad you’re back Stateside!

"Darling, you say Brooks Orpik 'checked' that guy. He did not 'get under him and put him into the wall'."--Beloved to me, Winter 2007

Cocktails With the Penguins, where Pens fans toast victories and drown defeats.

by GreenEyedLilo on Dec 30, 2009 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

Perfect story to welcome yourself here.

It’s amazing how all my friends/roommates (who always hang around the house) would clear out during Game 7’s last playoffs. I know it wasn’t a coincidence but I definitely had the house to myself every important game.

I remember cheering like crazy for Talbot’s two goals but for some reason I just knew the Red Wings would cut the lead to at least one. I guess we all watched so many of those matchups to know it was going to come right down to the last second. I was very calm when the puck got to Lidstrom, I was more worried about that sequence right off the initial point shot that someone would deflect or screen Fleury. By the time all that cleared up and it was just one on one I knew he’d get there.

Right after that game was done my phone rang for an hour straight, some people I haven’t talked to in years were either so happy or happy for me. I met my friends at the bar they were at and continued celebrating long into the night, before actually posting something on Pensburgh in a little bit of a haze at like 3 or 4 in the AM.

Pensburgh.com

You come at the king, you best not miss.

by Hooks Orpik on Dec 28, 2009 10:07 AM EST reply actions

Yea thank god for Skype

I used it to call a bunch of friends to celebrate after the game also. Unfortunately had to fly early the next day, so didn’t get to enjoy some adult beverages…but if I could have, ohhh my!

by mhuff13 on Dec 30, 2009 4:23 AM EST up reply actions

Thanks for the awesome stories everyone

Sorry it took so long to respond, I’ve been out of the country again. I’m lucky to get to go all over with my job, and just got back into the States today from Hawaii (pity me, got paid to go to Hawaii lol).

Hopefully we’ll get to tell another of these stories at the end of the year!

by mhuff13 on Dec 30, 2009 3:19 AM EST reply actions

I had a similar expirence with the Caps series

Only I wasn’t in the army, it was awesome wearing my pens shirt the day after we won game 7, And I had 5 people who said that is was lucky or it was just a fluke. They just can’t give credit when it’s due.

I'm a Pens fan in Maryland.

by PensFanInMaryland on Jan 3, 2010 8:47 AM EST reply actions