A couple of weeks ago, Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green of the Washington Capitals took in a Washington Redskins game and met a couple of players -- including Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley.
Last Saturday night, Chris' brother and blog partner Tanner Cooley took in his first NHL game ever when he watched the Caps play the Rangers and he came away suitably impressed:
I will not lie and say I am a huge hockey fan cause I'm not. I have never been to or even watched a game. So for me, meeting these three was like meeting some regular guys excited for a football game. But after attending the Caps game last night, regular would be the understatement of a lifetime. I am not kidding when I tell you that what these guys do on the ice is nothing short of amazing.
Now the goals were great and all but the best thing about the whole night didn't happen to be the scoring nor was it a fight (there were close calls but no real ones). It was however, the blocked penalty shot in the third period that would have tied the game with about ten minutes left. Backup goalie Brent Johnson bitch slapped the puck away from Rangers captain Chris Drury before he could even think about taking the shot. It was amazing.
A blog like this can't help but bring a smile to a hockey fan's face. Why is that? More than a few times, I've had to listen to football fans trash my favorite sport. The fact that an influential player's blog came away impressed with the game and players can't help but change some minds. Here's hoping more football fans who have never taken in a hockey game give the game a chance the same way Cooley has.
FIXED: It was Tanner Cooley, not Chris, who blogged about the game.
(HT Japers' Rink and Simply Sensational)
The Cooleys: The NHL's Newest Fans originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
