*BONUS* Episode 6 Hockey Punk Playlist. Ok, so this is really just a recycled playlist from the Pop Punk Podcast episode archive. That's why it is being released as a bonus episode and not part of our regular release schedule.
Bands and artists featured in this playlist include:
Green Day, White Stripes, Locksley, The Fratellis, Plain White T's, Bouncing Souls, Pennywise, The Briggs, Dropkick Murphys, Misfits, Riverdales, The Boils, Rednex, The Zambonies, Millencolin, The Vandals, Goldfinger, Kernkraft 400, & Organized Rhyme
NHL hockey is back! The 2021 season began last week, albeit with a slightly different format and a shorter season. This year, all teams will play 56 games, as opposed to the regular 82. Divisions have been re-aligned in order to compensate for pandemic safety measures. Including one division which is made up entirely of Canadian teams in order to prevent teams from necessitating travel across the US border.
The pandemic has certainly took a lot of the passion out of the game with players playing in empty arenas lacking the "umph" factor that home-team crowds can provide. However, the divisional rivalries could still make for an interesting season where every game is meaningful. It also gives the league a bit of a college hockey feel. Which is a nice change for at least a season or so.
I didn't pay much attention to sports this past year. I really didn't feel much of a desire to do so. I've been more concerned with other things, as many of us have. The other night was different. I wasn't really looking for hockey but as I was flipping through the channels I came across my local team's "Season Preview" which was airing on cable tv just before the season opening game. So I kept it on and watched for a few minutes.
At one point, one of our former goalies who now serves as sportscaster was interviewing the team's current goaltender. We had the familiar two faces paired up next to each other in separate windows in typical talk-show fashion. At one point, the sportscaster asked the goalie a question regarding one of the new rookies on the team. The question wasn't really important, but it was something along the lines of "This kid really seems to have some skill, what do you think?" I can't tell you how refreshing it was to hear the goalie respond with "Yeah, for sure..."
Whatever he said afterwards was not as important. I felt a huge sigh of relief exhale from my body at the sound of those first few words. It was music to my ears. After spending the last year being wrapped up in political election debates and social media arguments around literally every proverbial corner, it was a breath of fresh air to hear to people on TV having a discussion and actually agreeing on something for once.
I'm looking forward to re-connecting with my favorite sport again.