I got an email from an old college friend this morning asking if I’d jumped on the Chicago Blackhawks bandwagon and purchased a sweet retro “sweater.” The Blackhawks enter the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the second seed in the Western Conference and currently are tied 1-1 in their opening round series against the Nashville Predators. But, back to my friend’s questions. The answer to the first question is, yes, I’ve jumped on board to the point that I don’t plan on missing any of the playoff action. The answer to the second question is, not yet, but only because I’m too cheap.

Getting the email solidified in my mind that something needed to be written about hockey, which seems to be experiencing if not a perfect storm of positive news, then at the very least a very strong weather pattern. (more…)