I’m unusual for a hockey fan. I was born and raised in the Deep South. My childhood was spent in Atlanta before living in Alabama and Tennessee. My mom and I used to go to Atlanta Flames games until they moved when I was 10. Eric Vail was by and far my favorite Flame. Who was your first hockey hero?
by 99titan
45 Comments
Red Berenson. He scored 6 goals against Philadelphia one night.
Vic Mercredi
Foppa
Sergei Nemchinov- always appreciate a grinder who can kill penalties and give you 10-20 goals a season.
Ziggy palffy
Pavel Bure
Danny gare
Richard Zednik
Dino Ciccarelli
Bobby Clark. Weaned on Broad Street Bully hockey.
Tommy Salo. I was 8 when my dad got season tickets to the Denver Grizzlies, and I watched Salo earn the James Gatschene Memorial Trophy and carry the Grizzlies to win their first Turner Cup. He was a fucking brick wall. He’s the only reason I became a goalie and I was devastated when the Grizzlies left Denver.
I was coached by Roy a few times (couldn’t understand anything he was ever telling me, haha) and loved watching him play, but Salo will remain my favorite goalie. So glad he came back to Colorado for half a season in 2004 (but man, fuck that lockout).
Tim Thomas. Idolized that man so much as a kid
Bobby Smith, wore his number as a squirt
Ray Bourque, he’s the reason I’m a bruins fan from Quebec
Milan Lucic. The definition of a Big Bad Bruin
Mike Modano
Either Craig Ludwig or Sergei Zubov
Andre Lacroix
Michael Peca. The 2001 Islanders renaissance, although short-lived, was magical. What a player he was before Darcy f’n Tucker ruined his career
Pains me to admit this (because I evolved into a Bruins fan), but Guy Lafleur.
Todd Marchant! His playoff OT goal against Dallas in 97 made me a life long fan
[Kent Nilsson](https://x.com/nhlflames/status/735546181443543041?s=46&t=ZeR_zS2vFiRgKM-7wM1mxw)
Pelle Lindbergh.
Mark Howe
Jarome Iginla. On and off the ice great leader.
Ray Bourque!
Bernie Parent
Tage Thompson. I’m pretty new here
Gilbert Perreault (and the French Connection)
Bernie Parent. Met him twice. Great guy
Valeri Kamensky. Held his own with Super Joe, and scored the first goal in Colorado Avalanche history.
I didn’t really have any growing up Because I live in England, it was really hard to watch NHL games back then. Even though I’m a Jets fan, seeing Colorado Avalanche win the cup with players like Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Milan Hedjuk, and Adam Foote. My parents bought an Avs jersey for me soon after that.
The other Lemieux, Claude .
I’m a Devil’s fan. I remember him playing for the Habs and was excited when he came to New Jersey. Was also at the Pepsi Center in Denver for an Avalanche game when he was traded back to NJ for Brian Rolston. It was announced during warmups of that game.
Teemu Selanne. His rookie year made me fall in love with the game
Mike Gartner Washington Caps.
Went to all home games as a kid in the 80s.
Bobby Orr. Met him as a kid, been a B’s fan ever since – despite living in Toronto most of my life. He made everyone else on the ice look like Pee Wees.
Mario Lemieux from his first shift to this day EDIT which probably doesn’t do over well with Ray Borque fans
I started hockey with the 2021 Habs run, Carey Price is my choice. I wish I could’ve seen him in the years before.
Ngl I liked Pat Verbeek. I just loved his playstyle. The little ball of hate. Glad he got to win one cup at least.
Also liked Cam Neely. Don’t know what it was, but he was the prototypical forward and I loved watching him play too.
Bobby Orr. I used to sit on my old Dutch grandma’s lap and watch him fly around the ice surface like he was experiencing different gravity from everyone else.
She would chide my die hard Leaf fan granddad with taunts like “ Why doesn’t your guys stop him ?” after another of his end to end dashes.
mike fisher
Charlie Conway, Adam Banks, Fulton Reed, Goldberg, and Gordon Bombay
Can Neely was my dude even though I grew up loving my NY Rangers.
Paul Kariya.
From my local area, undersized and filthy with it.
Paul Kariya 🫶