Some fans immune to playoff fever
Oddity of August start, packed schedules steering Flames supporters elsewhere
It’s hockey season. Sort of.
With the National Hockey League post-season set to get underway Aug. 1 — after a four-plusmonth delay due to the coronavirus pandemic — Flames hockey fever is catching fire in the city.
At least it is for most hockey-loving Calgarians.
“Well … my excitement level is not high,” said self-proclaimed hockey fan Brian Feick, when asked if he’s ready for the upcoming playoff opportunity for the Flames. “I’m not planning on watching this. I have no idea when it starts. I have no idea when they’re playing.
“I’m surprised they’re trying to make something work,” he continued. “I think they’re trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. I just don’t get it.”
Feick, who insists he enjoys watching high-level hockey, is not alone in his sentiment.
While many avid NHL fans are proudly decorating their vehicles with one or more Flames flags and preparing for long-awaited post-season parties, others among the team’s faithful can’t be bothered with the coming attraction of playoff action.
That’s because they don’t like that the rite of spring has turned into a summer distraction.
“I’m in off-season mode,” said Flames fan Brent Hironaka.
“When the season ended in March, it was a lost season for me.
“I’m in the summer now. Summertime is for things other than hockey. I’m a golfer. I’m on the golf course three or four times a week. So there’s no time to sit and watch hockey.”
Hironaka is a true Flames fan, having followed the club for 35 years and being a current shareholder of season tickets. He made sure he was there in the Montreal Forum the night Lanny Mcdonald & Co. hoisted the Stanley Cup in 1989.
“In Calgary, when you only have two months of summer, you have to take advantage of summer,” Hironaka said. “Normally in a normal season, by the time it gets to the conference finals, I’m into summer mode already. The season is already too long when it gets into June. So going into September and October? Forget it.”
Right, then.
It’s golf over hockey for some Flames fans this August.
“I’m interested,” admitted Flaming ‘C’ faithful follower Mike Lee. “But I’m not going to let it interrupt my golf schedule.”
Feick, meanwhile, isn’t thinking golf — more just isn’t thinking hockey during these summer months after the strange spring we’ve left behind.
“It’s who cares? The season ended in March, and nothing has happened since then,” Feick said. “Most things I try to make sense of. This doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t know why they’re pushing forward to try and make something happen. I don’t know what niche they’re trying to fill other than trying to satisfy TV rights issues or trying to generate income from TV and advertisers.
“And to me, the optics aren’t very good,” Feick continued. “All these high-paid athletes are getting special treatment during a time when we’re facing an equal-opportunity virus and the United States are exploding with this virus. I don’t know why we should be singling out people at this time. My assumption is the players are tested every single day so they can play hockey, and that luxury isn’t afforded to the guy that’s running a restaurant who can’t get customers to come in or for any other business.”
As for the restaurants, the upcoming post-season represents a beacon of hope to bring in much-needed business amid the COVID -19 crisis that has punished so many eateries.
“It’s is going to bring a little light into this dark COVID situation,” said Josh Zimmer, assistant general manager of Hudsons Canada’s Pub in downtown Calgary.
“Business-wise, this is the best thing we could’ve asked for right now. People are going to be able to be on a patio enjoy summer drinks while there’s hockey on, so that’s pretty special for us, too.
“People are going to have their opinions about packing a bar full of people with everything that’s going on. But since Day 1, we’ve gone above and beyond with safety procedures and protocols.
“We’re going to provide a very safe place for them to watch it here and show them a good time.”
I think they’re trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. I just don’t get it.