New Favorite Hockey Team?

With the NHL season shut down until at least Oct. 24, I've been on the search for some form of hockey.

So far, NHL 13 has kept me plenty busy, and its been the only way I can see the Tim Thomas-less Bruins get back to Stanley Cup form.  Aside from hours and hours of that, I've watched more NHL Network than I can get my head around.  I think I've seen every postseason game from last season a few times over, but its impossible to stop watching.

But on the search for a real live competitive team, I've re-stumbled across a team that surfaced about a year ago with these ads.  The Lahti Pelicans of the SM-liiga in Finland are my new team.  Watch the ads, and I think we can create a pretty good American fan base.

Finnish Hockey Player Scores One For the Fans

We chose this video for a few reasons.  First and foremost, this is a game in the Mestis League in Finland, between TUTO and KooKoo.  Somehow those are actually the names.  Yeah, I don't get it either.

Iiro Vehmanen, playing for TUTO pots a goal around the 0:35 second mark of the video, and completes it with an awesome celebration.  He clearly had this one thought out for a while, as he sprints right for the boards and climbs on up.  Absolutely love the kiss to the crowd, completely ignoring his teammates til he's good and done.

And if you didn't notice this the first time around, did anyone hear the announcer at the 0:47 mark?  Why does he name drop Rocky Balboa not once, but twice? That's just good announcing work, right there.

Its not the NHL, but its still good hockey.