An Introduction (FOR EVERYONE I HOPE)

My name is Kjell (It’s Norwegian, actually pronounced like the Kj make a Ch like in cheese), I am 20 years old, am a pieces, love longs walks on the beach. Wait…. This isn’t my lonely hearts add. I will be 21 come march 8th. I am currently pursuing a wildlife biology degree at the University of Montana in Missoula. I have lived in Montana my whole life and love it. Became a wings fan around 2001 when my uncle had me watch a game with him. I loved it right away and haven’t looked back since.

My name is Cath, I’m going to be 41 in a month (YIKES!!!) and I’ve been on WIM for a while. I’m originally from Michigan, moved away for a decade, and now am back. I really can’t remember a time when I wasn’t some level of a hockey fan, although it’s a lot easier to keep track in the age of the internet.

Way back in the dark ages I majored in biology at Alma College, and have worked in many different labs ever since. :)

My name is Keith, I joined WIIM not that long ago, I’m a lifelong Michigander and a lifelong Redwing/Hockey fan I grew up watching HNIC and playing hockey every winter on the pond. I live across the river from Canada so my friends and I would always go and play hockey with our Canadien friends over the years. Great times!!! Hockey and Wings Forever!!!

Name: Andrew
Current Residence: Flint, MI cringe, formerly of Cadillac, MI
School: Baker College, for Digital Media Design
Wings Fan Since: 1996, or since 11 years old.
Semi-retired pro wrestler.

Likes: Waffles, Tire Time, Hockey, Trolling Shark’s Blogs, Wrestling
Dislikes: Going gray, Pancakes, Gary Bettman, Being the old man on my dorm floor.

Never been to a hockey game. Hell come to think about it, I’ve been to ONE Pistons game, 1996 vs Clippers. ONE tigers game, 2009 vs white sox, last game of the year.

My name’s Rob, and I’m an alc…. wait a minute, wrong site. People tell me I’m 23 years old but I act more like 12. I grew up in Lansing, MI and went to Michigan for undergrad. I’m living just outside of Washington DC now, going to grad school at George Washington University. I’ve been a Wings fan for as long as I can remember, so it’s been quite an adjustment for me to NOT have them on TV every night (I know, spoiled right?).

To add a little twist to the discussion, my favorite (non-Yzerman) Red Wing of all time has to be Igor Larionov, but Franzen is definitely making a case for himself as well.

My name is J.J., but I admit that my last name is not “from Kansas”. I’m actually not really from Kansas, having been born in Fort Benning, Georgia. Kansas is just where my dad was stationed when he retired from the Army when I was in high school.

I have zero familial ties to any hockey city, with my parents’ families coming from Sacramento and Reno. I moved from a soccer fan to a hockey fan in the 90s, liked the game but not really any team for a couple of seasons until I saw the Russian Five and Steve Yzerman break the dump-and-chase and trap styles prevalent at the time. That made me a Red WIngs fan for then, the next 15 years made me a Red Wings fan for life.

I joined WIIM as a writer in July after being so annoyingly persistent with my long comments all over the Red Wings blogosphere (specifically Abel to Yzerman). The Wings fan community is awesome to behold, as evidenced by anybody familiar with the Herm 2 Hockeytown drive last year that culminated with over $5,300 worth of donations going to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. I wasn’t able to attend the game because of the birth of mine and my wife’s first daughter, but the drive certainly hit close to home for me, as I wrote about in this post over at the Kuklas Korner member’s blog.

My name is Graham, and I was born in the center of the hockey universe (so I was told) in Toronto. My parents are die-hard hockey fans, but while my father worshiped the Maple Leafs, my mother was a Canadiens fan, and she taught me that I did not have to go with the majority when picking my team. In 1986, when I was a wee lad (8 years old), I saw Steve Yzerman play for the first time. I spent the next 2 years following him, and in 1988 eventually realized that I was a Red Wing fan. Not long after becoming a Wing fan, they missed the playoffs, and I thought I was a jinx.

I bleed red and white, and have my kids saying “Red Wings” in response to the question “who is the best hockey team ever?”. They also know how to say “Crosby is a douche” and “Hawks stink” (I’ll admit my parenting style is….unorthodox). While my mother taught me to pick a team on my own, I’m going to brainwash my children into liking the Wings.

I currently live in Chicago and get an obscene amount of pleasure in seeing Hawks fans hate the Wings. Their bitterness fuels me and keeps me sharp, plus I love to be a snarky asshole from time to time. My in-laws have season tickets to the local AHL team, the Wolves, and I try to get to see the Griffins when they come to town when schedules permit.

I started my own blog called The Hole in the Door in May of this year, and came on board here at WIIM in September via invitation from Casey. I absolutely love being a part of this community, and while I was late to the party last year with H2H, I am really looking forward to being there for H2H2.

Asheesh – I’m Kendal (signature oftentimes here is Smitty). I grew up in Royal Oak (before it was popular and trendy, and I’ve been a Wings fan, oh, since Gordie Howe days in the late 60s. Yes, I went to games at Olympia Stadium, and yes, I remember the first NHL Expansion from 6 teams to 12.

My travels and life took me to NYC, where I did root for the Rangers (and was glad to see them get the Cup in ‘94), and the Wings as well – but as we moved there in 1986, the Dead Wings era was in full swing, so the Wings weren’t much to see. From there, I’m now on to the Kansas City area – the boys, all four of them, are Wings fans, and we almost always get to a game in St. Louis each year to see our Winged Wheel Whup up on some BWlues.

I’ll be watching for your posts. Later.

Smitty

Name- Balaji Bharatwaj (or Balla-G according to some twit at urban dictionary..apparently definitions on urban dictionary assist in proper name pronunciation)
Occupation – Working towards an elusive Poor hungry Doctorate (PhD) in Chemical Engineering since….(/thinking/)….never mind…lost time…hope to get there soon though!!

Have been living in Detroit since days of the lockout, but have followed wings hockey since the post lockout era began! Heard about the Russian 5 and Steve Y’s exploits in the winged wheel (tales of the Yore) back when I was India, but got to watch them when I got here. Back in India watching hockey (only playoffs were aired on ESPN at ungodly hours of the day..and were usually reruns. We would be checking for some late night skimpily clad women on TV and would eventually stumble into Hockey). It was exciting partly because of all the gear that adorned the players…sort of intriguing for us! I knew only about power play and the fact that team with most goals wins. I knew nothing else nor did I care to know then as cricket was the defacto sport that we followed! However, hockey (both field and ice) along with soccer were other sports that I watched. Now, its just hockey and the rest have fallen behind a distant second.

My name is Natalia (yes like from Goldeneye)
I am a student at Oakland University studying health care management for right now, but since I have started college I became into the person who changes their major/mind all the time. I also have 2 part time jobs, one in a beauty supply retail store, one as a waitress at a sushi restaurant. So as of right now in my life I know sushi, make-up, some health care management and hockey.

I was born in Michigan, but I am a first generation Colombian American and grew up in Belgium. . I grew up with three older brothers and they always played NHL on our sega (and I got to watch). When we moved back to Michigan I started following the Red Wings and fell in love. Since then I haven’t looked back and probably watch too much hockey for some of my friends likings but oh well. So with that

LETS GO RED WINGS!!

I need my money from tutoring to come in :)

it might take 3 weeks so …fingers crossed on getting it b4!!

I’m Casey (no really?!) and I’m in my final year at Virginia Tech. I grew up in southwest Virginia and although it’s not exactly the hotbed of hockey, it quickly became my favorite sport. I unfortunately was only limited to the Red Wings games shown on ESPN or FOX (glowing puck woo!) but we went to a lot of ECHL games for our hometown team. My brothers and I began playing roller/street hockey at our house and it just grew from there. I also gained a lot of my Wings knowledge from the NHL 96 and NHL 97 video games, that’s how I learned player names and then began recognizing them more and more whenever they were on TV. I guess that’s really it for how things started in terms of hockey for me but it’s definitely grown into an obsession.

My name’s Jason from Fort Collins, CO. I’m pursuing my Master’s in Computer Science at Colorado State. I was never really much of a sports fan at all, but followed hockey during the mid-90’s. Both sides of my family are from Grand Rapids, MI, but when the Avs showed up in ‘95 my folks jumped on that bandwagon, and I chose to remain loyal. I’ve gotten into sports in general and baseball and hockey in particular much more since then (obviously), and now am thrilled to have found WiiM, so I don’t have to get my Wings stats/analysis from ESPN.

My name is Hal and I am from Lansing, Michigan. I currently live in Bloomington, Indiana and I attend Indiana University in order to get my degree in Exercise Science (would love to go to Physical Therapy school). I have been a Wings fan since ’88 (when I was born) and have loved every minute of it. I am also a huge Detroit sports fan in general (yep go lions!) and can not wait for our next championship.

I’m Jason. Long story story, Spent the first 25+ years of my life between the Detroit/Ypsilanti area. The fiancee (now wife) and I moved to GA just short of 4 years ago for her job. Still a huge Tigers and Wings fan in the middle of SEC country.

This is too cool to pass up.

I’m Michael Petrella, originally from Farmington Hills, MI but now I live in New York, where I work as a casting director for television and live events. I despise New York, but like what I do, so it’s one of those things you have to deal with. I’m 28 years old, recently married, and co-run the site The Production Line (www.theproductionline.us), as well as the Red Wings podcast TP:60.

I’ve been a hockey fan since the womb. My mom is one of the biggest fans the Wings have ever had — attending nearly every single game at Olympia during her formative years. My dad was a professional soccer player in Italy and here in the States — so when I came along, strapping skates on was a no-brainer. I began skating as soon as I could hold myself upright, playing all the way through two separate nation’s Olympic development programs and eventually collegiate hockey before my knees told me enough was enough.

I’m extremely proud to have had a hand in coordinating H2H — and currently coordinating H2H2 — and Operation: Curly Fries. I can’t even express what it’s meant to me to find this community of Wings fans all over the world. I always feel at home when I’m on Twitter or in the WIM threads, because even if you folks aren’t physically nearby, I know where I belong.

Welcome to Red Wings Nation, bud. We’ll see you everywhere.

It seems like this brought a lot of people out. Lets hope they all join the game threads.

My name is Nick Teshich, originally from Sterling Heights MI, I am a senior at the University of Michigan majoring in Political Science and am planning on going to Law School. I have been a Red Wings fan as long as I can remember. I found this website this year and it has made games much more fun. You are all classy and I am glad to be associated with this website. I am a die hard U-M (football, hockey, and basketball), Tigers, and Lions (unfortunately) fan. I also hope the pistons do well even though I am not a die hard.

I’m Jeff Hancock. I’m from the small township of Highland, MI, but currently reside in Boston, MA. I literally just finished college two days ago. Who knows what the future holds? I may end up here out east permanently or back in Michigan come summer time. I’ll turn 23 years old on Super Bowl Sunday and I do a little blogging of my own over at the Brendan Smithsonian Institution (). I’ve been a Wings’ fan since I was 6-years-old. My first memory is the game 7 loss to the Sharks in the ‘94 postseason. I’ve recently taken a big interest in follow the Griffins (thanks the Brendan Smith). I’ll be attending my first Griff’s game on Dec. 22.

You’ve managed to find the needles in the haystack

My name is Kyle and I used to work here.

I wrote over here periodically last season… lots o’ prospects stuff that I’m not entirely convinced anyone read, but I enjoyed doing it. I also have/had my own blog called Babcock’s Death Stare. It’s on hiatus for the year because I’m an intern with the Grand Rapids Griffins, which has provided a wonderful opportunity to see the game from a new perspective and has given me another outlet for my writing. I write two or three feature stories a month for the team’s website in addition to some hands on public relations work.

I started following the Wings when I was five (the 1994-95 season.. and I still don’t like the Devils) and I’ve been obsessed since. Slava Kozlov was always my favorite player growing up, and I didn’t like the Hasek trade at all when it happened.. Shortly after that, a new #13 emerged, and I could tell within a few games that Datsyuk was to be my new favorite. All the 16 years I’ve played roller hockey (three years for my high school and one for the club team at GVSU), I’ve tried to pattern myself after them. Not as in the wicked dangler that every other roller player thinks they are, but as someone who is good at stickhandling but doesn’t do it just for the sake of it.

What else.. I’m 21, I’ll be graduating Grand Valley State University this year with a degree in Communications, I also enjoy college football (Michigan), film, comedy, the city of Grand Rapids (if only there was anything else around it), being with people I like, and… more hockey, basically. A given year sees me watch the usual heavy load of NHL games in addition to AHL, OHL (Plymouth Whalers, when I’m at home), college, and my favorite time on the hockey calendar, the WJC, which is just days away!

Not as active here these days, but it’s one of the few blogs I still enjoy reading when I have time.

My name is Maria… ummm I’m 23, and was born in Rochester Hills, grew up as a kid in Almont, moved to Lake Orion for a better school system and graduated high school there. Went to Michigan State for a year (Go Spartans!!) before enlisting in the US Navy. Currently stationed on a ship in Norfolk, VA . I work on communications equipment and navigation data systems. Exciting stuff…

I’ve been a fan of the Wings for as long as I can remember, which is roughly around the 95/96 time frame. My dad was always good for Red Wing tickets- as a salesman for the auto industry who rubbed elbows with some ridiculous people up in those executive boxes, he always had a story to tell, whether it was saving his friend’s life in a bar fight with Probert, or swapping his 2002 Finals Game 5 ticket with a work buddy for a Game 6 ticket (because what are the odds they’re gonna sweep? he says), he was a constant source of Red Wing fandom, and I happily carry on the tradition.

Mostly been a lurker here at WiiM over the last year or two, as I used to come here when I was deployed to read the game threads, since that was the closest I could get to the action (it was certainly an… interesting way of following the playoffs.) So I’m glad to finally have the time and internet to register and join this season. Pleasure to meet you guys, and Go Wings!

My name’s Vikas and I’m 20, was born in India but grew up right here in Novi. Right now I live in Baltimore, though, going to Hopkins until I graduate this year. I’ve been a lurker on this site for a few months now and just recently started sporadically commenting on game threads. Definitely makes watching games a lot more fun, since I only know one other person in Baltimore who’s into hockey and he’s a Bruins fan.

I don’t really have a long history of being a Wings fan… My dad took me to my first game in the 2004 playoffs and I’ve watched almost every single game since. But I’m sure my GPA would be higher if I hadn’t. Biggest games of the playoffs are always right before the day of my biggest finals…

And it’s pretty cool to read all these intros from everyone who I’ve seen commenting but don’t know anything about. Alright, I’m done rambling.

Go wings!

I’ve been putting off doing this.

I’m Courtney, I’m 18 (as was a surprise to most of Wings nation when they found out) and I’m from the good old Upper Peninsula. The Copper Country, to be exact. I was born and raised here, and I’m convinced it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world. Right now I’m going to Michigan Tech for biomedical engineering. I’ve been hanging around WIM and annoying everyone here for about a year now. I remember the first game threads I started to read, when there was ONE person (a writer) “talking to himself.” That convinced me to start posting and joining in the threads. I’ve only missed a handful since then.

I’ve been a Wings fan all my life, it’s a default of this area, but I really started following the year after the lockout. I will watch pretty much any and all hockey I can get my hands on. I love WCHA hockey, and I’ve been watching the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey team since I was 8 (Poor me). I’m also a big Tigers fan, and a Packer fan.

That’s about it..I see a few names here that haven’t been in the game threads before. You guys should start posting! I know we’re crazy, but hey..that’s why we’re awesome.

Hi, I’m Brion (surprise!), I’m 27, and I’m a dork. Wings fan since.. 89ish? But didn’t get really into it until ‘95 when the Devils gave us a taste of our own ass. I’m born, raised, and for some reason moved back to the lovely stenchburg of River Rouge. I have a habit of rambling and getting myself on a semi-related subject and continuing to ramble on that. I call it GSS… Grandpa Simpson Syndrome.

I am one of the biggest Simpsons geeks you’ll ever talk to. Futurama too, but I seriously watch 2-4 episodes of the Simpsons just about everyday, even though I’ve seen them all multiple times. And if there are fans of The Critic out there, you have my undying fealty.

A couple other misc things: baseball is my first love, punk rock makes the world better, and table top/designer board games are the best.

I’m really new to Red Wings fandom. I always liked hockey, but it took moving to Michigan this past May to actually begin following it. I’m originally from LawnGuyland, but my family only ever watched the Knicks, the Yankees, the Jets and the Giants; hockey never made it into the house. I have a hockey godfather (my husband’s best friend from the Marines) who lives in Denver but is a Blackhawks fan, has been playing since he could stand up in skates, now coaches kids’ hockey and knows more about hockey than I could learn in three lifetimes. When Jim was visiting in October we saw our first game at the Joe. He gave us play-by-play throughout the game and by the time the Wings had trounced the Flames I was well and truly hooked.

I found WiiM while bloghunting to accelerate the learning curve, and it’s now a regular stop on the daily surf. I was born in the Mesozoic Era, have a permanent crush on Hank McCoy (bonus points if you know his workname), make a killer cheesecake, and can’t yet grasp the logic of hockey teams in cities where ice only happens in pitchers of sweet tea.

My name is Pete, and like several others I going to make this my jump into regular posting instead of just lurking and shouting comments at the TV/Internet Box.
I grew up just outside of Toledo, OH and that meant I got the best of both worlds – I got the Tigers and Red Wings, but I wasn’t stuck being a Lions or worse UM fan. (Go Browns and Bucks!) I’ve been a Wings fan growing up, but just went to my first game at the Joe earlier this season. I live in DC now in a mixed marriage, because my wife is from here and a life long Caps fan. We have season tix and every so often I just have to remind her of the sweep and how the rafters look bare without the 11 banners in the rafters.

Asheesh – Thanks for pulling me out of my shell.
Handsomerob – thanks for the heads up on RWL – I’ve been struggling with crappy feeds for a while – If I run into you in Foggy Bottom I owe you a beer.

My name is Brandon, I’m 21 and currently a junior at Eastern Michigan studying Sport Management. I have been a wings fan for as long as I can remember. My dad would always watch so I just got hooked. I love watching all levels of hockey, but cannot skate myself. I know way more about goalie equipment than any non-goalie should know, my buddy was one of the goalies for EMU last season and can talk forever about equipment.I think that about sums it up.

I can’t wait for H2h2 (provided I can still get a ticket?)

lotta us it seems are young 20s and in the SE Michigan area…
we should do something b/c that’d be cool

Which would put me at starting to be a Red Wngs fan when they were the Dead Things. Hey, they were on Channel 20, WXON, and that was good enough for me, even on the black and white TV we had back in those days.

Grew up in Ypsilanti, so I’m a Michigan fan, as well as a fan of the Detroit sports teams. I’ve been out in the Madison, Wisconsin area 7 years now.

My fave Wings game ever was one where the team wasn’t physically there…my brother and I, and another friend went to the JLA for JoeVision the night we clinched the 1998 Stanely Cup, and watched with a pretty damn full house as the Red Wings clinched on the Caps ice.

names marshall, i live in norway, mi. in the central u.p. grew up in detroit moved to marine city til little after graduation in ‘80. moved to u.p. in ’82 been here every since, love the wings, always have, all detroit teams really, can’t wait til it’s the lions bringing some good cheer to detroit and michigan.
love WIM. keep up all the good posts, i check in pretty much daily, and appreciate all of your comments and threads.