For the love of the game

Hockey. Formerly this would have been posted as "For Nick's love of the game", but since meeting and marrying Nick I have come to enjoy and even love watching the game. Don't let me fool you, I wasn't exactly hard to convince since I grew up watching my Dad and brother play. But back then it was just about running around the rink playing and drinking hot chocolate. Now I actually pay attention to who's playing, and for the most part I understand everything that's going on.

Nick and I playing a friendly game with the Schow family Christmas 2007

Nick with His Uncles Ernie & Brad, and cousin Vincent after playing hockey Christmas 2008

Nick started playing hockey when he was just a little kid so I guess you could say he was raised to be a hockey player, it's in his blood. When he was little his dream was to make it to the NHL. Unfortunately that didn't quite happen, so he gets his fill from Men's League hockey, and watching his beloved Oilers play. We try to get tickets for a game once a year, because (atleast for me) it is so much funner to watch it in person!

This year Nick played in a Men's league with a bunch of his friends

When the games weren't too late at night Kay, me & Erin would come out to support our husbands

This was the second Oilers game Nick and I went to together, our first was with Tom and Ashley. For this game Melvin & Kay scored us some sweet free tickets!

Watching the team go back to the ice inbetween periods. Go Oilers!

I love Rexall Place. Pretty much any seat in the house is a great seat!

Nick and I hit up an Oilers game on our 2 year anniversary just a couple weeks ago :)

I figure a post about hockey wouldn't be complete without pictures of the injuries that come along with the sport. When Nick and I were first dating, he got high-sticked in the face and I had to take him to the emergency room for stitches in his lip. It took four and a half hours, and from that experience we learned never to go to the University Hospital. It's WAY too busy there! A month before Nick and I got married he took another hit to the face and had to get more stitches on the side of his jaw. The scar is quite visible in some of our wedding pictures... Then, about a month and a half after our wedding he got high-sticked in the face yet again, and required more stitches on the front of his chin (sure glad this one didn't happen pre-wedding!). In 7 short months, we had 3 emergency trips and 18 stitches total.

When we were first dating, this was his first set of stitches to his lip.

Pretty gross close-up.

This was after we were married, stitches set number three!

This year because Nick now has braces I finally convinced him to wear a full-cage on his helmet so his whole face is protected. He agreed with me that thousands of dollars of orthodontic work is worth protecting. And I can gladly report that he has agreed to wear it indefinitely. Whoo Hoo! Hopefully our days to the Emergency Room can be over forever.