Here's your chance!!! ... How long have you been a hockey fan?

Question

- When was the earliest Stanley Cup Final that you remember watching (or following, if you couldn't get it on TV for whatever reason)?

bonus ?: who won the Conn Smythe that year? (did you have to look it up?)

Answer 1

I have been skating for 35 years, I grew up watching hockey from close to day one.  The first I remember was game 4 of the 1974 finals in Philadelphia, which was also the first professional hockey game I attended.  Bernie Parent was the Conn Smythe and no, I did not need to look it up.

Answer 2

1994 NY Rangers over Vancouver

(I was 8)

Conn Smythe went to Brian Leetch (No way I remember it like it was yesterday)

Answer 3

I've been following the Pens since they were the Hornets in the AHL & before Mellon Arena (the Igloo) was built. My first game was in 1961,Pittsburgh Hornets vs Hershey Bears. I followed the Calder Cup, not the Stanley Cup back then.

Answer 4

I've been a Hockey Fan Since 2001, And the Earliest Stanely Cup final i remember watching was when the Wings won it in '02.

I'm pretty sure Nick Lidstrom won it in '02. I didn't look it up though

Answer 5

75 Flyers though i don't remember all of it i was only 5 but i do remember some of it. the favorite sport in my house as far as us kids was hockey. My uncle played for the Philly Firebirds for a short while. That got my oldest brother hooked and it just steam rolled from there.....but my parents hated it

Answer 6

I remember listening to the 1951 game and hearing the results the next morning. Bill Barilko became a hero over night. I was 7 years old at the time and the game was on CKFH radio (before TV). The FH stood for Foster Hewitt and he broadcast the game. He called a game so well that you could see the play from his words alone. That summer Billy died in a plane crash in Northern Ontario.

There was no Conn Smythe Trophy at that time. Conn was still around a big part of the Leafs as the Team Manager.

Interestingly enough in that series which was won by the Leafs over Montreal 4-1, every game went into overtime.

Answer 7

The earliest I recall watching was the New York Islanders 1980. Bob Nystrom scored the clincher in OT and I danced around my livingroom in NYC in my pajamas. I recall that Canadians had a stranglehold on the Cup leading up to that... I'm sure I watched some of those games but I don't recall any single game in particular.

(I started playing hockey in 4th grade - 1976)

Answer 8

Been a fan since 2000. The first Stanley Cup Finals I saw was when New Jersey won it over Dallas in 2000. I was 7 years old at the time.

No idea who won the Conn Smythe that year.

Answer 9

Since I was about 8 y/o. Of course you need to know how old I am to know how long that is. Let's just suffice to say it's longer than about 90% of the people on here.

Hint: I was watching hockey when it was still the Original 6.

Answer 10

been a hockey fan for about 25 years. i do rmember seeing, not necessarily watching, the run of the islanders.  but i was tiny, and hockey was new to me.  however, really matured as a fan during marios time in the burgh.  heck, i was only 13 when he was drafted and watched in amazement.  the great thing about mario, wayne, stevie and others is that they get you interested in OTHER players as well.  that's the reason i am a fan today.

Answer 11

since game three Buffalo Pittsburgh 1979 playoffs Pittsburgh won we were eliminated and my mom was crying it was the coolest game on earth so exciting huge fan ever since

Calgary Montreal 1986

have no idea

Answer 12

I started playing when I was 5, but my first memory of an NHL game was shortly before that when my father was watching a Sabres/Oilers game on TV at the old Aud.  I remember thinking how cool the logos were.  The first finals I remember was in 86' when Montreal defeated Calgary with Mr. Roy being Smythe winner.

Answer 13

It was the 1988 Stanley Cup final and Wayne Gretzky was the Conn Smythe winner...he had 13 points in the Finals alone and like 30 assists in the whole playoffs.

Answer 14

2001 Stanley Cup final. Patrick Roy won the Conn Smythe (and no, of course I didn't have to look that up, it's my fav team/player, I know everything about them lol). And while that may seem not that long ago, I was only 11 back then. As funny as it may seem, I did not even know that the NHL existed prior to 2001. I did not follow any sports at all back then, for some reason, lol. Probably because I was just getting used to the American lifestyle, it was so much different from Russia. For example: there was food here, lol.

Answer 15

I can vaguely recall the Bruins winning in 1971-72, but certainly can recollect them losing to the Flyers a couple of years later in 1974. Ironically Don Cherry took over behind the bench the next season. I bought my first hockey cards in 1972. I was 5. Now I'm in the greatest Keeper Hockey pool in the world at www.keeperpool.com. Check us out!

Answer 16

1996–97.

Detroit Vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Mike Vernon was the MVP.

Ahhh a great season.!

No look up, I just know it. I did however see recaps of the Avs sin (in triple ot) in 97. Thats also when I started loving the Sakic, Forsberg, Roy lineup!

Answer 17

The Pens and Hawks in '92...the same year the Sharks came in the league.  I was a casual hockey fan, but when the Sharks started, there was alot....well, a bit MORE media on hockey and i followed it more.  Easy conn smythe winner as Mario was indeed Mario!

Answer 18

2006 - Oilers knocked my team out in round 1

Cam Ward, Hurricanes goalie.  Yes.

I've liked hockey ever since a Plymouth Whalers game in 2002, but really began paying attention properly in 2006

Answer 19

Been a fan since 1972 (or actually 1971 when the Islanders were announced as an expansion team).  They were the reason I staretd playing myself.  Unfortunately, due to 7 concussions while playing, the only first series I can actually remember was 1983 (Isles v. Oilers).  The rest are all lost to head trauma, but my dad assures me that I was watching avidly from '72.  Of course, the Conn Smythe was Billy Smith that year.  No need to look that one up, everyone knows that one!

Answer 20

I was 6 the first time I watched a game on TV. I didn't understand a lot fo it till I was much older (the only hockey watcher in my family, nobody explained it LOL, amd I was too scared to ask my friends who were boys...) so I don't remember much until probably the mid 90s as far as cups go.

I'm 25 now, so let's just say a caveman could have very well have dragged a trophy or plaque to his cave.

Answer 21

2005. and i watched the cup final that year as well. i dont remember who won the conn smythe. i never remember that stuff. i suck...

Answer 22

been a fan since i was like, 5 or 6

but the first stanley cup i remeber vividly was when Colorado beat NJ in 2001

i think joe sackic won the conn smythe trophy, but im not sure

Answer 23

1) 1995 Red Wings vs Devils (wings lost of course)...I was a wee lad

2) Claude Lemieux and NO I didn't have to look it up. The fact that this guy won anything besides a punch in the mouth from McCarty blows my mind.

Answer 24

I vaguely remember the 1995 Devils win (SWEPT Detroit, w00t!).  Claude Lemieux won the Conn Smythe (didn't look it up).  I was four.

I do remember, very vividly, the 2000 Devils win against Dallas in DOUBLE overtime!!  Jason Arnott, FTW!  Scott Stevens (yeahh!) was the Conn Smythe winner.  Didn't look that up either.  I was nine.

Answer 25

I remember watching the Canucks/Rangers in '94...sadly I was too little to remember much of it. I also remember BAWLING when Trevor Linden got traded, and them playing "Time of Your Life"..oh man I'm getting sad just remembering.

But I really became a hockey fan in 2002, when I was in ninth grade.

Answer 26

I have been a Pens fan for 20 years. That was just slightly before they won their 1st Cup in 1990-91. The first cup Final I watched was the year before that and I believe Edmonton won.

I am guessing but I would say Gretzky won the Conn Smythe in '89-90. Lemieux won it the next yr. for the PENS

Answer 27

I don't remember the final itself, but I remember the victory parade after the Pens won it in 1991.  I would have been 5 at the time.

Mario Lemieux won the Conn Smythe.

Answer 28

First Stanley Cup Finals I remember was in 1988. Flames and Oilers. Oilers won and Gretzky was awarded  the Conn Smythe.  Did not have to look that up.

Answer 29

1964, Detroit Red wings and the Montreal canadiens, Roger Crozier won the Conn Smythe, first time awarded to non winning team member. And no, I didn't have to look it up.

Answer 30

I recall watching the 1996-1997 Detroit Red Wings- Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup Finals. I was about 3 years old and it's the first thing I remember. If I'm not mistaken ( Which I very much may be, ) Detroit swept Philly.

I don't know who won the Conn Smythe

I barely remember it, though. Just watching hockey.

Answer 31

1987 Flyers /Gretzky's and Hextall was the Conn Smythe winner and no way did I have to look it up.I vaguely remember 80 with Nystrom and the boys winning in OT against the Flyers and Trottier was the winner but I didn't know it..Looked it up.