Modano-vation
Posted 10:57 AM ET | Comments 8
Growing up, I had a bunch of hockey VHS (and eventually DVDs) that I would watch before/after a game or in my free time in order to study in an attempt to try and emulate the players on the screen. I always drew a great amount of inspiration and motivation from those sessions of sitting in front of the TV.
Fast forward a number of years to today and not much has changed. I still watch videos to get pumped before games; although the format has changed (Youtube, NHL Network, various hockey websites, etc.) and I'm now older and in the mens leagues--the same feeling I got when I was a kid is still there each time I click the play button.
Lately, I find myself going to a Modano tribute/career highlight video a lot. One of the greatest American (but really one of the greatest regardless of nationality) to ever play the game. Speed, hands, leadership and some grit. This was a guy I looked up to (and still do). I should note that I was a goalie my whole life until making the switch to Defensemen in my early 20's for mens league. So most of the guys I looked up to as a kid were the masked men in the blue paint. Modano was one of the small group of Forward/Defensemen that was a hero of mine.
I can remember wishing that he was on a number of teams besides the Stars because Dallas seemed like such a weird place for hockey to me. It wasn't until I got older and understood the importance he played in sticking with the franchise and helping expand the game of hockey in a non-traditional market like the Lone Star State. Actually, I've enjoyed watching the progression of Dallas over the years and have become a fan of teams in non-hockey market cities/states like Carolina, Florida, Arizona, etc. It's fun to see the game grow and the more cities that have teams, the more hockey there is to watch, so I'm down!
The link to the video I'm speaking about is below. I think it really captures the talent and character that Modano possessed both as a player and person.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzeb9GOt9A8
What hockey videos. if any, are your guys go-to for motivation and/or inspiration?
Onward and Upward,
Matt
Fast forward a number of years to today and not much has changed. I still watch videos to get pumped before games; although the format has changed (Youtube, NHL Network, various hockey websites, etc.) and I'm now older and in the mens leagues--the same feeling I got when I was a kid is still there each time I click the play button.
Lately, I find myself going to a Modano tribute/career highlight video a lot. One of the greatest American (but really one of the greatest regardless of nationality) to ever play the game. Speed, hands, leadership and some grit. This was a guy I looked up to (and still do). I should note that I was a goalie my whole life until making the switch to Defensemen in my early 20's for mens league. So most of the guys I looked up to as a kid were the masked men in the blue paint. Modano was one of the small group of Forward/Defensemen that was a hero of mine.
I can remember wishing that he was on a number of teams besides the Stars because Dallas seemed like such a weird place for hockey to me. It wasn't until I got older and understood the importance he played in sticking with the franchise and helping expand the game of hockey in a non-traditional market like the Lone Star State. Actually, I've enjoyed watching the progression of Dallas over the years and have become a fan of teams in non-hockey market cities/states like Carolina, Florida, Arizona, etc. It's fun to see the game grow and the more cities that have teams, the more hockey there is to watch, so I'm down!
The link to the video I'm speaking about is below. I think it really captures the talent and character that Modano possessed both as a player and person.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzeb9GOt9A8
What hockey videos. if any, are your guys go-to for motivation and/or inspiration?
Onward and Upward,
Matt
Modano was really, really good and under appreciated league wide IMO. Saw him kill my Oilers too many times to count.
Absolutely, man. A tremendous player in a small market.
Agreed. Nice post. Go Stars.
Thanks, Jimmyblack3.
Great for American hockey. One of the guys who helped the US take that net step, per say. 1996-67, 83 points, 43. Hart and Selke trophies. Monster!
Modano is one of the best all time, imo. At his peak there were few players that could stop him, and he had all of the attributes that a hockey player could ask for.
Good blog Matt.
Thanks, EK!