One Last Game…

So with our future determined, as Blue Jackets fans, many have turned their eyes to scouting reports, speculation on draft picks, or (gasp!) the usual doom and gloom of CBJ negatively skewed stats. Except for that last one, I am definitely enjoying the conversations (and learning a lot thanks to my intrepid blogging idols – see my blog roll) but I would like to take a second to mark where we are – The Last Game.Now look, I too desperately wish that we were saying just “Our Last Regular Season Game” and that playoffs were on the horizon. And, I will definitely follow the balance of playoff races to the Cup, but, after experiencing the emotional drop off after we realized there were no playoffs in this year’s future, and then facing the sports wasteland that is golf and baseball season (I know many of you are fans…quite frankly, I’d rather stand pad-less in goal while the Sedin twins take shots at me for hours than watch either of these games. I don’t get it.) the stark reality of what no-hockey time is has started coming into focus. And, I’ll miss our home team playing week in and week out.

So tomorrow, I’m headed down to the Arena to watch this team play its final game. Arguably, its final game with this roster ever (we hope!) But, win or lose (please god, let them win) I’m going to try and soak it all in – the chill off the ice, that cool skating sound (when NOT mic’d – who came up with that dumb idea) our boys in their 3rd Jerseys, hopefully a fight (or some DD fisticuffs) and some good ol’ ice hockey. Because, I’ve come to love this game – and this team. And after tomorrow, its gonna be a while till we get them back – so even with all the valid grousing, and torpedoed hopes and dreams, and injuries, and the suspected onslaught of too many Buffalo fans – I’m gonna love being at tomorrow’s game.

Don’t ever forget why you became a fan in the first place – and soak that up – its gonna have to last you for a while… GO JACKETS!