I Expected More Than This

Last night I had the privilege of attending my first Leafs game at the ACC and was extremely disappointed. I expected the fans to be a bit more, how should I say it, alive. Even Blue Jays fans are louder than the blue and white faithful were last night but in their defense, they really didn’t have much to cheer for. Despite the Leafs being out of the playoffs, they were playing their arch rivals, the Ottawa senators, and even had a chance to knock the Sens out of the playoffs so I was expecting some sort of emotion from the team and a better showing from the fans.

The game started like the “Battle of Who Could Care Less” (Ben Folds Five) and the most excitement was generated by a hit to the head to Alfredsson. (Just an aside: since the NHL has no recourse for head hits, that hit was within the rules of the game and was a great hit). The true class of the Leafs fans showed itself after that hit. Alfredsson was knocked down and seemed to be in a lot of pain while the Leafs fans cheered, louder than when the Leafs scored their first goal. Cheering when someone gets hurt playing a sport is just not something that should ever be done. At that moment, when Alfredsson was writhing on the ice, there should not have been any cheers. That moment quickly ended when Alfredsson jumped to his feet as if waking up from a nap and leisurely glided to the bench. This is when the fans should have got on him, and many did. I am an anti-Leaf fan but even I was unimpressed with the theatrics put on by Alfie. Unfortunately, the way the game is officiated these days that type of shenanigans frequently results in a penalty for the offending team.

After the Alfredsson incident, the rest of the first period became more like a roller derby on skates. To the benefit of the game, the buffoonery climaxed at the end of the period and the teams, or at least the one team, decided to play hockey in the second period and for most of the remainder of the game. The Leafs were only going through the motions, finishing up the second to last game of another dismal season, and never really threatened the Sens. 8-2 Senators win.

I would like to get to a Leafs game that means something before I really cement my opinions of the Leafs game experience because that game did not elicit the best effort of the fans. If the game meant something and the fans were into in (if the players were even into it), then maybe this would have been an enjoyable experience. As it was, the game was just an expensive night out with my wife and son in cramped quarters with 18,000 strangers.