Iced bug I thoroughly enjoyed last night's ice hockey. The Blackhawks won 3-1, all the goals coming in the first 12 minutes. The team were welcomed on to the ice by cheering fans evidencing the turnaround this season and promise of better things to come, helped by their best home record in 8 seasons. And the 21,000 sell out stayed to way after the game as Hawks players gave their shirts away to some lucky fans.

Goalie Patrick Lalime was outstanding and stopped, blocked and caught everything thrown at him by Nashville as Chicago were eventually out-shot 30-20.

Ice hockey was an American sport I really thought I would get into before I came, as an outlander I thought it would be the closest thing to football with teams lining up in similar formations, the game is fastpaced and with less of those god-awful stoppages. I saw one game at the end of the 2003/04 season and I think I was tainted by how rubbish the Blackhawks were and the crowd reaction. Then the next season was the players strike, and then these last two have kind of passed me by, exalted by the complete lack of interest from friends and colleagues. Well Mr Miller I think I have finally caught the bug!  ¶ 11:21