PowerPlayGoal.com – Hockey From A Different Angle

Whether you’re still looking for that last minute perfect gift, running around like crazy because you’ve left it so late, or perhaps you’re just looking for the perfect gift to buy us (thanks!) you cannot afford to miss the PowerPlayGoal.com 2009 Christmas gift guide. So, check out our suggestions for the fan type that you’re buying for and then sit back, and await the cries (joy or misery – we are not fussed).

For the fan who won’t appreciate anything:

Always the most awkward person to buy for, so this year why not push the boat out and buy them something insane, crazy and simply the middle finger and a text message to “not bother next year”.

The Boston Bruins offer a VIP suite birthday package. Yes, that right I said Birthday – this gift kills two birds with one stone, doesn’t that save you hassle! This includes 18 tickets, food, drink, cake (!), a personalised scoreboard message, fan gear for everyone and a visit from the mascot, or a Bruins Girl.

If you’re not a Bruins fan, then other teams offer similar packages.

The suite packages start as sweet as $2300, and even if your friend dislikes it, at least you get to meet a Bruins Girl. Or the mascot. Whatever makes you tick.

For the fan that spends all summer longing hockey:

Hockey is hard to find during Summer, as lets face it – its pretty much all about Baseball, maybe Football near the end. So why not plan the perfect get away. And where better than a trip to Oz. Because they are below the equator, the seasons are all topsy turvy, and it’s a bit like Opposite Land. Sydney is arguably one of Australia’s most visited cities and is home to the Sydney Ice Dogs.

The Australian Hockey season runs from late April through to the beginning of August, and with American Airlines Vacations offering a wide range of hotels and plenty of flight options from most major U.S cities why not buy a gift certificate!.

Vouchers are available from American Airlines and start from $50, so you can look cheap or generous.

For the fan who idolises Sidney Crosby:

How about this “wonderful” and “not at all tacky” collectible souvenir coin. Embossed with Sidney Crosby’s grinning face on one side, with the Penguins logo on the other side, the person receiving this gift will treasure it for years to come. Except when another recession kicks in, and they attempt to spend this coin at Target and fail miserably. Expect a law suit.

Avaliable at sportsmemorabillia.com for the not so tacky price of $29.95

For the fan who wouldn’t recognise a real from a fake:

If the person you’re buying a gift for has no clue what’s real and what isn’t, why not take advantage of their idiocy (and I mean that in the nicest possible way) by buying a fake jersey.

Sure, the stitching doesn’t look right, and the colours wrong and New York has never used that logo, but alas, they won’t care. Just encourage them to not wear it when you’re with them.

Fake jerseys can be found cluttering up eBay, and start from as low as $2.99. And they say you cannot put a price on dignity.

For the fan who will wear anything related to their team no matter how bad:

Some people will wear anything. So why not purchase them a hat. Not just any hat though – one with a unique style that perhaps may have been acceptable in the late 80′s early 90′s or perhaps is regarded as a crime against fashion by most other people.

Finding something this terrible can be quite a feat, but eBay is once again the place to go, and we found criminally bad clothing as low as $24.

For the fan who lives in the past:

Many people still go round saying how much they want their old NHL team back, but the reality is – would it really be like the good old days? The hamburgular did’nt steal the team, they moved due to reasons – low season ticket sales, bad attendance, shoddy rink. Still for those that wish to hang on, printfection have the perfect range of tshirts for you. Ones that display your messages of protest – so that maybe the “evil” Gary Bettman will take note!

T-shirt’s male and female avaliable from printfection.com starting from $24. Try protesting that that low price!

For the fan who hates sunbelt teams:

For those of you who hate the teams that play on the west coast, or all the way down south – Take a trip.
Use a service such as stubhub to pick up some cut price NHL game tickets for one of the many teams below the “sunbelt”, and unlike Toronto right now, see some decent Hockey. The LA Kings are pretty damn hot right now, and the Sharks are always on form – Or if your more of an Overtime fan, then check out Dallas!

A ticket that changes your perspective can be found at stubhub.com from $29! That’s a win right there!

For the fan who longs to be a mascot:

Perhaps you’ve noticed your friends obsession with mascots. Well, make their day by buying them a mascot costume from the vast range available on Cheer etc. Perhaps it will even finally give them the push to become your local teams new mascot. if all else fails, they can always become a furry.

Mascot costumes are available from cheeretc.com and start from a “furtastic” $300! (though they seem to average at least $1000)

I hope that these gift suggestions have helped give you an idea into what you can buy your friends, family, co workers, estranged sisters. And remember, your welcome to send some Christmas cheer our way. Cash is always welcomed.

Happy Holidays,

KevKev.

PowerPlayGoal.com has no affiliation with any of the sites linked to in this entry, and are in no way responsible for the results of buying these products or your experiences on the websites of these links.

Hi and welcome to this years what not to buy guide. Last year I focused mainly on eBay (I would show you some stuff but its all on the “old” site, so I don’t have it to hand) And apologies for the long time since my last article, I am a university student after all, and sadly I have work to do.
So, on with the article we go.

Ok, your best mate is a hockey fan, or perhaps you’re the parent of an eager hockey enthusiast, and you’ve got absolutely no clue what to buy for Christmas. Well, this guide will suggest some things not to buy, and if you have them, well perhaps you should check to see if you have the receipt and head back to where you got it from, and don’t say we didn’t warn you.

1. Backyard Hockey DS

What is it: The first and (only) NHL game produced for the Nintendo DS.

Why should you not buy it: Its possibly the worst game for the DS. Well that’s unfair, because this is the console with a recipe book that somehow got classed as a game. But it is shockingly bad, with poor graphics, gameplay and worse still, stupid controls – It’s a classic case of a company trying to be smart with controls, and failing miserably.

Our Suck-o-Meter says: Epic Fail

2. Bobble head Sean Avery

What is it: A miniature figurine of the player Sean Avery, complete with a wobbling head

Why should you not buy it: It would most likely start insulting you, failing that, it could start a fight with any other bobble heads that you’ve collected through the past, knocking their blocks off in the process. If you think that’s a little unrealistic, what if the person twanged the head so much from frustration with hi lack luster performance on ice, the head broke off, and got swallowed by a small child? Still a good idea? No. Defiantly not. Case Closed.

Our Suck-o-Meter says: Wang-Tastic

3. Fake Ebay Hockey jersey

What is it: A shoddily sewn together “jersey” made in some guy from Alabama’s garage.

Why should you not buy it: Stop whining about the fact that the real things are so dammed expensive. Unless the person your buying the jersey for has no clue about hockey at all I am sure they will notice the odd colours, the hole forming in the back, from the stitching, the beer stain from the guy who made it in Alabama, and of course the over obvious fact its fake. Oh and if this doesn’t deter you, it could be flammable, or contain toxic materials…

Our Suck-o-Meter says: Like buying a Rick Astley CD

4. D3 Mighty Ducks

What is it: The final installment of sugar coated hockey pain from Disney

Why should you not buy it: Because it singe handedly destroys the meaning of hockey. Its not about having a good time, winning and perseverance. Its about blood, sweat and men with sticks hitting each other. Am I misguided or what?

Our Suck-o-Meter says: Disneyoriffic

5. Romford Raiders Season Ticket

What is it: A ticket that lets you see every Romford Raiders hockey game this season

Why should you not buy it: Because no person deserves to pay a lot of money to watch low quality hockey, especially if its in a rink that’s falling apart, filled with rather unpleasant fans and subjected a shitload advertising.

Our Suck-o-Meter says: Like being forced to watch a televised chess tournament

So there we go. Five presents not to buy a hockey fan. If you buy them anything from this list, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Until next time readers, please do enjoy hockey from a different angle.

Welcome to Hockey in real life – The section dedicated to helping you overcome real life problems and events while making sure you can remain a hockey fan.

The credit crunch.

The credit crunch seems to be the buzz word at the moment, and with the economy collapsing, the thoughts of recession looming many people are cutting back on their spending and for many people this will include things that they love, eg. Watching hockey.

We are here to help, and here’s our advice on how you can save money, yet still watch hockey live in person.

Search long and hard for cheaper tickets.
If you don’t own a season ticket, then you will often find the average ticket can cost from anything such as $20 and up, especially nearer, or on game day, and then worse still, you get royally screwed for booking fees, especially from companies like ticketmaster etc.
However. Websites such as stubhub.com offer tickets for prices as low as $5, and the costs are very low.
Stubhub guarantee all tickets, and lets face it, its better than that shady looking man who hangs around the parking lot in a long trench coat hawking dodgey tickets.

Sundays big game sold out? Don’t worry, you can still see hockey – Just look around for a smaller local team, or even a small college/university team. Heck, you might find that you even prefer going to their games instead, as they often seem more like hockey should be, with increased violence, shaky players and more than often, better seats. The merchandise is usually much cheaper too – Plus… No Gary Bettman!

No matter what you choose to do, be it last minute $9 Boston tickets, or a $1 Sunday League hockey game, or even a $9000 VIP suite, Enjoy the game.

I’m KevKev, for PowerPlayGoal.com