With the holidays fast approaching; it is so easy to panic buy and just rush out and buy anything within your price range for your hockey fan friend. By following this handy guide; we can tell you what gifts to avoid – unless of course your friend happens to support the Red Wings; Then its okay by us. [Just kidding, we love all fans of teams here…]
Don’t Get: NHL 2k11 (Wii)
Taking a year off of PS3 / Xbox360 (well lets face it when you face competition as good as what EA puts out who wouldn’t step aside) didn’t mean that 2K sports spent all their hockey energy and inspiration on this game.
Reviews from major websites describe the game as: “a big letdown compared to last year’s great arcade hockey game” (Game Spot), “Clunky shooting and passing” (Game Revolution) and “NHL 2K11 had a lot of potential” (IGN) whilst user reviews rank at a mediocre 5.
Instead Get: NHL Slapshot (Wii)
Providing your in one of the countries it ships Slapshot features a rather unique stick attachment. Sure; it lacks the Ducks third jersey, uses the NHL06 engine but with a metacritic score of 76; and even a score of 8.5 on our very own powerplaygoal.com
Don’t Get: Slapshot 3
Even comedy legend Leslie Neilson couldn’t save the continuation of this once great movie franchise from heading down the toilet. Us here at PowerPlayGoal.com had the pains of watching this “film” whilst on a hockey related trip to Sweden and like most other people; found it to be awful. If you’re a fan of lame puns, plot holes and bad child acting then by all means purchase away – however should the person your buying the gift for not like such features in a movie don’t expect them to ever talk to you again.
Instead get: Sudden Death
Sure its predictable an features Jean-Claude Van Damme but its one of those bucket of popcorn; guys night; feel good action movies.
Featuring an epic mascot fight scene; Explosions galore and a pre-Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins this film might not be the next Inception; but its still heck of a lot better than Slapshot 3.
Don’t Get: D2: The Mighty Ducks
Sure, after several reductions in price and even a spell in the bargain bin this film looks like a great purchase for a hockey fan. You might even be considering it for a young’un to bring them into the world of hockey. But I ask, do you really want them to believe in fairy tale endings and “Hollywood” hockey? Oh and If you do get it, and you get the VHS version I may have to come pay you a personal visit.
Instead Get: Running Scared
Sure, its rated R and contains hardcore drug scenes; gun shots and a fictional team called The Razors – but this 2006 gritty release see’s undercover cop take on a gang of Russians operating a drug ring under the guise of a low league hockey team. Dark, twisted and defiantly more authentic towards hockey this movie would suit most fans of thriller movies; and show little kids that there is more to hockey than winning; and heck, the cover says it makes Kill Bill look like sesame street, so there is something kid related to it. Yay.
Don’t Get: Backyard Hockey DS
This game was one of our first reviews; and we looked at the DS version. This game is ranked 4/10 by IGN and we gave it a 1 out of 10; because it does have some hockey in it.
It is buggy, sluggish and overall not that much fun – however its as close as you will get to hockey on a DS.
Do Get: NHL 07 PSP
Yes, its heading towards being 4 years old now; but its still regarded as a good game by critics and a lot of fun by fans. Sure, its missing a lot of features that the consoles have nowadays; and maybe the Ducks are yet to win the cup with it but its the closest thing you can get to hockey on a handheld.
I’m kevkev, and I hope my quick guide to what you should, shouldn’t and must destroy video entertainment special has inspired you this holiday season.
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”.
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 
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.
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!
For those of you who hate the teams that play on the west coast, or all the way down south – Take a trip.
