It seems like a lifetime since the last live ice hockey game I went to in the UK. It was the EIHL Challenge Cup Final in Cardiff and I had no idea that there would be no more hockey after that.
I had just designed the Challenge Cup Final programme and was feeling proud of what I had achieved. Being around the rink and seeing the fans holding ‘my programme’ was an absolute joy. The Cardiff and Sheffield fans all together cheering for their respective sides is what sport is all about. And, in my opinion, ice hockey fans do it like no other!
Looking back, the game was lucky to be played at all as we were on the cusp of the first Covid-19 wave. The ensuing lockdown meant the league was cancelled and the upcoming Play-off weekend was cancelled too. I was lucky enough to have been asked to design that Play-off weekend programme too, so to have that weekend cancelled was a major disappointment, both personally and professionally.
I hope that next season, whenever that may be, I am lucky enough to be a part of the matchday programmes again and the major finals that the league hold. Designing the weekly programmes is an honour I’ll never get tired of, and to design the two major finals for the league was a dream come true.
Sport without fans in attendance is hard to swallow. Yes, it’s great for sport to be played behind closed doors and via webcasts but nothing compares to being in the stands. Living every shot, save, body-check and fight as they happen is hard to explain. The uncontrollable feeling to jump out of your seat or put your head in your hands is amazing.
Let’s hope (and pray if you want) that we can get back to the way we were on that Sunday in March, and we can relive those feelings of joy for winning, and despair for losing. I am missing both of those emotions right now. I’d take either one at the minute just to be at a live game.
Roll on 2021-22 season??