this girl drives a tank

mats sundin

I was about 15 years old and the Toronto Maple Leafs were playing the Quebec Nordiques (who later became some team in Colorado) at Maple Leafs Garden. It was my first NHL hockey game and I was only there because my younger brother was too sick to attend.

Our seats were just to the left of the Toronto goalie, right at the lowest level, right behind the glass. Now people will tell you about the seats halfway up at center ice, and they will say things about how you can see the whole game from there, but they are wrong. If you want to appreciate the speed and excitement of professional hockey, sit right at the front, right behind the glass.

At that time, Quebec had just drafted a 20 year old Swedish player by the name of Mats Sundin, I had no idea of this back then of course as my Dad had ingrained in me the notion that all you need to know is that you love the Maple Leafs and you hate anyone that they happen to be playing. Consequently, I wasn't up to speed on what teams drafted what players.

The players would whirl around the ice like some sort of macho ballet, I was awestruck. Suddenly the flow of the game moved toward our little corner of the rink. I cannot remember his name, but the Leafs had this giant, hulking defenceman and as Mats Sundin sped around the corner of the rink to chase the puck, this big defenceman had lined Mats up in his sights and proceeded to slam him face first into to the glass. Right in front of me.

The crowd went crazy, my Dad and brother joined the rest of our section in jumping up and pounding their fists against the glass. I watched the defenceman skate down the ice, but no sign of Mats. I couldn't see him as he was laying down on the ice. When he got up, he was bleeding profusely, all over his face, the fans continued to jeer him, but he just stood up, spat a mouthful of blood onto the ice, looked directly at me and grinned, then skated off to the bench. I will never forget thinking to myself "magnificent..."

Okay, he didn't look directly at me, he kinda looked collectively at the fans in our section, but whatever. The point is, that moment was when my crush on Mats Sundin began and it has continued now for 15 years. I realize that he will never know who I am but my boyfriend has been told I would drop him in a flash if Mats Sundin offered to whisk me away to Sweden. My boyfriend thinks I am joking.

Although I no longer follow hockey I mention this only because on the weekend Mats scored his 500th goal in the NHL, no small feat. This goal was quite special because A. it was his 500th, B. it was a shorthanded goal, C. it was in overtime and D. I have a crush on him.

You can watch the goal here.