My favorite hockey arenas

Forget what you were told. Women do follow sports just as closely as men do and not just to see who's cute, although I will admit, I get goose bumps watching Mike Hampton on the mound, Jason Giambi holding a bat, or Joe Sakic and Pierre Turgeon just holding their sticks, waiting for a faceoff!

As you can tell, besides baseball, hockey is my favorite sport. I've loved the coolest game on earth since 1967. As it is now the year 2001, you do the math. It's been a long time and I'm not ashamed to say that during the months of October-April, sometimes May, I plan a trip around a hockey game. (Of course, it also helps that I'm blessed enough to work for an airline and have a network of fellow hockey loving female friends who supply me with Rangers, Capitals, and Penguin tickets.)

In my hockey trips around the NHL, I have favorite and not so favorite buildings. Some of these buildings are gone, some are known by another name now. So in no particular order, I give you my favorite and not so favorite NHL arenas.

Montreal Forum - Montreal, Canada

I was unhappy to see the Canadians leave this proud old gray building on Rue St. Catherine. Once you walked into it, you knew you were in a special place, and seeing the pictures on the wall of former Canadian greats like Rocket Richard, Guy Lefleur, and Jean Beliveau only added to the aura of the building.

Madison Square Garden - New York City, NY

I have personal reasons for liking this building. I'm a native New Yorker, a Ranger fan, and this was the place where I saw my first live hockey game in 1968.

Staples Center-Los Angeles, CA

The new home of the Los Angeles Kings I like because it's not only a very pretty arena, but it's a rarity in the land of the automobile that you can get there by train.

Mellon Arena - Pittsburgh, PA

Yes, I know this is the oldest arena in the NHL and it's going to be torn down soon, but when you're driving from the suburbs of Pittsburgh to the city that sits on three rivers, the sight of the "Igloo" on the highway is worth a Kodak moment.

MCI Center - Washington, DC

"The Phone Booth" is absolutely one of the nicest buildings to see, or be seen at, if you want to watch a hockey game. Also, if you get tired of watching hockey, you can take in all the historical sights as the Center is close to everything in Washington, DC. If you don't want to miss any hockey action at the Center, but don't like the crowds, you can go to the MCI Restaurant, which is located right under ice level.

Now that I've given you my favorite five, it's only natural that I give you my four arenas that I absolutely don't like to see my favorite sport in.

Nassau Coliseum - Uniondale. NY

Why is this place on my not so favorite list? I'm a Ranger fan and the Islanders play here. Need I say more?

America West Arena - Phoenix, AZ

This has got to be the LOUDEST arena to watch a hockey game in. However, it would be nice if some of the seats weren't obstructed so you could see what you were yelling about!

Maple Leaf Gardens - Toronto, Canada

I know all about the tradition this building has and how much this building means to hockey players who grew up in Eastern Canada, but I'm sorry, I didn't feel it. I didn't feel that aura I felt when I stepped into the Montreal Forum for the first time or even Fenway Park or Busch Stadium.

The Meadowlands- East Rutherford, NJ

I know it's now called the Continental Airlines Arena, but before that, it was the Meadowlamds and before that it was the Brendan Byrne Arena. The name maybe different, but one thing hasn't changed about this arena on 16W -- it's still in the middle of nowhere!!!!.

Next season, after the Stanley Cup parade has made its way through the streets of the Mile High City, I'll be looking over the NHL schedules, deciding which games I'll be going to see. It'll give me a chance to add some more NHL arenas to my list of favorite and not so favorite places to see one of my favorite sports.