I absolutely fucking love this sport, to the point of obsession. I've always liked it growing up but being the smallest of the major North American sports, it receives very little attention over here. I started getting into it again just before last christmas and have been obsessed since. One thing I love about it is it's such an egoless sport, in comparison to NFL and the NBA which are full of pre madonnas, thinking they can get away with anything and are above everyone else. You only have to listen to a Hockey player talk and it's always about the team and the fans, never about individual pursuits.
You also have to look into how gruelling the game is. I mean, footballers complain at playing 38 games. In Ice Hockey every single game is a physical battle and every team plays at least 82 games a season, some will play as much as 110 to go all the way to win the Stanley Cup. By comparison in the NFL, even if a team wins the Superbowl, they'll only have played 20 games. I'm also a big fan of the salary cap scheme which the NHL uses, it's amazing how well it works and also it's levelling of the playing field.
I'll quite happily watch any game but I'm a massive Pens fan and try to watch as many games a week as I can but with the late starts it's not always practical. I visited Madison Square Gardens when I was in New York earlier this year and saw all the Rangers facilities, really impressive. I think I spent half my holiday in the official NHL shop this puck now lives on my desk.
There is an Elite league over here but it's not really up too much. I really think it's a sport people would enjoy if they gave it a chance. Quite a few people I know who had never watched Ice Hockey before watched the Canada vs USA gold medal match at the Winter Olympics and absolutely loved it. I'm planning a holiday for late next year to go to either the States or Canada, and I really want to catch as many games as possible when i'm there.
You also can't forget about the greatest Disney films ever, The Mighty Ducks Trilogy. I've got the trilogy on DVD and never get bored of watching them.