Vancouver was my first favourite team. I jumped on the bandwagon when I was 10 and the Canucks had their run to the cup final. I had become a goalie that season and 'King' Richard Brodeur was my hero. I remember my parents letting me stay up 'super late' to watch the west coast games on HNIC during the play-offs. God, I hated Billy Smith and the Islanders.
Then Ottawa got a franchise and they were in Ontario and not the Leafs and I visited Ottawa a few times, was invited down there to try out for the Gloucester Rangers in 91(?)... and they played the Canadiens in their first game and it was so awesome, and the franchise had an affiliate in Thunder Bay... and I 'switched' to the Sens. Also, Norm Maciver.