Watching can be a sport

I like to be active and be the one taking part in most sporting activities. If there is a game going on I like to be a participant. Every now and then though, it is nice to sit in the stands and watch a game. Recently, I had a chance to take my son to his first hockey game, and it reminded me just how fun it was to sit and watch a game. From the simplicity of watching the zambonies clean the ice, or chanting simple cheers, it is all enjoyable. You might even say that watching is as much exercise as playing…depending on your level of fan participation.

In Sussex we are blessed to have many sports to not only play but to watch as well. High school level athletics is very entertaining and anyone who has watched a Dairy Town Classic basketball game can attest to this. This tournament by the way is coming up January 14-16th. If you have watched the Sonics take on the Blackcats for the championship you have seen some incredible intensity and passion. Sussex Regional High School has football, soccer, field hockey, baseball, and hockey teams which compete at very high levels and watching a game with students who simply want to have fun is an experience in itself. For schedules contact the school at 432-2017.

Hockey fans can also cheer on local athletes by taking in a Kings County Hockey League game. This is probably the highest level of hockey being played locally and the rough style of play is very entertaining. Add to that, the relatively cheap cover charge, it is a great night of entertainment. This is also a great venue to introduce your young child to hockey, as a way to gauge his/her interest in playing the game.

Thanks to Jim and Chris Andrew of Tim Horton’s I was able to take my son to another level of hockey. The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is arguably the highest level of hockey in the Maritimes and we were able to watch one of the top teams in the league play. Living in Sussex we can easily travel to watch the “Seadogs” play in Saint John or the “Wildcats” play in Moncton. The venues are bigger and it is a much bigger presentation than what you might receive at the Eighth Hussars. Usually there are substantially many more people at these games adding another level of fan participation to the atmosphere. This makes it easier for you to take part and not feel at all foolish. If you can avoid the snack bars, I bet you could even burn lots of calories and consider watching the game a form of exercise. Many players call their home fans an extra player, and as someone who used to play at local levels, I can remember feeling an extra boost in front of large home crowds so in essence fans are playing.