Do Russian women like hockey?

[Oiler]

I know a lot of Russian men like this sport. Many have talked to me about the famous Canada-Soviet series of 1972 as a landmark sports event in the FSU.

Usually women in general do not like sports that men like such as hockey and football, but some do.

I wonder if some Russian Women do like hockey though?

[groovlstk]

Oiler,

Based on the women I've met, if you play hockey they will admire you as a "sportsman," even if they're not a fan. If you're an armchair enthusiast, you won't get the same mileage, but there are definitely Russian women out there who are big hockey fans.

[catzenmouse]

You'll find a lot more who are Figure Skating fans. Evgueny and Elvis are serious "hotties" for the ladies but overall they really enjoy the grace and artistic qualities of it.

Ken

[Turboguy]

I have only discussed this with one who is this weeks current # 1 gal.  She does not like hockey but does like the excitment of the crowd.   She does really enjoy figure skating.  My one example is paralell to Kens.

[Doug S]

Oiler,

At last, a RWD topic I can comment on without insulting anyone.

My experience has been no, Russian women do not like or even care about hockey. But they do like ice skating.

This is surprising considering the Russian Pro Hockey League, with almost 20 teams, is the second best league in the World (NHL is No. 1 of course.) And given that many of the FSU countries have similar leagues with almost as many teams (Ukraine, Belarus, Khazakstan, and the three Baltics). And everybody knows about their contributions to the sport in terms of talent. For example, Alex Fedorov played for Kiev in 2000-2001.

But sadly, hockey seems to be a guy thing. Soccer (“futbol”) is much more popular with all citizens of FSU, especially with the ladies. Andrei Shevchenko, formerly of Kiev Dynamo and most recently with Milan makes them swoon.

Although Moscow has five teams, Kiev has three, Minsk has 5, and St. Petersburg has one; attendance is low. (Despite the fact that Moscow teams dominated the league for 50 years, until just recently.) Russian women from those cities or regions are not likely to have ever seen a game. But if you meet a young lady from Kazan, Yaroslavl or Magnitogorsk, she just might be a fan; as those teams have recently encroached upon Moscow’s dominance and those arenas are the only ones in FSU to fill all their seats.

Hockey is close to my heart (which PeeWee says is on my sleeve). I played two years of Pee-Wee hockey (speak of the Devil) in Canada, and two of Bantams, two of Midgets, one of Junior A, one of Junior B, and two of semi-pro in California.

When visiting Olga in Ukraine, we happened to end up at an ice rink where the locals were having a pick-up game. It was remarkably good hockey for just pick-up. Olga and our (female) interpreter were not interested and wanted to move on. I remained riveted. The girls rolled their eyes. (Prior to this, and to their horror, I had demonstrated skate-boarding to a group of street kids who had been taking turns riding one shared board that looked like it was German).

I was particularly interested in the Russian hockey equipment, and although the girls urged me not to reveal that I was American, I finally coaxed the interpreter to engage me in a conversation with some of the pick-up players.  One thing led to another and I ended up strapping on a pair of Russian hockey skates and giving the locals a run for their money.

All were surprised, because I had already been branded by the skateboarding street urchins as a “serfingest from California” and despite the girls’ attempts to keep me under wraps word had already traveled. These Russian (in Ukraine) hockey players could not believe somebody from California could play hockey. Olga could not believe I could ice skate. I explained that I learned in Canada and played for many, many years. The Russian skates looked crappy, but worked surprisingly well by the way.

It turned out both she (Olga) and the interpreter loved recreational ice skating. They said they do it all winter long. When we got to Olga’s house, she showed me her beloved skates, which she ended up bringing to America with her at my request. Since then, Olga and I have gone “public skating” many times, just for fun. And we’ve gone with some of the other Russian-American couples we hang out with. I’m the only one of the husbands that can skate. Some of the others get out there and skid around anyway. But ALL of the Russian wives are good skaters. I love it, because I’m the center of attention. It’s like being the only husband brave enough to dance with the ladies at the Russian disco.

And it’s great having a wife who can ice skate. None of the Western girls I ever went out with or married would go near the ice. (Although I never lived in Michigan or Boston, and my years in Canada were spent at an all-boys boarding school.)

I had dreams of coaching kid’s hockey if we had a boy. But we had a little girl instead, so it will be figure skating if she’s interested. I will be at least able to teach her the basics. And we can go “public skating” as a family.  The local rink up here in Roseville is filled with young Russians, Ukrainians, and other East Europeans, They dominate the ice.

Yes, 756 words. BFD.

Doug S.

[catzenmouse]

Yes, 756 words. BFD.

Up until here you did actually have a post without insulting anyone. Although I am not insulted it did show the attitude again which I guess is part of your trademark.

FWIW

Ken

[KenC]

My wife, Lena enjoyed following the Detroit Red Wings when we lived in Michigan and they had so many Russian players.  We frequented the games and followed the playoffs on TV or at a spots bar.  Her Grandpa was an avid hockey fan and passed it on to her.  Of course the figure skating is the top think in her family.  It gets very interesting around here during the Olympics.  I get static all the way from the other side of the world!   
KenC

[groovlstk]

Here are a few photos of old Groov from the late 90s. Sadly, in the second photo, I was playing for a team run by a crazy but funny guy who was in the U. of Chicago's Ph.D program. Our team was named "Jihad" and the logo on our sweaters was a crazy-looking Arab guy with a bandolier of ammunition around his neck. At the time the guy who ran the team did a brisk side business in t-shirts, caps, and replica sweaters because everyone thought it was the coolest logo.

After 9/11, the guys I played with whom I stay in touch with all sheepishly burned their sweaters.

http://home.comcast.net/~marka136/hockey.jpg

[KenC]

Groov,
Don't be too ashamed as it was a different time and a different political climate.  Remember the saying "It is easier to be killed by a terrorist than for a woman over 40 to get remarried"?  And that used to be funny too.  Times change.
KenC

[docetae]

One of the woman I was corresponding with was dating previously a man playing in the national hockey team before and she really love hockey. Her dream was to get her son becoming a professional player. I still ask me about her motivation to move to Canada ....

[LatinSwede]

I'm not much of a sports nut, but I do like to watch Hockey now and then.  I can't skate worth crap, so I'm content watching from the stands.  I tend to look to the Canadian and Scandinavian teams favorably during the Olympics.  Back in '94 I watched the Sweden vs Canada match with undevided attention.  Sverige got the cold, but team Canada gave them a hard fight for it.

In a way I think it's kind of funny to see an American team, play againt Russia.  I think the bulk of the American team is Immigrants from the FSU. So it's like they're playing againts themselves. 

Speaking of Hockey, I remember a scene from Brat 2, where Danila meets the brother of his recently murdered friend.  One of the gys in his circle had a hockey player brother in Chicago.  So Danila goes to him to give him the bad news, and pull a favor.  My Russian is limited, so I could be off in this plot twist.

[Son of Clyde]

I think Russian Women might enjoy the sport of Curling. It is a lot less bloody than Hockey and there are women's teams. To me it looks very strange seeing someone sweeping the ice to make the stone move in a particular direction. I would never have thought a broom could heat up the ice this much but apparently it does.

[PeeWee]

That Doug S. is certainly one prolific lad. I agree with the ice skating.

Peevee

[LatinSwede]

MY RW likes tennis.  My lease ends in December. It's probably a good idea, to move into an Apartment area with a tennis court.  While on cold weather sports, she'll probably insist I watch Ice Skating with her.

[Son of Clyde]

I am wondering if RW enjoy wrestling and boxing. Probably not.

[catzenmouse]

MY RW likes tennis.  My lease ends in December. It's probably a good idea, to move into an Apartment area with a tennis court.  While on cold weather sports, she'll probably insist I watch Ice Skating with her.

LS,

 Use that to your advantage and find out ahead of time when it is on and plan an evening around it. Big brownie points available here...

SoC,

 Didn't Bruno put up a post of a video with a chick wrestling a guy down? Guess that would depend on the "type" of wrestling she's doing... Think boxing is a lost cause though. Don't know many chicks that like to watch that.

Ken

[LatinSwede]

We already like stting around watching TV anyway.  For seeing the Ice Skating with her, I'll treat her to one of my nice George Romero classics with me.  That way, she'll be frightened and hold on to me the rest of the night.  I won't totally get way with it though.  She made it very clear that certain posters need to come down.

If I move into an apartment area with a tennis court, I'll certainly buy a pair of rackets. I'm not a sports nut, but it's a good way for both of us to be active as a couple.

[SANDRO43]

I am wondering if RW enjoy wrestling and boxing. Probably not.

You should be more specific :

• At home, on TV
• At home, NOT on TV
• NOT at home