But the early 1970s Bruins were just awesome. Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, Derek Sanderson, etc. If they didn't go out drinking every night, they might have won 5 or 6 Stanley Cups during that era. And if Bobby Orr didn't blow out his knee, he would have paired with Ray Bourque and they would have been winning Stanley Cups well into the 1980s.
In the early 1990s, hockey fell out of favor with me. The neutral-trap style of play and the sissification of the sport made it into a very dull game.
I quit caring about hockey and pro basketball when the seasons became endless and the regular season was rendered meaningless by the playoff formats.
I grew up in Needham and watched every game on Channel 38 with Fred Cusick calling the action. ( I even remember Don Earle before him.) I still have the LP "Goal Bruins". I've met and gotten autographs from Orr, Esposito, Bucyk, Cashman (he was trashed), Sinden, Rick Smith and Ace Bailey (God Rest His Soul).
I love the game and miss it. However, I am doing quite well with other pursuits and do look forward to MLB.
During the late 70's I worked for the Bruins radio home at the old 1510 WITS. I did my talk show late nights and would often be preempted by the games. I would help the late Bob Wilson with postgame Bruins lockerroom interviews. I absolutely loved talking to "Grapes" aka. Don Cherry. Those were fun days for me. When the crowd left the Garden the RATS (not the pols, the real deal) were everywhere. Wierd hearing them scurrying around after the place was empty.
IMHO, broadcasting NHL play by play could be the most difficult task in broadcasting. I always looked forward to the St.Louis Blues coming to Boston. I got to sit next to the GREAT Blues play by play guy Dan Kelly. The best ever. Period. I sat there in awe.
Those were fun days. As to the lockout and lack of concern. Part of that is because many of us believe the league has got to be blown up. There needs to be fundamental change. Contraction and rule changes. Therefore, a sort of resignation. I am sure Canadian fans feel the same way. That accounts, in part, for the lack of handwringing.