A King among fans

It feels good to be a Los Angeles Kings fan.

That’s a sentence I haven’t said often. The last decade has been tough. After all, the Kings play 3,500 kilometres from my home and haven’t won a post-season game since I was in high school. Fans of this team have had a tougher decade than Enron stockholders.

So, why am I smiling?

Take a close look at the National Hockey League’s Western Conference standings. That is not a typo. The Los Angeles Kings are a first place team.

I’ve waited a long time for this. A first-place Kings team is more rare than a Vin Diesel Academy Award nomination.

The Los Angeles Kings have been my favourite team as long as I can remember. It hasn’t been easy. The low moments easily outnumber the high points.

In honour of the 2009-2010 team’s unexpected success, I’ve compiled a list of my three greatest moments as a Kings fan.

3. March 23, 1994. Kings vs. Vancouver Canucks

Wayne Gretzky scores a goal on Kirk McLean. The goal was the 802 of his career and made him the NHL’s all-time goals leader.

2. April 18, 2001. Kings vs. Detroit Red Wings

The Kings erased a three-goal deficit in the third period and Eric Belanger scored in overtime to win game four of the 2001 Western Conference quarter-finals. The team went on to win the series in six games.

May 27, 1993. Kings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs.

Wayne Gretzky scores on Felix Potvin, tying the Campbell Conference Final at three games apiece. The only two sounds in Ontario that night were my cheering and Leaf fans crying. It was fantastic.

Three moments in 20 years of cheering, that’s not much to get excited about. Hopefully this year adds another number to my list.

Either way, it could always be worse.

Kiel vs Pierre

Anyone who's watched any NHL on TSN game with me, or a World Junior Hockey Championships game, knows I hate Pierre McGuire. I can't stand the guy. He yells, he says things that don't make sense like "human eraser" and he develops a weird man love for one player a year. Ask Dion Phaneuf or Cody Hodgson.

That being said, he has a great job, and I've got nothing. It takes some guts to be on national television every night sharing your opinions, instead of just opining from the couch.

This is why I've decided to try something new - criticizing him from the internet.

Last month, McGuire the Monster released his version of Canada's Olympic Hockey Team. I'm going to try the same. I'll list his team, then discuss which picks are ridiculous and which ones I agree with.

Goalie

Pierre's Picks: Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, Marc-Andre Fleury

My picks: Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, Marc-Andre Fleury

I can't help but agree with Pierre. There are no other options. Personally, I'd love to see Cam Ward in the third spot, but his lacerated leg got him "cut" from consideration. Brodeur, by the way, will 100 per cent be the starter.

Let's just hope this doesn't happen to Fleury again....

Defence

Pierre's Picks: Scott Niedermayer, Shea Weber, Chris Pronger, Dan Boyle, Dion Phaneuf, Jay Bouwmeester, Brent Seabrook

My picks: Niedermayer, Weber, Pronger, Boyle, Bouwmeester, Seabrook and Robyn Regher

Sorry Dion. I can't put you on my team. Phaneuf's a tad overrated in my books. That a man with that chin can nailed down a girl like Elisha Cuthbert is an Olympic effort in itself, but I don't see him fitting in. Phaneuf always tries for the big hit at the expense of defence and his offensive skills aren't needed with guys like Weber and Boyle out there. Sorry Pierre, they'll be no "Double Dion" in Vancouver.

I chose Robyn Regehr to take his teammate's spot. Regehr is an ornery dude and the Canadians will need some sandpaper to take gold. Pair him with Pronger and watch out!

Forwards:

Pierre's Picks: Rick Nash, Sidney Crosby, Martin St. Louis, Jeff Carter, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Brenden Morrow, Mike Richards, Shane Doan, Patrick Marleau, Jordan Staal, Jerome Iginla, Patrick Sharp.

My picks: Nash, Crosby, Iginla, Carter, Getzlaf, Richards, Doan, St. Louis, Perry, Morrow, Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley, Jonathan Toews,

Here's the thing. Jordan Staal is not making this team. Canada has too many centres as is. He's a good penalty killer and terrific defensively, but, so are Mike Richards and Shane Doan and both are better players.

Pierre doesn't have Joe Thornton on the team. Why? Big Joe is the league's best passer and he's got the size up the middle that Canada needs. Thornton should be a lock for this team, c'mon Pierre WHAMMMO, wake up.

Dany Heatley. Yep. I don't like him either. However, the guy scores goals. He is playing tremendous hockey right now in San Jose and he's among the best scorers in the league. Aside from that, he's always up for a trip to the World Championships after the season and he always plays his heart out. In a short tournament, you want Heatley on the ice.

I said Jonathan Toews will be the team's 13th forward. Patrick Sharp is probably the better choice, but Toews is young and I think Canada will take him for the experience looking ahead to 2014.

So, there you go. Pierre and I going head-to-head. We'll find out who's closer in about a month. Either way, I can always change my mind.