I had never been a particularly avid ice hockey fan, but always enjoyed watching it during the Olympic Games. Plus, I’d heard nothing but good things from anybody who’d ever attended a game. Maybe it was because of the epic fights, or because it was just an awesome sport to watch, but I was really excited about going to a live game.

I flew into New York, and quite literally stepped off the plane after a 24-hour journey and went straight to the hockey game. My cousin Laurence and my friends Dan and Will all live there, knew I really wanted to go to a game, and had got tickets while I was in the air flying over.

The speed, intensity, strength and skill of the players was pretty incredible. I spent most of the game ranting and raving about how impressed I was.

My first game also seemed to have it all. We had a penalty, it was a close and intense game, it went to overtime, and the home team won. The NY Rangers won 3-2 and there was much scotch consumed in celebration.