Vote hockey. Vote Totems

After much anticipation we are finally down to the Frozen Four. It has been a hard fought battle but we have whittled away the weak and only one round remains ahead of the final stage. Before we get into why the Totems are not just the best choice, but the only choice, let us quickly take a look at what we have been presented with so far.

We saw a connection established between the Emeralds and some movie with a guy named Luke.

Next we learned a lesson on the hardiness and determination of the Steelhead salmonid species. Newsflash... they are pretty undetermined when on ice. In fact, lifeless.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

For the third of the bunch we read an interesting piece on the Thunderbirds and supernatural beings. Thunderbirds… thunderbirds. Where have I heard that name before?

While all of these options present some form of history, they are missing one critical piece. Hockey. Well, minus the Thunderbirds, but who wants that karma?

Queue the Totems. A team with not only deep roots in the sport, but within the city of Seattle itself.

In 1966, while apart of the now defunct Western Hockey League (not that Western Hockey League), the Seattle Totems were met with a complete re-branding which included shifting the teams colors to the more recognizable green and white, the promotion of Bill MacFarland to coach, and massive improvements to their roster. Alongside the University of Washington football team, they were the hottest thing in town.

After what was a rough start, they would go on to win 12 of their final 13 games before setting aside the California Seals in the semi-finals. Next up? The Vancouver Canucks, who had just defeated the league leading Portland Buckaroos in four games.

The first two games were played in Vancouver but were secured by the Totems in two comeback wins.

Back in Seattle, Larry Lund found the back of the net twice to give them another win and put the team up 3-0 in the series. Game four was to be played before a crowd of 8,367 spectators. What was that about the region not being a hockey market?

The Canucks went ahead by one before Jim Paterson tied it up off an assist by hockey legend Guyle Fielder. With just over four minutes remaining in the game, Seattle forward Howie Hughes found the back of the net to put the Totems up by one. Three and a half minutes later he would secure the Lester Patrick Cup by placing one in the back of an empty net. The best part? The team had just acquired him from Vancouver.

How’s that for history?

I’m a hockey guy through and through so while other names are being represented by movies, serpent eating mythical birds, and a fish, i’ll stick to what really matters. Beating Vancouver.

You know what the right choice is. Totems all the way.