Go Pens! I grew up, and still live near Milwaukee, WI. Our only real hockey team is an AHL affiliate for Nashville (It used to be IHL) and college. I saw the Penguins on the news when I was a kid and liked hockey, so I decided that would be my team, and it has been ever since. In pee-wee hockey I got to pick my number first, and I chose 33. My family was upset, thinking I should have taken something cool like #1. I chose to be half of 66, Mario Lemieux, because I was just a kid. I've never gotten really good, so I didn't want to pretend I was in his caliber, and so 33 has always stuck. I loved the team and then the more I got to know about Super Mario the more I admired and respected him, but even after he left, the love for the team remained, as I was Penguins fan before being a Lemieux fan.
I have an old Penguins hat that is lucky. I have never once worn it while watching/listening to a game and they lost. Im sure that will change some day, but even when they've been behind, they've always won when I wear the hat. It's strange. I played hockey growing up on ice, street and floor hockey. I never got really good, but still like to play occasionally. Im planning a trip to drive to Pittsburgh and see a game for the 1st time in Pittsburgh. I was going to do it this spring, but I think it'll have to wait til next season because I dont want to go cheap. I want center ice tickets right on the ice, and of course a new sweater... Lemieux, Crosby, Malkin... not sure yet. With the new arena coming I'm guessing it'll be pricey, so I have to save up.