Bonsignore Citizens Brigade: Oilers @ Coyotes

The 7 stages of grieving the 2009/2010 Oilers. It season stared of with so much hope. We were all young and care-free. We had a healthy Dangles and BIG SEX, Horcoff had something to prove and we had the chosen one (Comrie) return to the holy land. But then it all went so horribly fucking wrong. Sometimes relationships kick you in the cunt like that. If you’ve never had the pleasure of feeling a huge loss, you may need some guidance on what to expect with regards to your new feelings.

1. SHOCK & DENIAL-
You probably reacted to this team with some numbed disbelief. You may have denied the reality of them at some level, in order to avoid the pain. It’s terrible, it hurts. Shock provides emotional protection from being overwhelmed all at once. This may have lasted for weeks, or in David S’ case- The entire season.

2. PAIN & GUILT-
When the shock started to wear off, it was replaced with the suffering and unbelievable pain. My god the pain. The merciless fans of rival teams, actually having a ton of ammo to slam you with. They can be very mean… it’s excruciating and almost unbearable, but it is important that you experience the pain fully, and not hide it, avoid it or escape from it with alcohol or drugs. Not yet anyway. You may a have felt a shit ton of remorse for not having cheered them hard enough. Maybe if you were at the games more?

3. ANGER & BARGAINING-
Then the Frustration gave way to anger, and you may have lashed out and laid some unwarranted blame for this cock sucking season on ridiculous things like, Horcoff or Coaching. Please try to control this, as permanent damage to your passion for this team may result. This is a time for the release of bottled up emotion. You may have questioned the Hockey Gods, "Why us?" You may also have tried to bargain in vain with the powers that be for a way out of this misery.

4. "DEPRESSION", REFLECTION, LONELINESS-
Just when your wife thought you should be getting on with your life, a long period of sad reflection likely began to overtake you. This is a normal stage of grief, so do not be "talked out of it" by her. No! Spending more time with her is not the answer. During this time, you finally realized the true magnitude of this season and it depressed you. Oh god it depressed you. You may have isolated yourself on purpose, avoiding poker nights with the boys and reflected on times when you really had something to cheer for, and focused on memories of the past.

5. THE UPWARD TURN-
Then as you started to adjust to life with a shitty team, your life became a little calmer and more organized. Your physical symptoms lessened because you stopped drinking so much to numb the pain and your blood pressure and tension subsided. Perhaps you started to exercise more like me. Then your "depression" began to lift slightly.

6. RECONSTRUCTION & WORKING THROUGH-
As you become more functional, The team went on a 5 game winning streak to remind you that things can be good again. To remind you that there will be better days. If you’re like me, you take an EPIC ROAD TRIP to watch a game and the team actually pulls a win out of their asses and makes you give a fuck just a little bit more. Then you found yourself seeking realistic solutions to problems posed by life without playoff hockey. Realistic like, I get to claim now that my team is “first place in the draft race!!!”

7. ACCEPTANCE & HOPE-
And now, during this, the last of the seven stages in this grief model, we will learn to accept and deal with the reality of this season. Acceptance does not necessarily mean instant happiness. Given the pain and turmoil we/you experienced, you can never return to the carefree, untroubled YOU that existed before this tragedy of a season. But you/we/US will find a way through. We can do this.

Now we can start to look forward and actually plan things for the future. A future with Tyler Seguin, MPS, Eberle and a new kick-ass, although currently injured Sam Gagner leading the way. Eventually, we will be able to think about this team without pain; sadness sometimes yes, but the wrenching pain of this fucking season will be gone. We will once again anticipate some good times to come, and yes, even find joy again in the experience of Oiler hockey.

For now, Coyotes:5 Oiler: 2

IQWT