Top 3: Things to Do without Red Wings Hockey

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 19: Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs speaks after being revealed as the cover athlete for EA Sports' "NHL 20" video game during the 2019 NHL Awards at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on June 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 19: Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs speaks after being revealed as the cover athlete for EA Sports' "NHL 20" video game during the 2019 NHL Awards at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on June 19, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The NHL officially postponed the 2019-2020 season. So, now what do we do without Red Wings hockey?

It actually happened.

It was only a matter of time before the NHL suspended play following the NBA’s announcement Wednesday due to the increase in COVID-19 concerns across the country, and as expected, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman did just that.

Unlike the NCAA – which officially cancelled its basketball tournaments – Bettman didn’t rule out a return for the NHL this season, but it’s all unknown at this point.

What we do know is, more and more leagues are suspending play. The AHL and EHL followed suit and suspended play after the NHL. And you know it’s real when the re-booted XFL cancels games.

So, what does this mean? In short, we’re going to have a lot of time on our hands without sports.

Us here are Octopus Thrower plan to continue creating content to get you through this unknown feeling, so we’ll start with our top three ways to distract yourself without Red Wings hockey (in no particular order).

Watch Twitch (online gaming) or Play Video Games

This is a no-brainer for me. E-sports were already trending, but in a world without sports, and especially hockey, gaming will spike higher.

As an avid gamer myself, I encourage you all to (here comes the plug!)…follow/watch me play EA Sports NHL 20 at www.twitch.tv/MrOctopusThrower. I’ll share updates when I’m playing on Twitter (another plug!) @JohnRManzo.

In the EA Sports NHL 20 HUT mode, I represent the Detroit Red Wings uniforms and Little Caesars Arena, while tossing back a few beverages and screaming all sorts of non-sense when someone lights the lamp.

If my personality doesn’t show in my writing (which wouldn’t be good), it certainly will when watching this. I promise, it’s worth a watch as modern-day entertainment. And it’s perfect timing. There isn’t any real hockey, but starting Monday it’s the NHL World Gaming Championships so the best of the best will be on.

Don’t want to watch? Buy the game yourself here. After all, what else do you have to do?

Watch The Russian Five Documentary…On Repeat

Whether you’ve watched or not, now is the time to turn on The Russian Five Documentary and watch it over and over. It scored a 100 percent on the ever so stingy review site Rotten Tomatoes, so even non-Red Wings fans will respect this.

More from Octopus Thrower

Not only will this pass the time until the NHL resumes, it’ll help wash away the sour taste in your mouth from this season and let you reminisce on the good old days.

Spend Time with Family

The NHL season starts in the fall and doesn’t end until the summer for some lucky teams. Whether you’re at the games, on your couch or at the bar, that’s eight months of hockey.

It’s a journey we all take each and every year, but it can also be a grind. It might also be part of your regular family routine, and that’s OK.

Use this time as a chance to step back, recharge and enjoy a different type of quality time with your loved ones. I heard board games were fun in the 1990s, right?

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.