Blaine Hoppenrath
- Feb 2, 2022
- 3 min read

Hopp's Hockey Weekend: Ranked (Updated 2022)

So far the Father/Daughter duo has completed their 7th year of Hopp's Hockey Weekend (to be clear that father daughter team is composed of dad and myself). For the past seven years we have seen the Chicago Blackhawks in action in a place other than their home ice of the United Center. In order to keep record of our endeavors I have ranked the past seven weekends in several categories.

*Note: These rankings are solely my own and in no way shape or form reflect the opinions of Padre Hop or Hoppen-rant

The Hopp Hockey Duo in Yosemite with the Stanley Cup; could be considered the original weekend

2021-2022 Season: Blackhawks @Seattle Kraken; 3-2; Hawks Win (SO)

2020-2021 Season: COVID Break

2019-2020 Season: Blackhawks @ Tampa Bay Lightning; 5-2; Hawks Win

2018-2019 Season: Blackhawks @ Los Angeles Kings; 3-6; Kings Win

2017-2018 Season: Blackhawks @ Colorado Avalanche; 0-5; Avalanche Win

2016-2017 Season: Blackhawks @ Boston Bruins; 1-0 F; Hawks Win

2015-2016 Season: Blackhawks @ Dallas Stars; 5-1 F; Hawks Win

2014-2015 Season: Blackhawks @ Anaheim Ducks; 4-1 F; Hawks Win

2013-2014 Season: Blackhawks @ Nashville Predators; 5-7 F; Predators Win

2012-2013 Season: Blackhawks @ Phoenix Coyotes; 6-2 F; Hawks Win

Best Hockey:

Boston- Hossa scores with 1:26 left on the clock! A-Mazing
Tampa- Seriously?! 5 unanswered goals in the 3rd period. Seriously?!
Anaheim- The game was significantly closer than the score indicated
Dallas- Great game for the Hawks to win as the Stars were playing some A+ hockey leading up to the game
Phoenix- Hawks stayed focus to beat the Coyotes after getting knocked out by Phoenix in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs
Seattle- Hawks rallied to make it a game, even had a shot when it went to the shoot out, they just couldn't finish off the game.
Nashville- Last game before the Hawks went to the playoffs, they hung in there even with most of their stars benched
LA- It was great to see Kane and Toews on the same line, but after a quick 2 goals by the Kings, the game was over as soon as it started
Colorado- Oh dear, no Crawford, no Toews, it was rough, like forgetting to show up to the last two periods rough. Maybe it's the start of a rebuilding era?

Best City:

Seattle- Okay. Okay. I know its not fair and it will never be fair. But I really don't care because I love Seattle and always will. The rain, the seafood, the sounds, the views of Rainier. I LOVE IT ALL.
Boston- Bean town was everything I thought it would be. From the Freedom Trail to the New England Clam Chowda it was a great city to explore.
Nashville- The Home of country music sure does like their hockey. With the area in the heart of downtown it was great to grab a beer after the game and listen to live music on Lower Broadway
Denver- Love the mountains and the beer! The Lodo District around Union Station is a great atmosphere to grab food and drinks before or after the game.
Phoenix- The desert climate was much needed in late January and hike up Camelback was a great adventure in addition to the hockey.
Tampa- While we didn't spend that much time in Tampa but the area was nice and St. Petersburg was amazing. I enjoyed the Central Ave district and enjoyed the couple hours at the beach
Los Angeles- If it hadn't rained the who weekend it would have been ranked higher, but Shake Shack made up for crappy weather
Anaheim- The arena really isn't close to anything, but that was made up for with a trip to the beach and a trip to Disneyland
Dallas- What could be better than a hawks game? TWO hawks games. With the Jayhawks mens BBall team in town to take on the TCU horned frogs, it was a great sporting weekend for hawks fans! But Dallas just isn't my town.

Best Quote:

"Go back to Canada" -Phoenix Coyote Fan

Best Priced Tickets:

Phoenix Coyotes- No one cares about hockey in the desert, except the away fans

Best Day Adventure:

California Adventure- Who doesn't love Disney?

Best Meal

Panza- Boston's North End Italian food was bar none

Best Museum:

Dealey Plaza: This JFK museum was enough to give me some goosebumps while walking around the Grassy Knoll

Best Tour:

Hatch Show Print-Nashville