Watching the Maple Leafs play in person.

This will be a memory I want to make each and every year. Each and every time I have the opportunity to see my beloved Toronto Maple Leafs play a game, I will be in the arena. Granted, my desire to cheer them on in person will always be restricted by my budget and whether I can afford the cost of admission.

That’s why I’m so happy to live in the Tampa Bay area. When the Lightning host the Leafs, ticket prices are actually reasonable enough (when compared to Toronto) for me to go. This season, I had to be patient and wait until early April, almost the end of the season, for my boys in blue to play here. And they did not disappoint!

The Leafs finished this season with their best record in franchise history. They secured 2nd place in their division, clinched a playoff spot, and in a wonderful twist of fate, will be playing the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs.

I have been holding off unnecessary Amazon purchases for the last month or so, to make sure I had budget space for a pair of tickets, just in case. I’ve never been there, in the arena, to cheer on the Buds in a playoff game. I want that memory, too, this year. And you know what? That memory will come true this Sunday, when my girlfriend and I cheer them on in Game 4 of the best-of-seven series.

While I’m at it, voicing my memory wishes, I want to witness the Leafs win the Stanley Cup. I’m going to add that my Memory List, and just keep my fingers crossed for as long as they’re in contention for it. Hopefully this particular memory item doesn’t stay on my list for long. Let’s hope that 2022 is their year. Fingers crossed.

For those that don’t follow hockey, the Maple Leafs last won the Stanley Cup in 1967. That’s the last season the league consisted of the Original 6 teams. That’s 13 years before I was even born. That’s when games were televised in black and white. All that’s crazy. And I want that to change… this year.

But, for now, I will be as satisfied as possible having achieved the memory of seeing the Leafs play in person. And I’m even happier knowing I will get to see them play again in a few days!