Gift ideas for hockey fans

Since today is the biggest holiday shopping day of the year (and the one with the biggest deals), here's a list to either help you find the perfect gift for the hockey fan in your life or some ideas for gifts to add to your own wish list. I listed the cost next to the item and please note that they do not include the shipping costs as that will vary from person to person. Have an idea for the list, leave a comment! General Hockey Gift Ideas If you can't find these items in stores or are hoping to buy them a tad cheaper, be sure to check out eBay for all your hockey needs! --> Center Ice Package. I *just* got it and it's amazing that I can finally watch any game that's being played and not just my Wings. Cost: $150 --> Hockey calendar. I personally love my Detroit Red Wings calendar which lists when all the games are as well as featuring 12 great photos of my favorite Wings players. Calendars.com has 12 calendars to choose from, including one featuring the Red Wings. Cost: $13.99 --> Jersey (or Sweater for you Canadians). Pick out a jersey of your favorite player or choose to customize your own. Cost: $160-250 --> Hockey trading cards. My brothers used to be obsessed with collecting hockey trading cards, especially when they found game used jerseys or autographed cards in the pack. You can treat a hockey fan to a few packs or a whole wax box from the likes of Upper Deck. --> Memorabilia. Whether it's a signed puck, photograph, etc, you're sure to find the perfect item. Whenever I want a signed photograph that's reasonably priced, I go to this person on eBay. High quality 8x10 photos for decent prices and quick shipping. Cost: Varies --> Bobbleheads. Most fans will enjoy a bobblehead or two featuring their favorite player. Others collect them. You can find a bobblehead in the likes ranging from Don Cherry to Steve Yzerman. Cost: $20-50 --> Action figures. Similar to the bobbleheads, you can find McFarlane figures of your favorite players minus the head bobbling part. Cost: $10-40 --> Tickets. Visit Ticketmaster to find tickets for your local or favorite team. Cost: Varies --> T-shirts. Whether you're buying an NHL tee featuring a player or a custom shirt made courtesy of Cafepress.com, you're sure to find a shirt to fit. For example, my friend bought me a t-shirt from CafePress that said, "I survived the 2004-2005 Hockey Lockout" similar to this one. Cost: Varies --> If they don't have it already, buy them a subscription to The Hockey News for one year (42 issues). Cost: $51.48 Do you believe in Miracles? For fans who cherish the 1980 US Olympic victory or want to learn more, buy them one of the following gifts. --> The Boys of Winter is an excellent book written by Wayne Coffey and it covers "the untold story of a coach, a dream, and the 1980 US Olympic Hockey team." I wasn't alive at that point in time, but this book made me feel like I really was there. Excellent read. Cost: $10.40 (paperback) --> HBO created an hourlong documentary featuring The Story of the 1980 US Hockey Team. Cost: $6.97 --> If they don't own it already, buy them the movie Miracle which was released in 2004. Cost: $13.99 DVDs Aside from the recent classic, Miracle, here are some other movies that would be a great addition to any hockey fan's collection. --> Mystery, Alaska: A movie starring Russell Crowe, Hank Azaria, and Burt Reynolds. Cost: $10.99

Plot: This comedy is about the residents of a small town who get over-excited when their hockey team gets chosen to host a televised event. When Mystery, Alaska's amateur hockey team accepts a challenge to play against the New York Rangers, the entire population must put their petty differences aside and pull together as their small town becomes the center of a nationally televised event.

--> Slapshot: A comedy featuring Paul Newman and Strother Martin. Cost: $9.99

Plot: A failing ice hockey team finds success using constant fighting and violence during games. The player-coach of a nowhere small town hockey team must deal with an intractable owner, hostile crowds and on-ice thuggery in this warm-hearted and only slightly farcical look at ice hockey.

--> Lord Stanley's Cup: A NHL DVD that delves into the history of Lord Stanley's Cup. Cost: $6.97 --> NHL Stanley Cup Champions 2003-2004 Tampa Bay Lightning: Fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning? Or just want to re-watch last season's playoffs unfold? Then this is the DVD for you. Cost: $8.99 --> Ultimate Gretzky: A 205 minute long 2 disc DVD featuring The Great One, Wayne Gretzky. Cost: $13.97 --> Detroit Red Wings: As an owner of this amazing DVD, I highly suggest any Wings fan purchase this 4 disc set. It shows five games voted on by the fans (including "The Turtle"), highlights of their Stanley Cup wins, and history of the team. Cost: $24.97 --> Honor and Courage - Tough Guys of the NHL: A brand new DVD that takes an on the ice and off the ice look at the life of an enforcer. I believe ex-Wing Darren McCarty is one of the four individuals featured. Cost: $14.99 Books --> The Game by Ken Dryden: Sports Illustrated named this book as the ninth best sports book of all time and the very best hockey book. Cost: $16.47 --> Ice Time: A Tale of Fathers, Sons, and Hometown Heroes by Jay Atkinson Cost: $11.16 --> They Don't Play Hockey in Heaven: A Dream, A Team, and My Comeback Season by Ken Baker Cost: $15.61 --> Eleven Seconds by Travis Roy: This is one of my favorite books of all time and a very inspirational read as well. Travis Roy was a promising hockey player when he joined Boston University's varsity team. Eleven seconds into his first shift, a freak accident happened paralyzing him from the neck down. The book covers his childhood, the accident, rehab, and life after hockey. Cost: $13.60 Games --> NHL 2006: Brett Mirtle at Red Line Sports did a review on this new video game. Cost: $29.99 --> NHL 2K6 Cost: $19.88 --> Sony Gretzky NHL 2006 for Playstation 2 Cost: $39.99 --> Original 6 Monopoly: All 30 franchises are up for sale and you play it just like the original game. Cost: $39.99 Hockeytown Fans --> Official online Red Wings shop --> For the Red Wings superfan, buy them this set. You get three books -- "Hang 10," "Hockey Gods" and "Century of Champions," a $49.95 coffee-table book about the 20th Century of Michigan sports. You also get front-page posters saluting the Red Wings' Stanley Cup teams of 1997, 1998 and 2002. Cost: $59.95 I bought the 2002 front page poster from the Detroit Free Press and then framed it and it looks wonderful in my room. You can buy the posters separately for $7.95 a piece. --> Customize your own locker room photo --> Stiga NHL Stanley Cup Rod Hockey Table featuring the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. For everything else, visit the online NHL Catalog.