Hockey, Habs and Twitter

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posted by Rocket
All Habs


In my last article I talked about two different ways of assessing the strength of fanbases in sport. As you might expect fans of the Montreal Canadiens are in the top three in the NHL when evaluated on traditional metrics: ticket sales, television viewership and merchandise.

However, it's when we look at how Habs fans interact via social media that they are at the top of the league.

So, are you still on the fence about joining Twitter, Facebook and discussion groups?

In this piece we'll take a look at Twitter. It's easy enough to register and get running but what about all the criticisms? Let's get those out of the way first.

You have probably heard things like: Twitter is simply a pacifier for the insecure "Look at me" Age.

Tweets like this only reinforce that school of thought. "I just woke up and brushed my teeth! FTW!"

Some believe that Twitter is a collection of narcissists with an excessive pre-occupation of constantly updating the world on 'who they are', 'what they are', and 'where they are.' Sadly, that may be partly true.

"I just became the mayor of SuperCuts. Free haircuts! Awesome!!"

But the beauty of Twitter is it's democracy.

Tired of reading tweets from Miss Lonely Hearts about how much she needs a man? There's an unfollow button.

I happen to think that these tweets are utterly inane, but you may disagree: "Hey, it's time to watch Jeopardy!" "Just spilled mustard on my tie. FML!" "It's Coffee O'Clock!"

If so, follow away. The choice is yours.

You'll find people who beg for followers. And you will see tweets from those who are obsessed with people who can't stop obsessing about their followers. A simple rule is have something interesting to say. People will follow.

But as you wade through the smorgasbord of people and topics, you will unearth some gems.

Soon after I joined Twitter, I discovered @arjunbasu from Montreal. I enjoy his work even though his stream has nothing to do with hockey. Basu writes short stories, which takes considerable talent given that Twitter restricts tweets to a maximum of 140 characters.

@arjunbasu: "She heard strange noises in the night and found him downstairs slathering sourdough with mayonnaise and he saw her and said, It's a metaphor."

Many are brilliant, a few I don't get, but none are boring. Were it not for Twitter, I wouldn't have cultivated an appreciation of this unique brand of writing.

One of the first people I communicated with after registering for Twitter was @shannonpaul. She was a godsend. At the time, Shannon was the social media guru for the Detroit Red Wings. Yes, the Red Wings were trail blazers in the Twitter realm too.

Shannon provided me with a social media guide that she had prepared. She recommended hockey people to follow. She patiently answered all my dumb questions: "What's #followfriday?" "How do I retweet?" and "Who makes up these hashtags?"

Her congratulations seemed genuine when I announced that I had reached 25 followers. 577 days later, @All_Habs is a recommended follow by Twitter and has surpassed 13,000 followers. Thanks Shannon.

It's a good idea to find a mentor who will get you off to a good start. You will be surprised how many tweeps are happy to help newcomers.

So what do Montreal Canadiens fans do with their brand new shiny Twitter account?

"Hey, I heard that Andie Bennett from the Team 990 has Twitter!"

Yes, many of the Montreal mainstream media have Twitter accounts. But for users who only add the Francois Gagnon's of the Twitter world, you will be missing out on a rich Habs and hockey community.

The truth is that many of the mainstream media haven't yet figured out this new technology. They make on-air pleas for followers and are using Twitter as yet another 'push' device to deliver their message in a manner no different than newspaper, radio and television. Communication is usually one-way unless they are chatting with media colleagues.

A few of the national hockey media have crossed this barrier and are using Twitter not only as a place to release breaking news but also to interact with hockey fans. Three of the best in this regard are @darenmillard of Rogers SportsNet, (James) @mirtle of the Globe and Mail, and @TSNBobMcKenzie.

Ask a reasonably intelligent question and be respectful and you have a good chance of getting a reply.

In Montreal, one columnist who reaches to fans is Dave Stubbs from the Gazette. @habsinsideout1 joined Twitter just in time for the start of last season and combines information and historical fun facts.

If you are looking for fun, approachable media types, you should be following the guy's from The Franchise on the Team 990. Gary Whittaker and Nick Murdocco, @thefranchiseca and @nickyfranchise respectively, are adept at mixing local sports and humour.

They don't have to be media personalities to contribute to the discussion of the Canadiens. One of the first people that I got to know through Twitter is @kyleroussel. I invited Kyle to debate Habs issues a few times in the early days of All Habs. Kyle went on to become a regular contributor and a good friend. A few months ago, he started his own blog, Cowhide and Rubber.

@EP31 is another good friend who owns the blog Winter of (dis)content. She claims that her tweets are just random, but don't let that fool you. She is bright and knowledgeable about the Canadiens, her "Hammies", and many junior hockey league teams.

A similar name, @Number31, can give you astute game analysis, a breakdown of goalie technique and hamster tips all in one place.

I enjoy the analytical hockey tweets of @ArponBasu, @HabsWatch and @StevenHindle. @KamalPanesar offers a daily capsule of Canadiens news.

But for a unique perspective on the Habs, I turn to @theactivestick, @czechtacular and @Habitherway. They are witty and thoroughly entertaining.

If you just want a bit of everything from all the popular Habs websites, then add @habsnews.

For bilingual Canadiens tweets, there are few better than @touteparpillee. She is a long time Habs fan with an objective, common-sense viewpoint. @metricjulie was part of the team that helped me to organize the 1st annual draft Habs Tweetup. She will give you Habs, MMA and plenty of sass.

Believe it or not, there's even a Jacques Martin fan on Twitter. @IFC4 may be one of a rare breed, but she is delightful to chat with. Tweet anything about the Kostitsyns and you will be quickly introduced to @Cathie_AK27.

What about someone who is an international singing star, the voice behind an inspirational Olympic anthem, and a Habs fan? That would be @NikkiYanofsy!

Game nights for the Canadiens are special. Twitter gives you the opportunity to share the experience with hundreds or even thousands of Habs fans watching along with you. Share the emotion, offer your opinion and get instant feedback.

The Habs have a huge fanbase outside the province scattered across North America, and the world. Believe it or not a good number of Canadiens fans reside in rival territory. @kuyaz is one of many Habs fans in the Greater Toronto area. @smalrus resides in Bruins territory, @chrisrbrown is in the New York area, and @FlyersRule has dual allegiances in Philadelphia.

But all have a devotion to the Canadiens and will be glad to debate any current issue. Its the same story for Habs fans that I talk to from Dublin, Jarkata, Tokyo, Melbourne, and Rio de Janeiro. It's a Habs planet.

@chile_pepper is an former Montrealer who now makes her home in Vancouver. She is so committed to the Habs that she trekked across the country last March to meet her fellow tweeps in Montreal.

Twitter users, like her, who want to take that next step and get-together with hockey people in person, attend a Habs Tweetup. They have not only been held regularly in Montreal but also in Toronto, Vancouver, Moncton, Hartford, and Hollywood, Florida. Long-term friendships have developed as a result of these get-togethers with the Canadiens and Twitter as the common bond.

Please be sure to add tweeps from rival teams. Friendly debates can be engaging or very entertaining. You may even find former foes jumping on board the Habs bandwagon when it advantages their team.

@goaliemom31 (Red Wings) is one of the sweetest people you will meet on Twitter. @sarah_connors@sarah_connors is fun and sarcasm somehow bottled in a Bruins fan. @Nock4Six (Leafs) has a sharp wit and is a suspected closet Habs fan. But try to convert her at your own peril.

And lastly, don't forget to add @All_Habs, @HabsTweetups and @CanadiensMTL. They are a must add for Habs fans! (hey, it's my article!)

The danger of a piece like this is that there isn't space to include everyone. Please read this as a sampling of recommended tweeps rather than a comprehensive list. That will be in a future article.

Until then, my sincere apologies to friends and followers who weren't included. You can be assured that you are not forgotten.

If you want to know who these people are, and would like additional people to follow, keep an eye on #FollowFriday shoutouts from the @All_Habs account.  Feel free to add your Habs favorites in the comment section.

With over 60,000 tweeps, the Habs fanbase is the strongest in the NHL. Twitter can be an excellent source of breaking news, a place to follow Canadiens game action, and an ideal way to network with fellow Habs fans.

Let's continue to grow our Habs fan community.