I’ve been lucky enough to participate in a podcast for Canucks fans and by Canucks fans for the last year or so. Through the magic of the internets all 5 of us co-hosts are able to link up now and then to talk about our team, the game, the league and rant about various topics. We’ve connected with hockey fans all over the world and I know that one of our most loyal listeners is over in China, but when I received and email from Mark I was pretty floored.

Mark lives in Australia and has a website, Hockey Night in Melbourne, dedicated to a gathering of hockey fans all over the area who get together to watch NHL hockey games.

The hockey night in Melbourne thing came about because I was really frustrated how hard it was to watch a Canucks game in Australia (it’s hard to watch any NHL game except Stanley Cup finals, but the few crumbs we do get are never Canadian team vs Canadian team, and are always the American broadcasts edited down to fit into a 90 minute broadcast). I figured if I felt that way maybe others would to, so now I try and get as many people along as I can 1-2 times a month to watch games. We always try for at least one game with a Canadian team, and given my personal bias, Canucks as often as I can get away with.

Mark is Canadian-born but has lived in Australia for 2/3 of his life and upon a trip to Vancouver in 2002, he was immediately hooked on the Canucks.

An HNIM event last year where the group filled a pub at 10am on a Sunday to watch a live feed of one of the Ottawa/Anaheim playoff games.

The next HNIM takes place Sunday October 14th, 2007 @ 1:00pm at the GLITCH BAR + CINEMA located at 318 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North - and that is of course in Melbourne, Australia.

For more details visit the HNIM website and remember these are delayed (by a week, from Oct. 6th) so no spoilers! If you’re in the area and are jonesing for some hockey action, check it out and be sure to contact me or send me a pic cause us Canucks fans just LOVE this kinda stuff - thanks for the support guys (yes, even the dude in the Leafs jersey)!

Update: I have been informed of HNIS - Hockey Night in Sydney, so it would only be fair to mention its game viewing times as well (man, this is great!) The following is a note I received from Doug:

Come along to the Terrace Hotel (83 Mount Street) in North Sydney [Google Map] and watch the latest NHL games on a large TV with loads of other fans. We usually have CBC/TSN feeds with the occasional US feed.

The Terrace has been really good to us and prepared a specials menu with a couple of favourites for watching hockey. Chicken wings and Labatt Blue being good for a reminder of North America.

First gathering for the 2007/08 season will be on Oct 10, with gatherings approx. every 2 weeks.

Schedule for Oct 10:
4:30pm - 5:00pm - Last 2 periods from the Oct 3 or Oct 4 Leafs/Sens game
(likely more the Oct 3 one as it’s the season opener for the two)
5:00pm - Rangers - Sens game from Oct 6
6:30pm - Canadiens - Leafs game from Oct 6
8:00pm - Canucks - Flames game from Oct 6

We’ll be using the same time schedule for the hockey nights, which should see game 3 finish around 9:30pm giving enough time for people to head home.