I went to see a University of Alberta Golden Bears game with Sean Besse and Alex Jumpsen in January of 2023. It was the first time I'd been to a hockey game, professional or otherwise, since I was about 12 years old going to see the Battleford North Stars play at the Civic Center. We always used to lose. I don't remember if the Golden Bears won or lost, but I remember that it was the first time I'd hung out with Sean and Alex. We played cornhole with snowballs outside the arena while I smoked a cigarette. We had beers. It was nice.

I wrote this song in January of 2024, and was, at first, excited about the fact that I'd written a song that was entirely fictional, a narrative fabricated from whole cloth, before I tied it back to that experience. We yelled at the goalie. I watched hockey at work with Mike Plume at Long & McQuade. I still don't fully understand some of the rules (I finally caved and googled how offside works after the Oilers beat the Stars). But I was humbled by going to watch a sport that I didn't like, not because I was proven wrong and hockey is the greatest sport, but because I love my friends, and I love my city, and I think I love hockey.

Written by Sean Davis Newton
Engineered by Harry Gregg and Sean Davis Newton
Assistant engineers: Ned Kroczynski, Simon Semchenko, and Cameron McLean
Mastered by Brad Smith
Produced by Sean Davis Newton
Recorded at Riverdale Recorders in Edmonton, AB

Guitar, vocals, clarinets: Sean Davis Newton
Bass: Harry Gregg
Drums: James O'Neill
Percussion: Alex Jumpsen
Keys: Brennan Cameron
Trombone: Scott Snider
Special thanks to Sean Besse, Daniel Blade, Calvin Simonson, Mike Plume and Bronte Chenier.

[I Think I Love] Hockey

Our 3rd ever gig, at the Chapel Gallery in North Battleford. Recording is a bit rough, nay, very rough, but there's still cool things to be heard.
Jean Vandermerwe - Lead Vocals
Sam Burns - Guitar
Sean Newton - Bass
Cole Knutson - Piano and Keyboard
Eddie Keller - Drums
Dylan Sylvester - Trumpet
Ainslie Milley - Tenor Saxophone

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