Every fan of the greatest game in the world has plenty to give thanks for after one of the craziest first quarters of any NHL season we've ever witnessed.

I don't know what's on your list, but I'll offer up mine. I'll limit it to 22. After all, this year, Thanksgiving falls on Nov. 22.

1. I'm thankful for Scotty Bowman. Yeah, he can act like a crazy ol' coot, but he's the sharpest coach ever to stand behind an NHL bench. And, his brother, Jack, who passed away a couple of summers ago, was about the nicest guy you'd ever meet.

2. I'm thankful for Igor Larionov and Mark Messier. Those two make my 41-year-old bones feel a little younger.

3. I'm thankful for John Ferguson. I don't know what my peers on Wednesday Night Hockey were thinking leaving him off their Top 10 Tough Guys list. Fergy was (and will always be) the toughest!

4. I'm thankful for those pesky Sutter Brothers. These guys will be around forever. Heck, the league's always gonna need coaches.

5. I'm thankful for the Zamboni. Hey, if we didn't have Frank Zamboni's wonderful invention, we wouldn't have time for sumo hockey in-between periods.

6. I'm thankful for Dany Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk. It's gonna be great fun to watch these guys grow up together in Atlanta.

7. I'm thankful for hockey referees. The NHL zebras have the toughest job in pro sports. And, the guys who ref my beer league games, well, we couldn't be trusted to play fair without them.

8. I'm thankful for Mike Richter. Win or lose, Richter is a bright guy and a class act. The hopes of the Rangers and Team USA rest squarely on his pads.

9. I'm thankful for the World Junior Championships. Actually, I'm thankful to have been lucky enough to attend two WJCs. Simply, a great tournament featuring the very best young talent in the world.

10. I'm thankful that professional hockey has returned to New York City. After four years of dreadfully boring games, the World's Greatest Arena (Madison Square Garden) is rocking again.

11. I'm also thankful that professional hockey has returned to Long Island. Islander fans have waited a long time for a revival. Enjoy!

12. I'm thankful for Mario Lemieux. He's the most talented hockey player I've ever seen.

13. I'm thankful for Colorado's Dan Hinote. The Avs' No. 13 used his burning desire and fast feet to find a place on a Stanley Cup-winning team.

14. I'm thankful for the NHL's colorful sweaters. (Well, I could have done without that multi-color thing the Canucks wore in the '80s.)

15. I'm thankful for the upcoming Olympic hockey tournament. I just wish the teams had a little more time to practice.

16. I'm thankful I'm not a member of the Slovakian Olympic team. Those guys -- like Ziggy Palffy, Miroslav Satan and Marian Hossa -- will have to decide if they're gonna bolt their NHL clubs to help their country in the Olympic elimination round. Now, that's a tough call. I know it sounds crazy, but if I were an NHL GM, I'd release my player to play in the tourney. In the long run, I think I'd have a more productive player.

17. I'm thankful for the line of Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille and Steve Yzerman. I never thought I'd see three 600-goal scorers on the same line. Now, I have!

18. I'm thankful for future Hall of Famer Patrick Roy and already Hall of Fame member Billy Smith. You'd never get rich betting against these two money goalies.

19. I'm thankful I've had the great pleasure to watch the '70s Canadiens, early-'80s Islanders and the later-'80s Oilers. Who's the best? Who knows? What we do know is this trio grande of championship clubs won 13 of 15 Cups from 1976-1990.

20. I'm thankful I can still close my eyes and remember the amazing 1980 U.S. Olympic team. They still hold the record for most athletes on a gold medal podium.

21. I'm extremely thankful that I get to make a living covering hockey games. Who could ask for anything more?

22. Finally, I'm very thankful I had the great good fortune to cross paths with Ace Bailey, the L.A. Kings scout who was killed in the Sept. 11 disaster. Always quick with a smile or a joke, Ace was a great ambassador for the sport. He was one guy you were always happy to run into at the rink. On this Thanksgiving, I wish his family the sweetest of memories.

And you? Send me your list, and we'll publish the best ones. Have a happy holiday!

E.J. Hradek writes puck for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ej.hradek@espnmag.com.