During Thanksgiving week, I offered my list of 22 hockey-related reasons to be thankful. Why 22? Simply, I settled on the double deuce because Thanksgiving fell on Nov. 22. Hey, after working on my list, I realized I could've come up with a 100.

In closing that column, I asked readers to send me their own lists. I was interested to hear what you -- the readers and very passionate hockey fans -- would have on your list. And, I'm very thankful to report; I received an e-mail box full of responses. I enjoyed reading every one of them.

I'd like to thank all of you for taking the time to drop me a note. And, in the spirit of the holidays, I'd like to share some of my favorite bits and pieces from the lists you took the time to send me. I'm just sorry I couldn't print all your lists. You guys and gals came up with some good stuff.

So, here are a few of my favorites.

Carsten Popp (a Hawks fan) wrote:

• I'm thankful for the Blackhawks' success because I couldn't take the embarrassment anymore, being from Chicago and all.

• I'm thankful for Hawkeye's, the greatest place to go before a Blackhawks game. For a few years, it was the only reason I went to Blackhawk games.

Kevin Eric McCarthy (a hardcore Kings fan) wrote:

• I'm thankful for watching Wayne Gretzky take the Kings to the Stanley Cup Finals. BOO CANADIENS!

• I'm thankful for our late season run at Stanley Cup and for taking the winning team to Game 7 of the second round.

• I'm thankful for the Kings new logo and jersey. I was tired of dressing like a Laker and a Raider.

• I'm thankful for the upcoming All-Star Game in Los Angeles. I just wish the KINGS would have the same little luck that the Avs had last season when they hosted the All-Star Game.

Harry Grzelewski wrote:

• I'm thankful for four-on-four overtime hockey

• I'm thankful for Hockey Night in Canada (even though I now live in Hawaii, I grew up with Foster Hewitt)

• I'm thankful I got to see Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux play hockey

Jennifer (sorry, she didn't include last name) wrote:

• I'm thankful that I, at the time a 25-year-old woman from Southern California, found the courage to learn how to skate and play hockey myself. That was almost five years ago, and I'm still playing. Watching the guys in the NHL having so much fun convinced me that maybe I should give it a try. Now I can honestly say that some of my best moments have come on the ice. (And it's the best workout ever!)

• I'm thankful for the U.S. and Canadian Women's Olympic Hockey teams for showing the world that women who play hockey are graceful and classy in victory and defeat.

Adam Schloesser wrote:

• I'm thankful to have seen the Luc Robitaille-Steve Yzerman-Brett Hull line... when will you ever see three guys who have more goals than five current franchises?

• I'm thankful for the 1972 Summit series, 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, 1987 Canada Cup, 1998 Olympics. Can 2002 Olympics be as exciting?

Bruce Gosson wrote:

• I'm thankful for minor league hockey coaches who volunteer countless hours so that the next generation can grow up with a love and a passion for the game.

• I'm also thankful that even though my son plays competitive AA hockey, his coaches still stress hard work, fair play, team work, and having FUN!

Feili Tu (Ph. D/Assistant Professor, San Jose State U.) wrote:

• I'm thankful that I was able to know hockey. I was born and grew up in a warm Asian country; no sports on ice can be found right there. I lived in Buffalo (N.Y.) for a year, and I learned that I have special passion for hockey games.

Dave Dresner (Blues fan) wrote:

• I'm thankful that Saku Koivu is doing so well in his treatment and may play by the end of this year, hopefully in the first round of the playoffs.

• I'm thankful I was able to meet and shake hands with the late Doug Wickenheiser. He was a credit to the human race, a beautiful human being and scored the most famous goal in Blues history (Monday Night Miracle).

Anthony Labadie (Islanders fan) wrote:

• I'm thankful that two wonderful Asian men who knew nothing about the sport of hockey, came in and saved the New York Islanders from the fate shared by Winnipeg, Quebec, Hartford, etc. HOCKEY IS BACK ON LONG ISLAND AND WE'RE ABSOLUTELY LOVING EVERY SECOND OF IT.

Kevin Palczynski (Wings fan & on-line reporter) wrote:

• I'm thankful for the simplicity of the Red Wings' uniform -- red, white and the winged-wheel emblem. That's all there is, and there is no need for more.

• I'm thankful for the fact that Brendan Shanahan works at getting fire detectors to needy families; Sergei Fedorov has an endowment for scholarships; Chris Chelios has a foundation set up to help kids; Darren McCarty works with his family at finding a cure for the cancer that claimed the life of his father, Craig; and the countless time devoted by the entire team to Make-a-Wish and other worthwhile organizations. They are well-paid and well-pampered athletes, but they have hearts of gold.

• I'm thankful for being able to travel with my brother-in-law, Steven, in our quest to see a Red Wing game in each city in the NHL, and for moments like the one, in flying back from Los Angeles, where we went through our lists of "visited" and "to visit" arenas and realized that we would be half-way to our goal when we get home from Boston and New York in March.

• I'm thankful for the transistor radio I had as a kid and hid under my pillow-listening to Red Wing games from the West Coast being called by Bruce Martin and Sid Abel on WJR.

Jennifer Canning wrote:

• I'm thankful that my dad hasn't given up his season tickets yet. He has been going to Flyers games since their first season in 1967, and has been a season ticket holder for 33 of the team's 35 years in existence. He doesn't go to all the games anymore, but he makes sure to keep the conference rivalry games against the Rangers and Devils! Hopefully his dedication will pay off and he'll get to see another Stanley Cup in Philadelphia during his lifetime.

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