Merry Christmas, friends.
It’s me, Ian, from hockey blogging. I wanted to write to you today to thank you for what has been another incredible year on the site. Looking back on 2025, we reported on two different playoff runs, covered some hockey history for the ages, and brought you the crucial and not-so-crucial stories from both DC and Hershey. We also turned 16-years-old on December 9, so we’re driving more than pageviews now.
Speaking for everyone on the site, we remain incredibly grateful to be in this spot — like, just existing — to cover our favorite hockey team in a high-level way. We put our hearts and souls into this. We dedicate every ounce of energy we have (I sincerely work 12-16 hours a day, almost every day) so that what we do, which, I think, is exceptional and honest work, is expected… normal… nothing out of the ordinary.
But just wanting to exist is not enough to exist, if that makes sense. Technology is always changing. When we first started RMNB, you read us on a desktop computer. Now, it’s on a phone. And who knows, in five years, when our blog is old enough to have its first beer, you may only read us on your black-rimmed prescription-less glasses. The point being, we’re in a business that is always changing, so we must always be changing, too.
So today I’m here to request a Christmas present — or a belated blog birthday present. And it’s so easy. Like THE EASIEST.
But could you go to the link below, click it while logged into your Google account, and then check the box with our domain name?
https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=russianmachineneverbreaks.com
And yes, encourage your family, your hockey-loving friends, and anyone else who would be willing to do so, too!
What this would do is make us a preferred source for you on Google, meaning our stories will pop up more for you and, perhaps, others. And honestly, tell me if I’m wrong, you could even say this is really a gift for you because you’ll get to read us more.
Now, if you’re one of the ones who “loves” reading us and wants a bigger gift challenge, I hear you and I’m ready to lower the gauntlet. You could use your newfound holiday cash at one of of our partner sites, for instance, the NHL shop, where we would get a teency tiny small slice of whatever awesome hockey merch you buy through this link.
You could follow us on social media if you’re not already doing so — like on Instagram, Facebook, X, Bluesky, or YouTube.
On Facebook, if you just liked us or already currently like us, make sure to click on the like button and adjust your settings so that our stories show up at the top of your feed whenever we post. If you have questions about that, I can walk you through in the comments.
Finally, a really awesome way to get more involved is to become a member of our Patreon where a $5/month contribution will give you a super-clean, super-amazing, ad-free version of the site, which also comes with a dark and light mode. A $10/month donation will get you access into our super secret group chat where we’re always talking about hockey and you can tell me all my opinions are wrong, which my son already loves to do. It’s incredible, really, how much it builds his confidence.
But really, that’s a lot. All I really want is you to do is CHECK THIS CHECKBOX RIGHT HERE.
I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and thank you so much for your time, consideration, and support. It means the world to us. <3
