r/icehockey

I’ve been a hockey fan for about four years now, and as I approach my 44th birthday, I’ve realized that my love for the sport has been more than just about the game—it’s been a journey to find where I truly belong as a fan.

When I first started following hockey, I leaned towards the Ottawa Senators. There was something about them being underdogs, their cool logo, and their uniforms that drew me in. I proudly rocked a Brady Tkachuk jersey and a few Senators shirts, feeling connected to their spirit and grit.

Fast forward to 2025, and the hockey landscape shifted for me. The Utah Hockey Club transformed into the Mammoth, debuting their new mascot Tusky, and suddenly, I found myself rooting for them. Maybe it was because they were a newer team, a fresh start after their transition from the Arizona Coyotes. Watching players like Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, and Nick “Schmaltzy” Schmaltz battle through a tense first-round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights was thrilling—a true roller coaster of emotions.

Yet, even with my excitement for Utah, I never completely abandoned Ottawa. They still hold a soft spot in my heart. But as I did some soul searching about my true hockey identity, I realized I wanted something deeper, something connected to my roots.

I live in Indiana now and was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. Neither Ottawa nor Utah is close to home. Ohio does have the Columbus Blue Jackets which I almost considered supporting them but I found myself drawn elsewhere: the Nashville Predators. Nashville felt right—not just because of the team, but because of my family ties. My mom was born there, along with some of my aunts and uncles. My grandma was from Nashville too, and she’s buried there. I’ve been to Tennessee several times, so I have a familiarity with the place, and some family still lives there.

However I now find myself eyeballing the Calgary Flames. Not the first time I rooted for a Canadian team (the Sens first) but I realized how much I am drawn to that team. First off, they have the same color scheme as my favorite NFL Team (Chiefs) and one of my favorite wrestlers hails from Calgary (Bret Hart). Not to mention that a guilty pleasure movie of mine was filmed there as well (Superman III) and one of my favorite Marvel characters is from Alberta (Wolverine). Plus they drafted some solid players and look like a good underdog that kind of attracted me to the Sens in the first place. 

I feel more confused than ever. I feel like I’m never going to have that one team to make my own. It’s like I’m an outsider no matter who I cheer for. I already bought some Preds merch but now I’m eyeing Flames stuff as well.  What’s gonna happen next? Me being a Kraken fan? Canucks fan? Ducks fan? I’m going to be hoping around the league for the next who know how many years until I find that one team to call my own. Or maybe I’m just thinking too deep into it. 

We've all seen some ridiculous stuff on the ice the ringers who treat it like Game 7, the guy who celebrates every goal like he just won the Cup, the defensemen who run into each other and hand the other team a breakaway.My favorite? Roberto Luongo apparently showed up to a beer league game Imagine looking across the ice and seeing Bobby Lu in net.Also had a teammate who fanned on a breakaway, chased the puck to the end boards, crashed hard into them forgetting to stop, then from his knees made a blind backhand pass to the crease that somehow found a teammate's tape for a goal. Hockey is magic,and then there's the guys who treat it like Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. We had a dude celebrate his 9th goal in an 18-1 win like he just scored the cup winner. At 11pm on a Tuesday one dude even took a two hand chop at someone, tried to flee, and got a door slammed in his face trying to escape.What's the best thing you've seen? the weirdest the most unhinged celebration?

Between the rise of hockey romance (Off Campus, Heated Rivalry, etc.), social media edits, and the sudden obsession with the whole “hockey player” aesthetic, it feels like hockey has entered a completely different era.

I know for fans in Canada or the United States this probably sounds funny because hockey has always been massive there.

But outside traditional hockey markets? I genuinely don’t remember this much attention around the sport.

Especially in Europe and other places where hockey was never really part of mainstream conversation, and if it was, was usually for the wrong reasons:
fights, injuries, aggression, controversies… basically the “crazy violent sport” stereotype.

Now, partly thanks to this new wave of content, it feels like people all around the world are seeing hockey differently.

So my question is: could this online trend actually translate into real growth for the sport (more ticket sales, bigger audiences, and new fans)? Or is this just another internet-driven moment?

Curious to know if longtime fans or people working in hockey are already noticing changes.

Can we talk about how superstitious hockey players are? Like... it's actually wild.I was reading about Sidney Crosby the other day and apparently he changes his skate laces mid period if he doesn't feel right. Like in the middle of a game. The trainer has to come out and re lace him. Just so he can feel "right" and then there's Patrick Roy who used to literally talk to his goalposts during games full conversations to metal pipes🤣.
Alex Ovechkin? Gets a stick from his wife before every game same kind,same weight same curve. If he loses it? Whole vibe is off.But the craziest one for me is Dustin Byfuglien apparently had to be the absolute last person to step on the ice for warmups. Every single time if he wasn't last, he'd go back and try again and you can't even judge them because we all have that one thing. Like I can't watch a game without my specific hat. It's not even lucky it's just my hat. But I feel weird without it.Am I the only one who finds this stuff hilarious? Like these are grown men making millions and they're worried about lace tightness and skate tape color.What's the weirdest routine you've seen from a player? Drop them below I need more examples to feel normal about my hat.😂😂😅lol
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