Let’s put it this way: go to a hockey game, and you’ll experience a different kind of fan culture.
Thanks to a friend, I returned to Madison Square Garden for a Rangers game. The game didn’t turn out to be much of a game—a Rangers loss—and I wound up watching the fans in the stands more than the action on the ice.
From the experience, I draw this conclusion: hockey fans are a different breed. How so? In no particular order, here are ten ways that hockey fans are unlike any other fans.
One: Hockey fans love their jerseys, which are ill-fitting and more like dresses.
Two: Hockey fans don’t do baseball caps.
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Three: Hockey fans shout out stuff during the national anthem.
Four: Hockey fans love their beer and curse a lot. I didn’t see any kids at the game.
Five: Hockey fans don’t keep stats. Is there even such a thing as fantasy hockey?
Six: Hockey fans love law enforcement. They were cheered enthusiastically at every opportunity.
Seven: Hockey fans aren’t bashful about telling individuals in their sight lines to sit the “F” down.
Eight: Hockey fans keep their eyes on the puck, not their phones. Impressive!
Nine: Hockey fans aren’t celeb worshippers. Katie Holmes and Josh Gad on the Jumbotron didn’t get much of a response. That was not the case when a relatively unknown New York Giant was put on.
Ten: Hockey fans pay no mind to the scores of other games during the actual game.
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Jon Hart is the author of Unfortunately, I was available, illustrated by Coverkitchen.
