Let’s just get this out of the way now; I’m a New York Islanders fan. This shouldn’t be a surprise because I was born and raised on Long Island. And yes, I’m kind of upset about the move to Brooklyn last season and the change in jerseys for several reasons, but that’s not what this article is about.

I’ve only been following hockey for the past two or three years, but it has literally become my favorite sport in that time. It all started when my best friend started watching with some of her friends in college and it quickly spread to me since all we do is talk to each other. It’s almost become an obsession for us.

I’ve gone through a lot with this team in the few years I’ve been watching. I’ve witnessed ups and downs every single game, but honestly, I would never want to change teams. I’ve been through too much. This past season alone, I’ve met, watched, and seen players leave and join the team. I’ve also spent more money on tickets and merchandise than I care to actually admit.

In reality, a lot of my favorite memories have to do with hockey. In 2010, my junior year of high school, my high school chamber choir sang the National Anthem at the home season opener against the Rangers and then stayed to watch the game. While I didn’t particularly pay attention to hockey at the time, it is one of my favorite high school memories. I’ve gotten $12 tickets to games, granted they were literally in the last row of Nassau Coliseum and I could touch the ceiling, but it was still awesome. I had my first legal drink (a raspberry Shocktop, in case you were curious) at a game on my 21^st birthday, which we lost, but getting those tickets and having that experience on my birthday was amazing. I went to the last game the Isles played at Nassau Coliseum (which we also lost…) but the love and energy I felt that day has yet to be rivaled.

I’ve met players leaving the practice and at meet and greets. I’ve taken a 40 minute car ride to a game, gotten stuck in an hour of traffic leaving after a game, and I’ve even taken two trains to get to a game. Being in college makes it hard to go to games, but thank god for NHL apps and live streams of the games. I’ve been able to meet and bond with people over hockey both at games and at school. And while we may have our rivalries, and may not always talk highly of each other’s teams (I’m so sorry by the way), the love of hockey is what keeps us together.