Like the other popular sports out there, hockey has a lot of depth and a rich history. People have been skating on the ice for years, and the sport is only becoming more popular as time has gone on.
There’s a lot to love about the sport, which is why more people are becoming hockey fans every year. Continue reading to learn more about how you can become a hockey fan and start rooting for your new favorite team.
Learn the History
The first step to becoming a hockey fan is learning the history of hockey. No, you don’t need to necessarily know who invented it and who the first players were, but you do need to learn about the key moments in the sport’s history.
Hockey has a rich past; over time, countless moments have entered the pantheon of great hockey.
For example, if you want to be a hockey fan, you should learn about the “Miracle on Ice,” when the U.S. upset the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics.
You should also try to know everything about Wayne Gretzky, one of the best players of all time. His name will appear in almost every NHL broadcast or hockey conversation you find yourself a part of.
Find Your Team
In addition to learning about the history of hockey, you must find yourself a team to support. Every sports fan has a team they represent and cheer on, even when the team is losing, and the same goes for hockey fans.
Most fans support their local team, but you can go against the grain and find the team and the players that speak to you above everyone else.
However, be careful about only supporting the team that wins the Stanley Cup every year because then people might look at you as a bandwagoner. They could be your favorite team, but you don’t want people to think you only support the winning team.
Get Some Memorabilia
A great way to show your love for the sport and your team is to invest in some memorabilia. There’s a permanence to these pieces of hockey memorabilia.
Unless you go out of your way or there’s some freak accident, they will retain their value for years! What’s great about sports memorabilia is that there are a lot of different items to choose from.
You can get:
- Jerseys
- Hockey sticks
- Helmets
- Pennants
- Bobbleheads
In addition to these, you can also invest in hockey cards! There are newer hockey cards you can get, but the vintage market is also rife with unique collectibles you shouldn’t pass up on.
However, with that said, you must know what to look for when buying vintage hockey cards. If you want your card to be valuable, consider factors like the player and the overall condition of the card.
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These are the critical steps you need to become a hockey fan in the best way possible. Still, it’s easy to become a hockey fan, but it’s harder to stay one.
In addition to finding your team and getting some memorabilia, you must support your team and the sport for years to come. That means watching the sport, engaging in the discourse, and even going to some matches if you can.
That’s how you can become a hockey fan!
