Anyone reading this is probably a hockey fan, and I’m also sure you’ve all had moments where the Rangers meant more to you than just being a sports team. There’s always been this idea that big sporting moments would be tied to where you were at the time. Whether it’s where you looked, who you were with, how old you were, or any number of other details, you probably remember where you were during the big moments.
I still remember where I was during 2014 Eastern Conference Finals, Game Six. My friends invited me to watch the game with them, but I said no because I was afraid they would talk so much that I would miss important moments. It sounds lonely in retrospect, but I basically locked myself in a room alone and just took it all in.
A lot happened during that period in my life. My parents were getting divorced, I was having some trouble at school, and my mental health was all over the place. But for two and a half hours, none of that mattered. All that mattered was a bunch of guys trying to put a puck in the net.
That sounds stupid to say! But it’s real. Hockey has assisted me during beautiful moments in my life. My wife’s first Rangers game, which reminded me there was a game we had to watch. Going to games with my best friends, my family and more. I met Jaromir Jagr when I was younger and heard him yell at no one in particular, “I don’t care about these kids, just give me a Diet Coke!” These are all memories that I will always cherish.
In November 2017, one of my best friends passed away. I had met them as a Rangers fan, but they lived all over the world. I would send them live updates on the games, and when they woke up, they would also send me back their analysis after watching. Living so far away, we had no connections, so when he passed away I had no one to talk to about it and couldn’t attend the funeral. So I watched the Rangers game, typed up a bunch of analysis, and for the first time, I didn’t hit send. The last note I wrote that night?
“I’m so glad hockey brought us together.”
All in all, hockey will always be what it is: a bunch of guys skating around trying to beat other guys. But if you continue to indulge me, I hope you can take a moment to realize how much the sport can mean. Maybe you need that appreciation considering the way the Rangers are playing!
#Hockey #sport