About a week ago, I knew almost nothing about the NHL and the sport of hockey in general. If you asked me who played in the Stanley Cup Finals just last year, I would not be able to answer correctly. Sidney Crosby, Henrik Lundqvist, and John Tavares were the only players I knew by name (positions not included). I wasn’t too bad with team names, but far from perfect. My knowledge was so limited (and still is), but last week, I finally decided to make a concerted effort to follow the sport that has an incredibly rabid fan base, especially on Long Island. Have you been on the LIRR following a New York Rangers or Islanders game?

To be perfectly honest, I was bored with too many years of disappointment from the Knicks and Jets. They have been far too inconsistent. Other than the exciting post-season performance of a New York Yankees team destined to compete for World Series titles in the seasons to come, sports in New York have been quite lackluster in recent years. While the Islanders and Rangers have shown flashes of playing well this year, I wanted a change. I was craving something new, a team different from those who attend Floral Park Memorial. A friend, Robert, from Washington D.C., is a HUGE fan of the sport. As soon as I told him I was considering following the sport, he immediately offered his assistance. When I explained my concerns about how to select a team, he responded with a spreadsheet featuring every team in the NHL. It included pros, cons and most importantly, the bandwagon risk for each. As I was scrolling through, I noticed the expansion franchise that was added to the league just this year. The Vegas Golden Knights, who were labeled a solid team with considerable potential. After doing some more research, I realized they currently had the best record in the Western Division. My family members have never been fans of any one particular hockey team, so the choice was all mine.

Being the newest team to the league with high upside and room to grow, I figured Vegas would be a perfect match for a new fan.

Since I tend to write about teams in New York and I’m not sure of any other Vegas fans, watching hockey will also allow me to publish some articles about the Islanders and Rangers. Along with writing my current stories on the Yankees, Jets, and Knicks, expect more from the other side including the Mets, Nets, and Giants. Stayed tuned for even more on sports coming soon!