Rural hockey fans rival those in the big leagues

March has had plenty of excitement at minor hockey level as teams are on a journey to win a league banner and competing at provincials to win the province. Nothing against the big cities but the passion felt in small towns at playoff time is sky high and it shows as the kids are pumped to play in front of packed house. Noisemakers and cheers are a plenty, making for a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final feeling. It feels as though it goes beyond just family or friends in the stands but other citizens who love the game and have spent a number of years around the arena. The support of a brotherhood is tremendous and there is no better feeling than when you’re up late in the game and you see those seconds tick down in the championship game because you completed the quest. When the banner is presented to those young kids it’s a moment shared with the whole community because they’re all in this together right from the zamboni guy all the way up to the concession workers because it’s those people who keep the rink going for the big game and the winners will rush up to tell you about the result. It’s a special bond in a small town because a championship will be talked about for days to come and for the players, well, they earned the banner and will be talked about as they grow up with one another.
Celebrate likes it’s the Stanley Cup.

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