Everything is allegedly “bigger and better in Texas”, right? Or at least that’s what Texans say, which is true when it comes to football, barbecue, and even fairs, but what about hockey? In a state that hardly ever gets any cold weather, and already has many sports happening in the month of October (like basketball and volleyball), people tend to look past hockey. However, because of this, many are missing out on the best sport to exist. 

An article written by Dave Begel has some of the top reasons someone would dislike hockey. (Yes, I read an article about it because I don’t understand why someone doesn’t like this sport). One of the reasons I found in the article was that the puck is too small and hard to see. I will agree that a puck is smaller (it has a diameter of 3 inches), but there are other sports with smaller objects to hit, such as a golf ball (which has a diameter of 42.67 mm). Also, the ice is colored white, leaving the black puck as a contrasting color, making it easier to see. While the puck is moving, it may be harder to see, however, following the players and their sticks is the easiest way to keep up with it. Over time, finding the puck will become easier, and not as complex as many think it is. Another reason many do not like hockey is because they find it too violent and complicated. 

Although there are a lot of fights and tension revolving around the players on the ice, many have misconceptions about how aggressive hockey actually is. According to Bleacher Report, hockey is actually the fifth most dangerous contact sport, while rugby, football, MMA, and boxing top the chart. Although hockey is faster pace than other sports, the moral of the game is still the same: shoot the puck in the opponent’s goal. The way I learned to understand hockey was my dad taught me that it’s basically indoor soccer on ice. It is just a faster pace, on skates, and colder version of soccer. Since it is one of America’s favorite sports added with the twist of being on ice, if people gave it a chance they would actually enjoy it. 

One of the things that makes hockey players different than others is that they tend to interact more with their fans and even organizations. Every game, there is always a chosen kid that gets a signed puck and stick, as well as a picture with one of the Dallas Stars players. Along with that, the team also recognizes a veteran at every game. Season ticket holders get to spend a whole night at Six Flags riding rides and while waiting in the line, they get to actually meet players and take selfies with them! Even those that are just fans can go to the practices and afterwards most of the players give away autographs and even their sticks. At a game after warm-ups, the pucks they used are tossed to the fans that fill the bottom floor. In Dec. 2016 I went to my first ever hockey game, and the Stars captain threw me a warm-up puck, and since then my love for hockey has grown with every season. In fact, it’s grown so much that I stood in the blazing heat for hours, dripping sweat just to meet some of the team players.

Of course, there cannot be a sport without fans, but hockey truly has the most dedicated fans. Every game, the American Airlines Center is covered in victory green. People paint their faces, make super cute signs, and of course sit through the cold for a hockey game. I mean I could be wrong but most people hate the cold in Texas, and they wouldn’t sit in it even if it was their kid playing. My favorite part is when singing the Star-Spangled Banner, our fans will shout the word stars since it’s the teams’ name. Another thing is that our fans will shout at the players like there isn’t a thick glass panel between them and the player. Our Dallas team may have a coach, but on game nights, the whole crowd becomes their coach. Literally I’ve had conversations with the fans that sat next to me and if you didn’t know us, you would’ve thought we were friends before the game. 

Until someone experiences the game first hand, many may find my argument as invalid. However, until someone tries something new, they’d never know if they like it or not. It’s just like trying out a new sport, food, or even clothes. Experiencing the game first hand is what drove my love for hockey three years ago, and if I never gave it a chance, I don’t think I’d be the same person today. Sounds cheesy, but because of this sport, I have a wall dedicated to tickets, pucks and autographs. I get excited on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I get to go home, watch hockey, and maybe even get to yell at the TV.  I mean now, most people know that hockey is actually apart of my life, and many people know it as a part of me. 

I may be a Texan, but my sport isn’t football, or even basketball. It is a sport that is misconcepted on a daily basis, thought to be too aggressive, and even too complicated to understand. However, the atmosphere of hockey is full of dedication, love, and even cold air, makes this sport the best one around. I can’t imagine my life without hockey, and I believe the rest of Texas will feel the same over time.