Photo by Alexis Boucher

Dear new Lightning Fans,

Welcome to Bolts Nation! I know I’m biased, but this is a pretty great fandom to be a part of.  The Bolts have won the Stanley Cup in the last 10 years and the future certainly seems bright for this franchise.  This is a great time to get into the sport of hockey.

How do I know you’re new, you ask? Well, the ranks of season ticket holders up in the nosebleeds have been pretty slim since I moved to town a few years ago. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a new fan. After last night’s home opener, I feel that it’s my duty to help indoctrinate you into property home game etiquette. Just a few helpful pointers to make your (and my) experience the best it can be.

1) Don’t do the Wave. Especially when our team is down on the scoreboard. Scratch that. Don’t do the Wave EVER.

2) Don’t boo the home team. This happened towards the end of last season and if the early struggles of this year continue, I have a bad feeling that it might be something we have to contend with again. It’s just rude. And I will yell at you if you do.

3) Don’t bail on the team if they haven’t given up on the ice. This happened in droves last night after the Panthers scored their 6th goal. Our boys were still pushing and trying to get back in the game. I know there wasn’t a lot of time left and you had a busy day. So did I. I stayed until the bitter end and never stopped cheering. (I will make an exception for those with small children or who need extra time leaving the building. The rest of you got the stink eye from me).

4) Don’t believe the lyric of that Hockey Paradise. It’s The Stanley Cup or The Cup or even Lord Stanley’s Cup. Never, ever “The Stanley”.

5) The playoffs are amazing and that’s one of the things that make them so special. The regular season isn’t always as do or die or intense. Look at it this way. The playoffs are a insane sprint. The rest of the year is more like a marathon. Pace yourselves. It’s early.

6)  If you don’t know something or are fuzzy on the rules, just ask. I’m more than happy to help you out and answer questions. Also? Don’t be the person in the stands who is constantly calling for fights or saying someone should take off their skate and stab someone. It just makes you look dumb.

7) Don’t tuck your jersey into your pants. Gigantic fashion faux pas.

8) Most importantly, have fun. Being a hardcore hockey fan is a huge commitment. The size of the schedule pretty much demands it. I’m a fan of several sports, but nothing really compares to hockey when it comes to passion. Before you know it you’ll have developed your own set of game day superstitions and will be able to correctly pronounce French-Canadian names at the drop of a hat.

See you at the Forum!

Love from Section 321,

Me