Tropical Hockey
South Florida’s unexpected treasure
“Do they even have ice?!” This stunned reaction is the disbelief that hockey exists somewhere other than the frozen tundra of Southeast Michigan. Growing up with a love for Hockeytown during the legacy years of the Red Wings hockey became a huge part of my life. I still hold very fond memories of staying up late to watch the Wings win the Stanley Cup with my Dad. It was way past my bedtime, but in the middle of double overtime and the Cup on the line, I was permitted to stay up and watch my boys bring Sir Stanley’s Cup back to Hockeytown. So, it’s no surprise that I would take this obsession with me when I moved to South Florida.
In today’s world of hockey there are more and more people and teams that play in warmer climates. In fact, there are three NHL teams in California, and they have even hosted outdoor games in 80 degree weather, where their fans attended in shorts and tank tops. Florida also has two NHL teams whom, as of recent seasons, have been contenders in the playoffs. So the stigma attached to hockey teams from warmer climates has become antiquated and irrelevant. I was lucky enough to become good friends with somebody who shared my passion for hockey. When we met, I was still of the mindset that Florida hockey was laughable, I turned my nose up to the thought of being a Panthers fan. How could I betray my beloved Wings? We started going to a few games where the Panthers were playing a Detroit rival, I would wear my Red Wings jersey and root against my enemy. It didn’t take long before I became a bonafide fan of my newly adopted home team. My fellow fanatic and I attended close to 30 games in each of the following seasons, including the first round of the 2015–16 playoffs. During the opening of the first playoff game, I stood in awe of the energy and the excitement that filled the arena, it was something I will never forget. The sheer volume of the 15,000 fans that were there to see their team compete for the Cup was deafening! It rivaled the decibel levels of the die-hard fans at the Joe Louis Arena, and it gave me chills.
Like most people who live in South Florida, I am a transplant — there are very few people living here, who were born here. Most people come from either New York, Canada, Pennsylvania, Michigan, etc. and with them comes their love and understanding of this game of gladiators and explains the ever-prevalent population of hockey fans and players around South Florida. Shortly after moving here, I discovered a couple outdoor rinks close to my apartment and I decided to rekindle my love of the game that has always meant so much to me. One night I met a group of men who had gathered to play drop-in roller hockey, organized by a Detroit native goalie, who had created a Facebook page to connect with other hockey players in the area. This was a group whom many of them, like me, were born and raised in hockey outside of Florida and brought their passion with them. They were welcoming of new players and encouraged me to continue to return and help keep the game alive. The diversity of the group bridges generational gaps, cultural differences, and even geographical boundaries -there are guys who drive up to 40 mins just to play at this park, their love for the game couldn’t be stronger. On the bench you can hear talk about the current season and players, predictions of who would win the Cup this year, and “Bro! Did you see that OT winning goal Getzlaf netted?!” And during the game there is a never-ending flow of chips, insults and board-banging -behavior well known to any true hockey fan or player.
No, it’s not necessarily what you would expect; and no, it’s not everywhere and in your face; but yes, the love for hockey is strong and growing in South Florida. The NHL games are full of passionate fans who love the smell of the ice and to watch the boards shake from huge highlight reel hits. They yell at the refs, taunt the opposing players, and will jump out of their seats and dole out high-fives to the people around them when the home team lights the lamp. At the parks, players of all ages and backgrounds come together in camaraderie to compete on the rink and make long-lasting bonds over the game they love so much. I am grateful to have met such amazing people who share my passion for hockey, to share the highs of victory and the humility of defeat; to bump shoulders on the bench, and share a bond with a group of people whom otherwise, I never would have met. And it is all thanks to the South Florida treasure of tropical hockey.
