Spoke said it very factually, without accusation, and he was right though I wouldn't believe it for many more years. "You're not a hockey fan, Becca. You're a Stars fan."
I had been bitten by the bug after watching a full game for the first time. I didn't understand much but I knew I was hooked. I went on to learn more and love it more.
Being the hottest guys on ice at the time, this was when Hatcher was Captain and Belfour was Goalie. There was Modano, Hull, Lehtiner, Nieuwendyk, Zubor, and young Morrow.
They won the Stanley Cup that year of 1999 and I became more obsessed. I flew a car flag and bought flags for my family to fly. I had a hockey puck on my office desk, and my sister gifted Spoke and me tickets to a game; center ice just a few rows up. Not unlike the squeak of sneakers on an ACC college basketball floor, the sounds of metal blades on Reunion Arena ice was thrilling to this novice fan.
My enthusiasm was unwavering; I did not, the following season, miss a single televised game. Not a one and that's a helluva lot of games!
The Dallas Stars made it to the Stanley Cup finals again that next year but lost. I was so heartbroken and exhausted, I quit hockey. Spoke would say I quit the Stars.
Fast forward to life with W. In 2017 she had followed her familiar players to the new expansion team, Vegas' Golden Knights. She told me about their start, and so, I was off again. What an unbelievable start it has been.
The Knights, now in just their 7th season, won the Stanley Cup last year. (Dallas' 1999 Cup Win is their only of three decades.) Vegas has made the playoffs every year but one, losing in the finals in their very first year.
So the heart and soul of this team has won me over and I've become a fan. Again, I'll give it to Spoke and end this acknowledging his insight. Yes, I'm not a hockey fan, I'm a Knights fan!" Flamingos on the ice!
Note: This was written in the wee hours prior to Game 7 of the Cup's First Round: Dallas Stars & Vegas Golden Knights. If the Knights don't win, I'm on record for supporting my city's team forward!
