Jennifer Moglia

    I’ve always said that you can’t choose who your favorite players are. It’s like a fate kinda thing. We, as fans, get drawn in by these guys for one reason or another, whether it’s when they first start coming up in the system, or years into their career. I know a few people who are attracted to a certain jersey number, like my dad, who is always partial to guys who wear 13. For others, sometimes it honestly just starts with looks. “Hey, this guy’s cute...time to scroll on his Tumblr tag and learn this entire career in 3 hours.” Then, before you know it, it’s 6 in the morning, you haven’t slept, and you’re now able to recite play-by-play transcripts of every gif he appears in on the internet. Sometimes it’s a convenience thing. “I don’t like this team, but the arena isn’t too far away and I wanna see some hockey games. Let’s pick a favorite player. What? They’re a divisional rival of the team I actually follow? Shoot.” For me, it was a mixture of the latter two paths.

    Friday, May 6th, 2016. I had just gotten home from school and was told that my stepdad and cousin had somehow miraculously scored tickets to the New York Islanders’ second round playoff game against the Tampa Bay Lightning that night. I’m a Rangers fan, but everyone who knows me knows that I’m not exactly a rule-follower when it comes to hockey. Baseball, I’m a lot better with. I’m a Mets fan who also follows the Orioles and hates any player in a Yankees, Nationals or Braves jersey, and I’m pretty obnoxious about it. Hockey...I’m a little more lenient. I’ll watch just about any hockey game. I just really enjoy the sport. I only watch Mets and Orioles baseball, but if there’s a hockey game being played, there’s a pretty good chance that it’s on at least one TV in my house. So, when my stepdad told me he was going to this game, my mom and I decided we’d watch it. Actually, we didn’t really watch it. We flipped between the game and Return to Amish, because really, priorities! When my mom and I sat down to watch the game, my stepdad texted me asking which player I wanted pictures of if he got down to the glass for warmups. Of course, I wasn’t familiar with many Islanders besides Tavares, Okposo, Martin, Nielsen, and Clutterbuck. You know, those stand out, franchise players. And, to be honest, I didn’t really like any of them. Of course I admire the skill of guys like Tavares, Okposo and Nielsen, and the aggression and passion of Clutterbuck and Martin, but they’re Islanders. I can’t just like Islanders. Anyway, I searched up the roster and picked a random name. Ryan Strome. “Hey, I like Dylan Strome, maybe they’re related? I guess this Ryan kid is cute. His stats aren’t horrendous. Let’s go for it.” Little did I know.

    My stepdad ended up missing his train, or something, and he didn’t get there for warmups. But, I continued paying attention to Ryan. He didn’t have an exceptional game, but he did almost set up the game tying goal, which sent the game to overtime. Even after the Islanders lost that night, and even after they lost that series, I continued to learn more about Ryan, digging in his Tumblr tag and watching all his interviews and highlights. It felt weird, since he was an Islander and I was a Ranger fan, but, nonetheless he continued to move up my list of favorite players. My stepdad and I had already been talking about getting an Islanders ticket package for the 2016-2017 season, since I had gone to my first two hockey games that past season and I was hell-bent on going to a lot more. My affinity for Ryan only made us want to go to more games. When September rolled around and I was basically the resident Ryan Strome expert, I ordered his Niagara Ice Dogs OHL jersey. Because, there was no way I was getting an Islanders jersey. Ah, yes, petty hockey Jen is back. When the jersey arrived, I wore it almost every day. Out with friends, to school, to sleep...that jersey practically became a part of my body. The day he signed his new contract, I wore the jersey out to family dinner. Hey, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! Six days after he signed that contract, I wore his jersey to a game for the first time. Monday, September 26th, 2016. New York Islanders vs Philadelphia Flyers. The first game of the 2016-2017 pre-season. And, not to rub salt in the wound, Isles fans, but it was empty. You could count the people in each section. It was bad. But, this worked for me, since it meant that warmups would be empty. I was one of two people standing at the glass on the Islanders’ side for warmups. I then proceeded to whip out the sign that I had made for Ryan (yes, I’m that crazy). It was in the shape of a heart, it read “Ryan Strome-y is my Homie”, and it took over 4 hours to make. I was gonna get noticed if it killed me.

    I had seen Ryan play one other time before. I went to an Islanders vs Panthers game the season before to see Aaron Ekblad, one of my favorites from a few seasons back. I couldn’t have pointed Ryan out to you if you asked me. I didn’t pay attention to him at all that night. So, this game was basically the first time I’d be seeing him. And, let me tell you, hearing Green Light by Pitbull and seeing him skate out past me for the first time...it’s a moment I’ll never forget. I still watch that video all the time, and it still gives me chills. The most important part of that night was getting a puck from Ryan. He threw it over the glass near the end of warmups and of course, I dropped it. He laughed at me. As he was leaving, I thanked him and told him I loved him. He said he loved me. It was honestly one of the best nights of my life, and I couldn’t shake that giddy, happy feeling. Employees and fans alike kept asking me about the puck as I walked around with it, and telling them that story was one of the coolest experiences ever. To top off the night, Ryan fought Nick Cousins, and, quite honestly, beat the crap out of him. What a game.

    Throughout the season I went to many more games. I saw Ryan score his first home goal of the season, and it was against his brother’s team. I saw him score 3 other times, and I even saw him get announced as the first star of the game once. It wasn’t a phenomenal season, but in my eyes, he did pretty well. In addition to seeing him play well, he acknowledged me at practically every game, usually at warmups, whether it was a smile, a wave, a head nod at my jersey, a like on Twitter after a game, or that one time he repeatedly shot pucks at my face. Thanks, dude. At the end of the season, I ended up winning his jersey off the back auction. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I got a game-issued jersey that got signed right in front of me, and I got to have a conversation with my favorite player. I’ll have to write a separate piece on that, because it’s a lot. But, in short, I thanked him for everything, we took tons of pictures, and he gave me the best hug I’ve ever received. I couldn’t stop smiling the entire train ride home.

    So, what’s the purpose of this piece? Yeah, I wanna brag about how amazing my favorite player is, but, the point is, he won’t be returning to Brooklyn next year. I’m more than relieved to no longer be the Ranger fangirl that likes an Islander, but I won’t get to see him as much anymore. So, thank you, Ryan. For everything, thus far. Thank you for the puck, the jersey, the Twitter likes, the hug, and for the happiness that you’ve brought me over the past year or so of my life. The best part is, I know this is only the beginning. I’ll get to see you on November 7th, in a different kind of orange and blue, and it’ll be different, but I won’t enjoy it any less. Maybe I’ll even make an obnoxious sign for you again. You’ll surely be able to recognize me, though. I’ll still be the only one in the arena in your white Niagara Ice Dogs jersey. So, with that, see you soon, Stromey Homie. I’m counting the days until you come back.

    Many people say that I’ve changed a lot since first grade. I’d agree with that in most aspects, considering that I’m taller (not by much) and smarter (hopefully), but there is something that stands out. In both 2009 and 2017, I’ve been one of the most avid baseball fans that I know. On November 5th, 2009, the day after the New York Yankees won the World Series, I walked into school wearing a bright pink David Wright shirt. Yes, even at age 7, I was the most obnoxious baseball fan on the face of the earth. Whenever other kids in my class would mention the Yankees that day, I’d start crying and run down the hall to the bathroom. The Mets still make me want to do that sometimes.

    If you couldn’t tell from my disastrous story, New York Mets fans are quite the unique bunch. We’re some of the most loyal, passionate people you’ll ever meet. We’re also some of the craziest people on the planet. We know what it’s like to struggle, to literally always be disappointed, and to lower our expectations. I’m a firm believer that getting heckled for how horrible they were all throughout elementary school built character in a lot of us, and I always say that you know you messed up in a friendship or relationship when a Mets fan gives up on you. We won’t give up on our trainwreck of a team and we gave up on you? Yikes, buddy. The Mets are one of my teams that I didn’t choose to be a fan of (in addition to the New York Rangers). My first piece of sports apparel was a bright pink David Wright shirt, the one I mentioned in my first story. I got it when I was 3 years old, I think. And, in obnoxious Met fan fashion, I wore it in enemy territory as much as I could. I still stand by the fact that the most intimidating night of my life was my first MLB game, Angels at Rays, to which I wore this Wright shirt. Even Raymond the Ray, the Rays’ mascot, heckled me, and I was barely a toddler.

    Since then, I’ve been going to Mets games for as long as I can remember. I call Citi Field my second home and the fans my second family. Growing up in a divorced family, I didn’t really know where my place was for a long time. Mom’s house, dad’s house...I wondered if I belonged in either of those places. The first few times I really felt like I belonged were waving my free Mike Piazza shirt in the air on his Hall of Fame day, screaming until my lungs gave out after a walk off win, and cheering on David Wright as he picked up a bat at home plate. There’s something truly special about the sense of community that Met fans share, whether it’s boo-ing the Nationals and Braves or singing “Piano Man” together on a warm Friday night. They say misery loves company, right?

    As I’ve grown up, my baseball team has grown up with me. That World Series run in 2015 was one of the best seasons I’ve experienced as a fan. All of the players really earned it in different ways. Like Matt Harvey, who fought through pressure from fans and management alike throughout the whole year, Jacob deGrom, who stepped up as a young player and showed that the future of this team was coming, and, of course, David Wright, the heart and soul of the team whether he’s injured or not. The entire organization really earned that pennant, and I couldn’t have been prouder of them. The only downside is we haven’t been able to go back and resolve that unfinished business from a few years ago (it’ll happen soon, guys, I promise).

    There’s really something to be said about sticking with this team for as long as some of us have. Sometimes, you get a miracle, like youth beginning to come up in the system. A player that gives me a lot of hope for the future of this team is Brandon Nimmo. He’s always working hard, interacting with fans, and posting his Bible verses of the day on Twitter every afternoon. Players like Nimmo are the reason why we as fans feel like better things are coming in the future. The enthusiasm that he and the other “youngsters” show for this team makes me think that we could really make a run in the coming years. The best part is, this is only the beginning. We deserve this. After years of ups and downs and disappointment after disappointment, seeing this team get better is something that we can cherish. Because, well, you know what they always say...no matter how hard it gets, you have to stay true to the orange and blue.

The other day I wrote an article for “Puck It Up!”, a fan-run hockey blog. I’d love if you all could check it out!!

So today the NWHL published an article that I wrote about my favorite player, and I’d love if you all could check it out!!

     It was June 9th, 2010. I still remember it pretty well. After a long day of doing whatever 1st graders do, I was exhausted. But, this was a very important night. Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals. I had been watching hockey as long as I could remember, and this game was a big deal. The Chicago Blackhawks could win it all tonight. I was beyond excited. See, the Blackhawks were never my team growing up. They were more of a second team, if that. I grew up loving the New York Rangers, which I’m sure I’ll write about eventually, but my love for the Blackhawks came about in a bit of an odd way. First grade wasn’t exactly the most normal year of my life. 

     In September 2009, my mom started dating the man who would ultimately become her husband four years later. I was obviously happy for them, and my stepdad is one of my favorite people now, but it was hard on me. It was a change, and I definitely felt pressure to love my stepdad more than my biological dad, even though no one was actually pressuring me to do that. It was scary. Hockey was what was there for me. And, after seeing my ultimate least favorite team (yes, the Pittsburgh Penguins) win the Cup the year before, I was dying to be happy about hockey again. My Rangers were absolutely murdered by the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2010 playoffs, so I didn’t exactly have them to look for in the Final. I was your typical 2010 Ranger fan, hooked on Dubinsky, Prust, Avery, Lundqvist, Staal, Anisimov and Drury. Derek Boogaard was always my favorite, though. I still miss him a lot. Ironically enough, neither of my current favorite Rangers were relevant to me at this point...Jesper Fast wasn’t even on the team, and Mats Zuccarello had just started out. So, as I do for all sports matters, I asked my father who to root for. He told me it was a no-brainer; the Hawks, of course. They were an Original Six NHL team, and he hated the Flyers (their opponent) with every ounce of his being (joke’s on him, his beer league team wears Flyers jerseys now. He rocks that obnoxious orange.). So, I plopped myself down in front of the TV in my mom’s room to watch the game. 

     It was already way past my bedtime, but I was determined to see the Cup handed out that night. I had made a Messier-like guarantee to myself...the Blackhawks WILL win tonight, and that one Toews guy that I know is gonna do something good. Well, Tazer and the Hawks definitely didn’t let me down. Toews got an assist, and that really made my night. He’s still one of my favorite Blackhawks to this day. That game really got me interested in the team. I continued to pay attention to them more and more as I grew up. The next year I really followed them closely was 2013 (Hawks fans, does 2013 sound familiar?). 2013 was a bumpy ride just like 2010. I was in fourth grade, my last year before I would move on to junior high school. As always, I created pressure on myself. I really got into hockey that year, trying to get a general knowledge of teams other than the Rangers, who I knew front and back. Of course I started this mission with the Blackhawks. Their core was still similar to the team that I fell in love with just 3 years before. Duncan Keith, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Hjalmarsson, Jonathan Toews...these names were the closest I’d get to friends as a socially awkward and anxious ten year old. New faces appeared too, like Brandon Saad and Nick Leddy. Most importantly, this was the year that I learned the name Corey Crawford. This began years of shouting “Crow my goodness” at my TV...sorry, Mom. This cup run was even more special because of the team it was against. If you know me, you know that I can’t stand the Boston Bruins (well, with the exception of David Pastrnak). I was ready to see a team that I hated go down in flames just like the year before...what a model child I was. That year of playoffs probably took ten years off of my life. The lockout made everything seem complicated. I still remember sitting in front of the TV and watching the first Rangers game of the season...in January. I also remember nearly choking on my lemonade when they lost 3-1 to...you guessed it, the Bruins. This put a fire in young Jen’s heart. Down with the Boston Bruins. As the season went on, the Rangers actually didn’t play horribly. They beat the Capitals in the first round which was pretty cool, but then came Boston. 

     You know, I really think it’s fate, or something like that, because every horrible school year I’ve had has resulted in a Hawks Cup win. I guess they officially became my “second team” when I saved up my money to get a shirt with their logo at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto over the summer of 2016. There really is something special about this team. They struggled a lot for the first seven (ish) years of my life, and they’ve come out as winners. It makes me so proud. Something about the essence of this team has really just drawn me in. The fast skaters, the goalscorers, the leadership, the brotherhood...it all just warms my heart. 

     I have to say, though, my favorite part of “Hawks Culture”, by far, is the goal song; Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis. Even my friends who can’t stand the team agree that it’s the best goal song in the league. Nothing really compares to dancing around your living room like a crazy person after a Panarin goal to that song. So, call me a bandwagon, but this team means everything to me. I can’t wait to visit Chicago this summer to walk around the stomping grounds of my boys in red, obnoxiously cue-ing the dagger at every chance that I get.