#rystrome

    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.