New York City - The Unique New York Hockey Experience - 2007 NHL Article

The Unique New York NHL Hockey Experience

© 2007 BestShowTicketsLasVegas.com

Detroit may be “Hockeytown,” while the capital of the NHL is in Toronto. And one would be hard pressed to find a more successful hockey city than Montreal with the Canadiens holding 23 Stanley Cups.

None of those towns, though, as rich as they may be, have the uniqueness of the ice scene in New York.

The Metropolitan area is the home to three NHL teams - the New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and New York Rangers - and each have their own personality, fan base and traditions. But because of the close proximity to each other, the interaction among the fans make going to games for any of these teams different from any other NHL city.

Separated by about 40 miles, the three New York hockey teams give a fan a very different experience. The three home buildings have different histories and the organizations have very separate philosophies.

Having a Devil of a Time in the NHL

Starting in New Jersey, the Devils have become one of the model franchises, not just in the NHL, but probably in all of sports. Run by team president Lou Lamoriello, New Jersey treated its fan base to three Stanley Cups since 1995 and have one of the toughest defenses in the league.

When going to a Devils game, expect to be ragged on if you are wearing the jersey of a rival team - especially a Rangers or Philadelphia Flyers sweater. No matter who the Devils are playing, anti-Ranger chants are the norm throughout the Continental Airlines Arena with fans watch the superior goaltending of Martin Brodeur. With the Devils perfecting their neutral zone trap, opposing teams are stymied and low scores usually happen.

Just six miles away across the river, the New York Rangers have their home at Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan. Games are not just hockey matches, but shows as celebrities are sprinkled into the crowd and sometimes get shown on the giant scoreboard in the middle.

New York Rangers NHL Team

Speaking of names, the Rangers also attract the top hockey names to the club. Currently future Hall of Famers Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan headline a group of high profile NHL veterans. Young goaltender Henrik Lundqvist emerged last season as a star, not just on the ice, but also in fashion magazines. This is as much of a Broadway show as 42nd Street or Phantom of the Opera and the usual packed house shows it.

And it’s usually an enthusiastic crowd as well. Ranger fans are considered one of New York’s most loyal, supporting their team no matter how the Blueshirts are doing. But don’t make the mistake of wearing a Devils, Flyers or Islanders jersey. Sometimes rowdy fans can make opposing fans feel unwelcome. Just ask former Islander Denis Potvin, whose name gets razzed at every game.

Out east in Uniondale, NY, the New York Islander have their home at Nassau Coliseum. This old building has seen many great hockey matches, especially back in the 1980s when the Isles won four straight Stanley Cups. Unlike the Rangers - which are run like a large corporation - the Islanders are more of a family run business, complete with the off-ice dysfunction from owner Charles Wang. Although they have had their problems, coach Ted Nolan had his team playing well and goalie Rick DiPietro is a young star.

Islander fans are very loyal and many have backed their team though the lean years of the 1990s. At games, fans will make many anti-Ranger chants, which make the ones in Jersey seem rather tame. Opposing fans get a better welcome than the other venues, but don’t wear a Ranger jersey or you will be asking for trouble.

Because all three teams are in the same division, they play each other eight times each. These “rivalry” games have a deeper intensity, since fans of all three teams come from all over the Metropolitan Area. Ranger fans are more abundant due to the long history of the team [they are an Original Six franchise], but Islander and Devil fans go fill the other venues as well.

And that’s what makes New York hockey so great. The loyalty of the fans knows no bounds and seeing the crowd interact is just as much fun as the game on the ice.

 

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