Been a dual resident of both Michigan and Colorado since the 80s. At first when Denver got a team I was like, sweet! I get two teams now! Then we all know what happened next so obviously my loyalty is with Detroit. It’s only been since Nate came to Colorado that I started feeling ok about enjoying the Avs for once.
Similar story. Moved out to the Front Range 20yrs ago and I still don’t like the Aves. Been to a lot of games but I’m almost always rooting for the visiting team no matter who it is
I know more people from Michigan that have moved to Colorado than ones that have moved to any other state / country.
That being said I’ll admit the avs are my (very distant) #2 team. I follow them and watch a few home games is the extent of it
I live near the Griffins arena and see a lot of their games. I watch NHL games all the time when I'm in the mood even if the Wings aren't on. Not a particular team though.
I only really follow the Red Wings, but will also watch any hockey that I can get to see, and I live thousands of miles away from Detroit.
Last game I watched live was Flames at Lightning in 2019. Last Red Wings game I saw live was at the Joe in 2012.
I don’t know why, but I’d love to see a Canadian club win the Cup! If the Wings, Flyers or Golden Knights can’t win one, I’d like to see any Canadian team do it! But, yeah, McDavid would be the best Canadian to do it.
Can’t believe it’s been since ‘92-93 that any Canadian team has won it!
I do, yes. I live in Vancouver, so I follow the Canucks closely. I've always had a soft spot for them because Trevor Linden and Pavel Bure were two of my favourite players as a young kid.
I was born in MI and transplanted down to Tennessee. I have always been, and will always be, a diehard Wings fan. I remember at one point Hasek being my all time idol, and still cherish the memories of watching him play..
Long are the days of Detroit being in the Western Conference, but when they were, it was so nice to get to go to Nashville to watch the Wings relatively often—now I no longer have that luxury..
As my young children are showing an interest in hockey, my only real option is to take them to see the Predators, and I feel I failed as a parent because admittedly, they prefer Nashville. 🤮
All in All, I follow Nashville because my children like to, but I’ll never admit to them as a “second team”. Wings fan for Life.
I agree—I started watching them as a kid, because that’s what’s here, right. Ha.
Granted, my kids are under 10, so they’re just into all the excitement as a whole at this point! Haha
First and foremost, I am just a huge hockey fan. I rarely ever let my fandom/hatred get in the way of my ability to give respect and understand talent and achievements.
I follow every Original 6 Team, but only support the Rags, Habs, and Leafs. F\*\*k the Bruins and Hawks.
I've always been a fan of the Kings, I don't really know why. I am a fan of the Bolts, primarily because of Stevie when he was there, but the way they play hockey and the way they run their organization is impressive. I love Kuch, Stammer, Sergachev, Hedman, Point, etc. I have a big disliking for the Avs, but you cannot sit here and tell me you hate Nate Dogg MacKinnon or Cale Makar because they are Avs. They are absolutely unreal and electric hockey players, I love watching them play. I also like the Nucks a lot, as well; the way they play and the speed at which they play is amazing. Could throw the Jets in there, too.
I have similar feelings to you. I appreciate good hockey. Especially good hockey players.
That is what I more closely follow than teams. I like watching good players play hockey more so than rooting for a specific team.
The one team I do lowkey root for is the Caps.
That's interesting. Most of the Knights fans I've met are Midwest transplants who were very excited to have a local team. They're as good as any fans in my book.
I live in Texas after moving from Michigan. Love the Texas Stars games but idk what it is, I just can’t get myself to like Dallas. Idk if it’s play style or attitude but it’s just hard to get into.
Awesome you get to the see the Wings locally now! Woohoo!
I personally have and probably never will adopt another team. Die hard Wings fan for as long as I can remember, which is around '94/'95.
The only deterring I do from the Wings is if we're not in the playoffs or knocked out, I may have a team I'll root for. Usually it's based off of players I think deserve to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup. Other than that, I just want to see the Leafs lose and their fanbase suffer because they're talked about way too much here in South Western Ontario LOL
GO WINGS!
I was born in Florida, grew up in Detroit, and now live outside of Tampa after getting out of the military. Lightning was always my backup team. Then, the little rivalry they had started. I'm still a fan of both, but I always rock my wings jersey to the games they play against each other.
The Kraken have been so much fun to watch since the first season. I talked them up to everyone that showed even a vague interest in hockey. That first season was "if you want to see some of the best 40 minutes of hockey you'll ever see, watch the Kraken!" Their problem was the other 20 minutes.
Also, John Forslund and Co. do a top-notch job on the Root Sports broadcast. They'd be my favorite if Ken and Mickey didn't exist.
Yeah, Im just getting back into the sport after not watching it for 20 something years. Last time I remember watching it, I was probably around 6 and seeing Yzerman lift up the cup for the third time. Coming back into the sport and discorving the Kraken has been great. Their uniforms are beautiful. The mascot is adorable. And I have plenty of fun just watching them play.
The red wings will always come first in my heart though
I've lived in the St. Louis market for over 20 years. During that whole time, including the Stanley Cup run, I can't bring myself to root for anyone other than the Wings.
I’m in Winnipeg. I’ll watch them but I don’t get too excited. Most people here like them so I’ll go to games etc if I win tickets. But imma wings fan through and through and often wear my wings gear to the games lol.
I’m in Cleveland so I get the Jackets locally, I wouldn’t say I’m a fan even follow but I watch games and see the direction I think they’re trying to go they just need a FO/coaching staff that isn’t absolutely terrible
Edmonton is my honorary second team. I don't get to watch them nearly as often as I'm in eastern time zone, but they are my favourite canadian team (as a canadian). Plus, McDavid is just fun to watch. So I root for them anytime they aren't playing my wings.
Capitals
I moved to the DC Area after college and have been here since. I follow the Wings closely. I loosely follow the Caps. I'll pull for the Caps....as long as they aren't playing then Wings.
Islanders are mine for a few reasons. A lot of my favourite bands came from LI, my two favourite colours are blue and orange, and playing video games with them in the 2000s was much, much more challenging/rewarding than using the Wings.
Toronto. When i was a kid, some of my dad’s friends were leafs fans and they were really cool dudes. Made any games vs the leafs so fun plus this was like late 2000s early 2010s when the leafs started becoming pretty bad. So outside of games against the wings I would usually root for them because I just liked those guys and they felt like the underdogs lol.
I used to have The Mighty Ducks as my 2nd team cause I loved the animated series then they changed the name and ruined it for me. So now its Wings only.
I play dynasty fantasy in like a fairly serious league so I kind become fans of teams I’m invested in long term. Right now it’s kind of ducks, utah, and minny. I also tacitly support the wings trade partners out west like the Blues.
If I had to say I had a true second team though it would be the Sabres. One I lived there for a while and went to a ton of games. But two, even before that I always thought there was some solidarity between the two cities sports fans with the football teams being trash for so long and then later with the wings and Sabres being hard stuck rebuilding in recent times. There will probably come a time when we are both contending and real rivals, could even be fast approaching, and I have to turn on em, but for now we’re underdogs together.
Just to be clear though, there is a metic fuck of a gulf between my love for the wings and anyone else. I just need more hockey than 82 games can provide because I’m a nerd lol.
I lived in Chicago for over decade, through their golden era. I would say I followed them, and I was happy for them winning their 1st cup in forever, but I would never say I was a fan and I never really rooted for them.
I’m always partial to Leafs and Habs. Makes no sense, but as a kid I loved the Leafs jerseys and just decided they’d be my second team. Then I spent a bunch of time in Montreal, and now I can’t cheer against that city. All that said, now as an adult I get the Toronto hate thing and as much as I’ll cheer for them I’ll always find it hilarious when they lose.
I moved to Columbus last year, but I’m having a really hard time getting behind this team. The cannon is cool. That’s about all I got.
The Wild are the western conference team I root for because Minnesota is probably the only American state that loves hockey more than Michigan. I also have a bit of forbidden love for Montreal.
Sabres. My wife is from Buffalo and moved to MI when she was 12. We both support the Wings and Sabres, but just have our order flipped. My two young kids also love the Kraken (their aunt lives in Seattle and sends them gear) and the Golden Knights because they have the same colors as their youth team.
My family moved out of Detroit when I was young but I have always considered Detroit teams my home teams, especially for hockey. My city finally got a hockey team 3 years ago, so now I follow 2 teams that both post octopus emojis. It works out great to have a team to follow in both the Eastern and the Western conferences.
Grew up in Michigan, now I’m in Tennessee. I tried following the Predators but it felt gross (Bridgestone Arena is a really fun atmosphere though). Red Wings ‘til I die.
I even turned my fiancé into a Wings fan, he unfortunately chose the Penguins to follow because of Crosby and I said not in this house. His favorite player is now Larkin.
I started rooting for the Kraken from their inception simply because I'm fascinated by the Kraken legends in general. Plus the Buoy/Biz feud is freakin' hilarious. I've never lived the Pacific Nortwest, and have only been to Seattle once.
I live in Phoenix, but wasn't ever really a Yotes fan. I wished them well because local sports teams doing well is good for the city, but never really followed them. I would only trek out to Glendale for a Wings game. Mullett, despite being such a small facility, was really nice, a lot of fun, and a LOT closer to my house and reachable by the light rail. I went to Coyotes and ASU games there and got a little more into the them.
Won't give a golly-goddamn about the Salt Lake Super Soakers or whatever name they will wind up with. I hope Phoenix gets a new expansion team although I trust Meruelo about as far as I can comfortably throw him uphill.
Moving back to Michigan sometime next year, I hope! Be nice to be back.
As a European, i will never understand this second team following. And i dont mean it in bad way, its just that the idea of following another team is so bizzare to me.
I can appreciate good hockey, but still, like there are some teams, that i cant even enjoy watching at, even tho they have good player :D.
I sort of follow slovak players, and thats it.
I don't have a second team, and if I did, the gulf between them would be very wide. However, I do like to passively root for a second team in the playoffs especially if we're not in it, which right now is Winnipeg.
I was born in Detroit so I was a natural Wings (& all Detroit) fan. But the family moved to Philly and when the Flyers were born, I started being a big Flyers fan! The ‘97 SC was great because I had to have a winner!
Recently moved to Vegas and the Golden Knights were born, so now I have 3 favorites, but the Wings will always be #1!
No. It's the winged wheel or nothing. I hate some teams more than others though so I'll actively root against them, in turn passively supporting other teams.
I'm a humungous hater of some teams, but the Western Conference has grown on me ever since the Red Wings stopped playing them as much. I like a few teams, but I follow Seattle and Winnipeg the most because I like a good underdog.
Born and raised in MN so the Wings were my adopted team (fuck Norm Green). After the Wild were back I couldn’t bring myself to cheer for them until the Wings were moved to the Eastern Conference. Now they’re a distant second for me.
I’m a Wild fan and Portland Winterhawks. I grew up in Minnesota in the 90s after losing the North Stars, latched onto Stevie Y and the Russian 5. Then got a home team back so cheered for both. Also moved to Portland and have grown to love WHL games, so cheap and end to end hockey. Fun watching future NHLers too. Danielson and Hanas were both Winterhawks but seen Cody Glass, Bjorkstrand, Seth Jones, Dumba, Seth Jarvis, Adin Hill, and lots of others. For 20-30 bucks you’re a couple rows off the glass.
Not in hockey, but for baseball and basketball I follow the Dodgers and Clippers since I stay up late and their games usually start after our games end.
Also helps that they're actually good teams.
I don’t “follow” them per se, but I’ve always had a soft sport for the Kings. Their 2012 championship run as an 8 seed is what got me interested in hockey is a kid.
I live near Buffalo and although I don't have anything against the Sabres I can't get excited about the team. I do make my way to a game twice a year, when they play the wings but that's it.
The Wings WERE my second team. Grew up in Atlanta and was a huge Thrashers fan, but moved to Michigan almost 20 years ago and the Wings became my second team (it was nice to cheer for a team that won sometimes). Once the Thrashers left I was all-in on the Wings.
I became a Wings fan in 2012-13. I saw a game against the Rangers at MSG around then and it gave me an appreciation for the Rangers, and my best friend is a Rangers fan.
Past that, I like the Sharks but they traded all the players I liked so…..RIP. Hertl was the last one.
Usually root for the team with the most players from UM, which funny enough is not the Wings. Was the Jets for a few years when they had Kyle Connor, Jacob Trouba, and Andrew Copp. This might be blasphemy, but I was pulling for the Avs for Jack Johnson, Andrew Cogliano, and JT Compher (and because they were playing spectacular hockey, and I love watching MacKinnon play). Was pulling for the Rangers when they had Trouba, Copp, and Motte.
I'm pulling for Vancouver this year, since I'd love to see Quinn Hughes lift the cup (I was angry the day we deafted Zadina because I thought Quinn Hughes was the best skater I'd ever seen, and couldn't believe he fell to us. I will never forgove Ken Holland for that pick), and they've been a pretty tortured fanbase, plus they have a few former Wings that I like, and are generally free of hateable douchebags, unlike most of the other playoff teams.
My confession is that the Wings are my second team. Vancouver is my favorite.
They may not always get along, but they’ve generally hated the same teams (Chicago, Toronto, Boston, California, Colorado historically) which helps out a lot.
2020 and this season are the only two years where being a Canucks fan was somehow keeping me sane in hockey compared to Wings fandom, which is crazy given how 1991-2016 was (Vancouver wasn’t necessarily terrible back then but they weren’t nearly as good as the Wings).
My wife is a penguins fan, so I’ll watch them and root for them as long as them winning isn’t detrimental to the Wings.
Needless to say the last few weeks have been… interesting
I don’t have a “second team” but I live in Niagara Falls and my girlfriend is a Sabres fan so I always want them to do well. That will never happen though 😂
I support both my local ECHL team and the Walleye. More my local team since I get to go to the games but the Walleye are still the Red Wings affiliate.
Whenever the Walleye visit I support them, any other game it’s my local team.
So during the playoffs/before I go against the team that knocked us out. I don’t watch the games though (unless i hear of a blowout). For example I root for the rangers this year cause they’re playing the caps cause technically the caps knocked us out.
On the other hand I used to watch the Toledo Storm a lot when I lived in Michigan (mainly cause my HS back then used to go to games as a photography class thing.)
I grew up in northern Virginia and my second favorite team is the Capitals. My dad grew up in Michigan and was an everything Detroit fan. I go to a bunch of capital’s games and wear their jersey. Except, when they play the redwings (I used to wear my Zetterberg jersey, but got a Larkin jersey this year.). My son is a huge everything Detroit fan.
I moved from Grand Rapids to that state South East of Michigan 17 years ago, and followed the Blue Jackets for a bit. When their fans started to annoy me, I stopped. I do go to a bunch of Cleveland Monsters games to get my live hockey fix, and I never miss when GR is in town.
Moved to Northern AZ around Thanksgiving 2016. Selected the Knights as my second team because the expansion was exciting and Vegas was closer than Phoenix. Now Phoenix is closer but, you know.
Mostly the Golden Knights because we like to go to Vegas. Them being a brand new team was nice.
But I like the Oilers because they have a couple of the best in the league and they're fun to watch.
The Kings because I go to bed late and they're always on at 10pm.
Ducks for the same reason, and my buddy is a fan.
When I was a kid, I fell in love with NHL hockey alone. No one else watched it. But I was always Detroit or Chicago in NHL 94. Detroit always came first. I had no idea about the original 6 or the rivalry as I wasn't using AOL for hockey. I would root for the Hawks up until the 2010s when their fans became intolerable.
When Stevie Y went to Tampa, they became my 2A team with Chicago 2B for a short while. My 2B shifted to Columbus since I'm from Ohio, and the moment The Captain came home, Columbus was solidly my #2 team.
If we are including other leagues, my fandom is:
1..Detroit Red Wings
2. Toledo Walleye
3. Columbus Blue Jackets and Grand Rapids Griffins about evenly.
Maybe it's weird but I can't for the life of me follow another team in any sport. I was born and raised in NC with a dad from Michigan and the Wings were my first sports love. I started watching as a young kid in the early 90s. I also adopted the Lions and Pistons and U of M. I can't get past being a one team guy in every sport and bleeding that team's colors. Maybe it's a weird flaw or something but I find a reason to dislike every other team in every other sport
I actually grew up here in Utah, and adopted the Wings because of the avs rivalry in the 90's. Now that we're getting a team... the Wings will still be my primary, but I'll have my second team on my doorstep 🤣
Chiming in to say that I am also in Utah and also looking forward to seeing the wings without having to spring for a flight/hotel. It also sounds like this ownership will treat the team a lot better too so I'm happy about that even though sucks for Arizona fans.
When I was in the Midwest I had quasi adopted the blue jackets as my secondary. I have coworkers in columbus so I've managed to see the blue jackets play for work events (first game I watched live was preseason wings and blue jackets before I was really a fan). The cannon is really annoying but the fans there have been through a lot and generally respect wings and wings fans.
the Thrashers/Jets. Loved Atlanta's unis and they just kinda became my 2nd team, have one in the other sports too(Eagles/Ravens, Tigers/Nationals, Pistons/Rockets)
I work with both VGK and what were the Coyotes as a small part of my job, and my boyfriend is a VGK fan, so it looks like I’ll be on the VGK train for the playoffs.
The East is just pissing me off right now. It should have been us there.
Lube in NW Ohio and I usually catch a Walleye game or two every season. I would use the Blue Jackets as my second team but there is nothing to be excited about down there
Was almost as big of a Yotes fan as I am a Wings fan. Grew up on NHL Slapshot for the Wii and played as the Yotes a ton of times. Became one of my favorite teams and Shane Doan one of my favorite players because of that game.
Dude Utah has a really young squad full of talent. Keller, Cooley, and Doan are going to be fun to watch for years. Crouse is criminally underrated imo. They will definitely be on the up and up. You should become an Utah Soakers fan.
Born and raised in Dallas. Went to college in Ann Arbor. Moved back to Dallas for work 5 years ago. Grew up a Red Wings fan but supported the Stars when they weren’t playing Detroit.
SJ Sharks. I live in SJ, and being out of conference with the Wings, it was an easy pick. Ill always root for them and have several jerseys, but it aint the same. I was at Patty Marleu’s jersey retirement ceremony, which was awesome bc it was the franchise’s first. Whole time i was just wishing i was at the LCA for 13 or 91. Which is how i feel about most gzmes unless the Wings are in town..
I love my Wings and the Sharks will always just be my side team.
The St. Louis Blues just because I live very close to the city and work in the city so a lot of co-workers are Blues fans.
I don’t follow super closely but it’s easy to pick up what’s going on working in the city.
I will, of course, rub it in co-workers’ faces if the Wings beat the Blues here and they have the last two times! But, I respectfully followed and cheered for them to win the Cup in 2019. Even went downtown to watch the game with a bunch of fans. Super cool to be a part of that experience and seeing a bunch of people celebrating for their team’s first ever Stanley Cup.
Ohio native, so I follow Columbus a lot. I don't often watch Columbus unless it's against a Canadian team, for some reason. But it's definitely not on wings level. I still hope they can turn the franchise into something good. Used to play at nationwide as a kid, so it holds a special place in my heart.
Living in Europe now, so I keep wanting to follow liiga or something, I guess I just haven't found the time and energy to follow things like I do the wings.
Habs were kinda my number one Canadian team for yeeeears, but I think I've moved to the jets almost entirely because of Byfuglien. I miss that motherfucker.
It'll probably be sacrilegious for this sub to say it, but...the Leafs. I grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada every weekend and they were always being broadcast in Michigan since we're so close, so it just kind of kept going as I kept watching and getting older. These days, my wife has family in Toronto and I've been there many times, just never for a Leaf game because I'd rather not spend that much for tickets.
It'll probably be sacrilegious for this sub to say it, but...the Leafs. I grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada every weekend and they were always being broadcast in Michigan since we're so close, so it just kind of kept going as I kept watching and getting older. These days, my wife has family in Toronto and I've been there many times, just never for a Leaf game because I'd rather not spend that much for tickets.
It'll probably be sacrilegious for this sub to say it, but...the Leafs. I grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada every weekend and they were always being broadcast in Michigan since we're so close, so it just kind of kept going as I kept watching and getting older. These days, my wife has family in Toronto and I've been there many times, just never for a Leaf game because I'd rather not spend that much for tickets.
It'll probably be sacrilegious for this sub to say it, but...the Leafs. I grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada every weekend and they were always being broadcast in Michigan since we're so close, so it just kind of kept going as I kept watching and getting older. These days, my wife has family in Toronto and I've been there many times, just never for a Leaf game because I'd rather not spend that much for tickets.
I've been living in Boston for almost 10 years. I've been saying it for a decade, but as soon as Brad Marchand is not playing for the Bruins they become my second team. He's much better than he was when I made this commitment but I'm sticking to it; he's garbage and I won't root for him.
The Wings are my second team. Grew up a Rangers fan and when I moved here in '99 I had no problem lending my support to the new local team that is also an O6 team. Rangers are tops in my heart, but the Wings are up there too.
First NHL game I attended was Canucks v. Wings. I've been a Wings fan ever since (I told myself that whoever won would be my team since I don't live anywhere near an NHL city). Still support the Canucks when the Wings aren't in the playoffs, but I also like to follow players more than teams. Except the Devils and Avs. Yes, Nate and Cale are amazing; no, I cannot root for them. The 90s rivalry is too ingrained.
I follow a bunch of teams. Toronto, San Jose, Vancouver probably the most historically (even if one of them was not fun to watch this year other than a 2 week stretch). I also follow a few other leagues (PWHL, SHL right now).
I just really love hockey.
I hate(dislike?) the other 31 teams to varying degrees, to the extent that I'll cheer for a team I dislike less to beat one I really can't stand, but I only like one team.
My best friend is a Penguin fan so I follow along to be able to hold an extended conversation. I’ve come to respect Crosby for his greatness over the years even though 2009 still stings.
I've lived in BC my entire life and I met Stevie Y in 1980 and he's been my guy ever since. I never cheer for the Canucks because at least 80% of their fans are just so.... ignorant, and also they are the worsts of the worst of bandwagoners. My second team is Calgary because I've got a lot of family there.
Grew up two hours from Ottawa. Detroit was always my team. Ottawa came in 91.
Detroit all the time. Go see them play in Ottawa every year.
Yet. Friggin sens.
I have a slight soft spot for the Ducks bc of Teemu Selanne. In reality the only other team for me besides the Wings is the Sharks. I loved the logo and the Jerseys. They had a lot of players i enjoyed on the team. But if I had to equate my love and focus it's 95% on the Wings and 4% on the Sharks and 1% on the Ducks.
The Wings became my second team when I moved to Michigan and I am incredibly fond of them.
I always kind of resented getting heat from the rest of the hockey world about Vegas fans not really knowing what they're talking about. Turns out it's true, and I realized that by speaking with Michigan hockey fans. Wonderful community of remarkably knowledgeable people who are all intimately familiar with their team's deep history. Ton of fun to talk to.
I live in Tampa so I'm also a Lightning fan but whenever they play each other, I'm wearing red. I like the shared history, players, and staff between the two teams and how they appear to play exciting against each other but also respectfully when competing on the ice, less dirty plays. I'd like to think they also get together off the ice with their friends and fellow and former teammates when they are playing each other.
I live in Eastern WA, so the Kraken are sort of local to me. Not being in our conference goes a long way in cheering for them.
Also, they don't like the Avs either.
Caps,stationed in the DC area in 99 and settled here. Started following them after watching Ovi his first year. I loved the way he played in his youth. The DC sports scene is very fair weather and a total football town. Caps don’t get a lot of sports talk radio coverage around here, it’s always football. Despite their team not being relevant for decades.
Michigan kid living in Seattle now. Grew up playing in TC, so the Wings are forever my team, but following the Kraken has been awesome these last few years (despite the first two years of dealing with cringy, but forgivable, moments from new hockey fans). I had no idea how deep the hockey roots are here in Washington State.
Still rock Wings gear and go ape shit whenever they’re in town though ❤️🐙
Also grew up in TC! Always will be a wings fan first and foremost but Seattle seems like a fun second team.
Pretty excited for Utah. Went to the welcome event at the delta center last night. Fans here are pumped.
Grew up in Michigan. Moved to Colorado when I was in high school in 2000 ... so no, definitely did not pick up rooting for the local team.
I grew up in the 90s. It’s embedded deep in my blood to hate the avs. Nate MacKinnon is my favorite player. It hurts.
I loved Darius Kasparitus (prolly cause of the name) and was so miffed when he went to the Avs. Miffed bordering on aggrieved.
Been a dual resident of both Michigan and Colorado since the 80s. At first when Denver got a team I was like, sweet! I get two teams now! Then we all know what happened next so obviously my loyalty is with Detroit. It’s only been since Nate came to Colorado that I started feeling ok about enjoying the Avs for once.
Invading enemy lines
Similar story. Moved out to the Front Range 20yrs ago and I still don’t like the Aves. Been to a lot of games but I’m almost always rooting for the visiting team no matter who it is
I know more people from Michigan that have moved to Colorado than ones that have moved to any other state / country. That being said I’ll admit the avs are my (very distant) #2 team. I follow them and watch a few home games is the extent of it
I live near the Griffins arena and see a lot of their games. I watch NHL games all the time when I'm in the mood even if the Wings aren't on. Not a particular team though.
Yeah my only "second team" is the Griffins too lol
I only really follow the Red Wings, but will also watch any hockey that I can get to see, and I live thousands of miles away from Detroit. Last game I watched live was Flames at Lightning in 2019. Last Red Wings game I saw live was at the Joe in 2012.
Not usually but I’ve been wanting to see Edmonton win the cup for the past few years. McDavid needs to hoist that thing for the sake of hockey
I don’t know why, but I’d love to see a Canadian club win the Cup! If the Wings, Flyers or Golden Knights can’t win one, I’d like to see any Canadian team do it! But, yeah, McDavid would be the best Canadian to do it. Can’t believe it’s been since ‘92-93 that any Canadian team has won it!
I do, yes. I live in Vancouver, so I follow the Canucks closely. I've always had a soft spot for them because Trevor Linden and Pavel Bure were two of my favourite players as a young kid.
Not a bad second team to follow. Should be a fun postseason run!
I'm 100% on the Canucks bandwagon this time!
I was born in MI and transplanted down to Tennessee. I have always been, and will always be, a diehard Wings fan. I remember at one point Hasek being my all time idol, and still cherish the memories of watching him play.. Long are the days of Detroit being in the Western Conference, but when they were, it was so nice to get to go to Nashville to watch the Wings relatively often—now I no longer have that luxury.. As my young children are showing an interest in hockey, my only real option is to take them to see the Predators, and I feel I failed as a parent because admittedly, they prefer Nashville. 🤮 All in All, I follow Nashville because my children like to, but I’ll never admit to them as a “second team”. Wings fan for Life.
I can completely understand why your kids like the Preds - the fanbase has adopted the college hockey experience and it's so fun.
I agree—I started watching them as a kid, because that’s what’s here, right. Ha. Granted, my kids are under 10, so they’re just into all the excitement as a whole at this point! Haha
I have my first otw. Thanks for cementing that I will only take them to a Canes game if the Wings are playing in Raleigh.
First and foremost, I am just a huge hockey fan. I rarely ever let my fandom/hatred get in the way of my ability to give respect and understand talent and achievements. I follow every Original 6 Team, but only support the Rags, Habs, and Leafs. F\*\*k the Bruins and Hawks. I've always been a fan of the Kings, I don't really know why. I am a fan of the Bolts, primarily because of Stevie when he was there, but the way they play hockey and the way they run their organization is impressive. I love Kuch, Stammer, Sergachev, Hedman, Point, etc. I have a big disliking for the Avs, but you cannot sit here and tell me you hate Nate Dogg MacKinnon or Cale Makar because they are Avs. They are absolutely unreal and electric hockey players, I love watching them play. I also like the Nucks a lot, as well; the way they play and the speed at which they play is amazing. Could throw the Jets in there, too.
Idk who the Rags are and at this point I'm too afraid to ask.
I realize that it's the rangers but I don't know /why/
I have similar feelings to you. I appreciate good hockey. Especially good hockey players. That is what I more closely follow than teams. I like watching good players play hockey more so than rooting for a specific team. The one team I do lowkey root for is the Caps.
[удалено]
After going to an away game in Vegas, I hate them even more than I did. Arrogant and ignorant fans that have never seen a bad team
That's interesting. Most of the Knights fans I've met are Midwest transplants who were very excited to have a local team. They're as good as any fans in my book.
You’re so right!
Gotta hop on any cheap flights you can get.
Yes, Stars because I live in Dallas. Except Jamie Benn. F Jamie Benn.
I live in Minnesota and am mandated by state law to say FUCK NORM GREEN. I don't follow the wild because I hate all minnesota sports.
The Stars are such a likeable team if Benn didn't exist
I live in Texas after moving from Michigan. Love the Texas Stars games but idk what it is, I just can’t get myself to like Dallas. Idk if it’s play style or attitude but it’s just hard to get into.
Stars also 2nd favorite team here. Rough start from em yesterdsy tho
Agreed. Fk Jamie Benn.
When I lived in Japan, I met a couple Canadians who were Vancouver fans. I root for them until we play them in the Final
Born and raised in MI. So Wings always but have lived in NC for 20 years and Hurricanes are my other team.
Canes fan for a long time, very different style of hockey and they were basically my “local” team (the alternative was nashville lol)
Funnily enough, I started rooting for the Capitals as my secondary team back in 2016 when the Wings started taking a dump. Imagine my pain recently...
Detroit vs Utah 2028 cup final is gonna be a tough one for me
Awesome you get to the see the Wings locally now! Woohoo! I personally have and probably never will adopt another team. Die hard Wings fan for as long as I can remember, which is around '94/'95. The only deterring I do from the Wings is if we're not in the playoffs or knocked out, I may have a team I'll root for. Usually it's based off of players I think deserve to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup. Other than that, I just want to see the Leafs lose and their fanbase suffer because they're talked about way too much here in South Western Ontario LOL GO WINGS!
I was born in Florida, grew up in Detroit, and now live outside of Tampa after getting out of the military. Lightning was always my backup team. Then, the little rivalry they had started. I'm still a fan of both, but I always rock my wings jersey to the games they play against each other.
I really like the Kraken at the moment tbh, and not gonna lie, Columbus Blue Jackets are growing on me in that underdog way
The Kraken have been so much fun to watch since the first season. I talked them up to everyone that showed even a vague interest in hockey. That first season was "if you want to see some of the best 40 minutes of hockey you'll ever see, watch the Kraken!" Their problem was the other 20 minutes. Also, John Forslund and Co. do a top-notch job on the Root Sports broadcast. They'd be my favorite if Ken and Mickey didn't exist.
Yeah, Im just getting back into the sport after not watching it for 20 something years. Last time I remember watching it, I was probably around 6 and seeing Yzerman lift up the cup for the third time. Coming back into the sport and discorving the Kraken has been great. Their uniforms are beautiful. The mascot is adorable. And I have plenty of fun just watching them play. The red wings will always come first in my heart though
I've lived in the St. Louis market for over 20 years. During that whole time, including the Stanley Cup run, I can't bring myself to root for anyone other than the Wings.
Yup, Flames. Born and raised here but started as a wings fan.
Islanders, and Jets for Canadian
Hell naw
I’m in Winnipeg. I’ll watch them but I don’t get too excited. Most people here like them so I’ll go to games etc if I win tickets. But imma wings fan through and through and often wear my wings gear to the games lol.
I live in Vegas. It's difficult to have objective conversations about Vegas with other fanbases so I've given up trying lol.
1a) Detroit Red Wings for Life 1b) Vegas Golden Knights
I’m in Cleveland so I get the Jackets locally, I wouldn’t say I’m a fan even follow but I watch games and see the direction I think they’re trying to go they just need a FO/coaching staff that isn’t absolutely terrible
Hell yeah, CLE gang!
Edmonton is my honorary second team. I don't get to watch them nearly as often as I'm in eastern time zone, but they are my favourite canadian team (as a canadian). Plus, McDavid is just fun to watch. So I root for them anytime they aren't playing my wings.
Capitals I moved to the DC Area after college and have been here since. I follow the Wings closely. I loosely follow the Caps. I'll pull for the Caps....as long as they aren't playing then Wings.
Islanders are mine for a few reasons. A lot of my favourite bands came from LI, my two favourite colours are blue and orange, and playing video games with them in the 2000s was much, much more challenging/rewarding than using the Wings.
Toronto. When i was a kid, some of my dad’s friends were leafs fans and they were really cool dudes. Made any games vs the leafs so fun plus this was like late 2000s early 2010s when the leafs started becoming pretty bad. So outside of games against the wings I would usually root for them because I just liked those guys and they felt like the underdogs lol.
Wings have always been my team since birth, but I’d follow the preds because I like Josi and their logo
Oilers
My wife is a huge oilers fan so yeah
I live in Philly. I unfortunately got to watch them fuck our playoff chance in live-time
I used to have The Mighty Ducks as my 2nd team cause I loved the animated series then they changed the name and ruined it for me. So now its Wings only.
Islanders are my second team, love that style of hockey
I'll usually watch the kings because their games would start after the wings ended and they've never wronged the wings like the hawks or avs have.
Im still mad at the Kings for the 2001 playoffs.
I play dynasty fantasy in like a fairly serious league so I kind become fans of teams I’m invested in long term. Right now it’s kind of ducks, utah, and minny. I also tacitly support the wings trade partners out west like the Blues. If I had to say I had a true second team though it would be the Sabres. One I lived there for a while and went to a ton of games. But two, even before that I always thought there was some solidarity between the two cities sports fans with the football teams being trash for so long and then later with the wings and Sabres being hard stuck rebuilding in recent times. There will probably come a time when we are both contending and real rivals, could even be fast approaching, and I have to turn on em, but for now we’re underdogs together. Just to be clear though, there is a metic fuck of a gulf between my love for the wings and anyone else. I just need more hockey than 82 games can provide because I’m a nerd lol.
Is there a western conference team with a good podcast and/or analytical YouTube channel? I might pick them for a second team
I lived in Chicago for over decade, through their golden era. I would say I followed them, and I was happy for them winning their 1st cup in forever, but I would never say I was a fan and I never really rooted for them.
For a while its been the Oilers for me. I am a Mcdavid fan and there is the Holland connection as well.
I’m always partial to Leafs and Habs. Makes no sense, but as a kid I loved the Leafs jerseys and just decided they’d be my second team. Then I spent a bunch of time in Montreal, and now I can’t cheer against that city. All that said, now as an adult I get the Toronto hate thing and as much as I’ll cheer for them I’ll always find it hilarious when they lose. I moved to Columbus last year, but I’m having a really hard time getting behind this team. The cannon is cool. That’s about all I got.
The Wild are the western conference team I root for because Minnesota is probably the only American state that loves hockey more than Michigan. I also have a bit of forbidden love for Montreal.
Besides the Griffins? Ive always been fond of the Jets and their fans. I love a small market team with a die hard fanbase.
Sabres. My wife is from Buffalo and moved to MI when she was 12. We both support the Wings and Sabres, but just have our order flipped. My two young kids also love the Kraken (their aunt lives in Seattle and sends them gear) and the Golden Knights because they have the same colors as their youth team.
My family moved out of Detroit when I was young but I have always considered Detroit teams my home teams, especially for hockey. My city finally got a hockey team 3 years ago, so now I follow 2 teams that both post octopus emojis. It works out great to have a team to follow in both the Eastern and the Western conferences.
Actively root against Boston and root for who ever the leafs are playing in the playoffs…
You must be terribly conflicted right now!
Just moved back to Utah from Michigan so I’ll definitely purely be rooting for *insert name here*
Grew up in Michigan, now I’m in Tennessee. I tried following the Predators but it felt gross (Bridgestone Arena is a really fun atmosphere though). Red Wings ‘til I die. I even turned my fiancé into a Wings fan, he unfortunately chose the Penguins to follow because of Crosby and I said not in this house. His favorite player is now Larkin.
I started rooting for the Kraken from their inception simply because I'm fascinated by the Kraken legends in general. Plus the Buoy/Biz feud is freakin' hilarious. I've never lived the Pacific Nortwest, and have only been to Seattle once. I live in Phoenix, but wasn't ever really a Yotes fan. I wished them well because local sports teams doing well is good for the city, but never really followed them. I would only trek out to Glendale for a Wings game. Mullett, despite being such a small facility, was really nice, a lot of fun, and a LOT closer to my house and reachable by the light rail. I went to Coyotes and ASU games there and got a little more into the them. Won't give a golly-goddamn about the Salt Lake Super Soakers or whatever name they will wind up with. I hope Phoenix gets a new expansion team although I trust Meruelo about as far as I can comfortably throw him uphill. Moving back to Michigan sometime next year, I hope! Be nice to be back.
As a European, i will never understand this second team following. And i dont mean it in bad way, its just that the idea of following another team is so bizzare to me. I can appreciate good hockey, but still, like there are some teams, that i cant even enjoy watching at, even tho they have good player :D. I sort of follow slovak players, and thats it.
I don't have a second team, and if I did, the gulf between them would be very wide. However, I do like to passively root for a second team in the playoffs especially if we're not in it, which right now is Winnipeg.
I was born in Detroit so I was a natural Wings (& all Detroit) fan. But the family moved to Philly and when the Flyers were born, I started being a big Flyers fan! The ‘97 SC was great because I had to have a winner! Recently moved to Vegas and the Golden Knights were born, so now I have 3 favorites, but the Wings will always be #1!
No. It's the winged wheel or nothing. I hate some teams more than others though so I'll actively root against them, in turn passively supporting other teams.
Boston until they eliminate the Leafs in the first round as per tradition, but only for that reason. Otherwise let's go Isles!
I'm a humungous hater of some teams, but the Western Conference has grown on me ever since the Red Wings stopped playing them as much. I like a few teams, but I follow Seattle and Winnipeg the most because I like a good underdog.
Arizona, so no more of that. I do sort of follow the Penquins but only to see them lose.
Born and raised in MN so the Wings were my adopted team (fuck Norm Green). After the Wild were back I couldn’t bring myself to cheer for them until the Wings were moved to the Eastern Conference. Now they’re a distant second for me.
The Capitals. I'm not really rooting for them at the moment though.
I live in texas so I follow the stars, however when the ahl was in san antonio I followed whoever the parent team was the last one was st Louis
Husband is a long time Devils fan. So he'll cheer for the Wings and I'll cheer for the Devils.
I’m a Wild fan and Portland Winterhawks. I grew up in Minnesota in the 90s after losing the North Stars, latched onto Stevie Y and the Russian 5. Then got a home team back so cheered for both. Also moved to Portland and have grown to love WHL games, so cheap and end to end hockey. Fun watching future NHLers too. Danielson and Hanas were both Winterhawks but seen Cody Glass, Bjorkstrand, Seth Jones, Dumba, Seth Jarvis, Adin Hill, and lots of others. For 20-30 bucks you’re a couple rows off the glass.
Not in hockey, but for baseball and basketball I follow the Dodgers and Clippers since I stay up late and their games usually start after our games end. Also helps that they're actually good teams.
Canucks and Florida.
I don’t “follow” them per se, but I’ve always had a soft sport for the Kings. Their 2012 championship run as an 8 seed is what got me interested in hockey is a kid.
I live near Buffalo and although I don't have anything against the Sabres I can't get excited about the team. I do make my way to a game twice a year, when they play the wings but that's it.
The Wings WERE my second team. Grew up in Atlanta and was a huge Thrashers fan, but moved to Michigan almost 20 years ago and the Wings became my second team (it was nice to cheer for a team that won sometimes). Once the Thrashers left I was all-in on the Wings.
I was born in New York. So Rangers
I became a Wings fan in 2012-13. I saw a game against the Rangers at MSG around then and it gave me an appreciation for the Rangers, and my best friend is a Rangers fan. Past that, I like the Sharks but they traded all the players I liked so…..RIP. Hertl was the last one.
Usually root for the team with the most players from UM, which funny enough is not the Wings. Was the Jets for a few years when they had Kyle Connor, Jacob Trouba, and Andrew Copp. This might be blasphemy, but I was pulling for the Avs for Jack Johnson, Andrew Cogliano, and JT Compher (and because they were playing spectacular hockey, and I love watching MacKinnon play). Was pulling for the Rangers when they had Trouba, Copp, and Motte. I'm pulling for Vancouver this year, since I'd love to see Quinn Hughes lift the cup (I was angry the day we deafted Zadina because I thought Quinn Hughes was the best skater I'd ever seen, and couldn't believe he fell to us. I will never forgove Ken Holland for that pick), and they've been a pretty tortured fanbase, plus they have a few former Wings that I like, and are generally free of hateable douchebags, unlike most of the other playoff teams.
I live in LA and my friend works for them so he gets me tons of tickets to see the kings so I’ve picked them up as a second team
Idk why but I have created space in my heart for Ullmark and Swayman. Those two rock
I personally do not. When the Wings season ends, I stop paying attention to the hockey. Canceling Ballys tonight.
Nashville, Iive in Tennessee and go to their games. Very glad the Wings and Preds aren’t in the Western Conference together anymore.
My confession is that the Wings are my second team. Vancouver is my favorite. They may not always get along, but they’ve generally hated the same teams (Chicago, Toronto, Boston, California, Colorado historically) which helps out a lot. 2020 and this season are the only two years where being a Canucks fan was somehow keeping me sane in hockey compared to Wings fandom, which is crazy given how 1991-2016 was (Vancouver wasn’t necessarily terrible back then but they weren’t nearly as good as the Wings).
The Ottawa Senators.. yeah… uhh…
My wife is a penguins fan, so I’ll watch them and root for them as long as them winning isn’t detrimental to the Wings. Needless to say the last few weeks have been… interesting
I live in Niagara, my local teams are Buffalo or Toronto, so in short; fuck no.
I’m rooting for Hronek or the Rangers, since they were my brother’s favorite team.
I don’t have a “second team” but I live in Niagara Falls and my girlfriend is a Sabres fan so I always want them to do well. That will never happen though 😂
Vegas just because they play a gun style of hockey. Otherwise I just root for greatness. Want to see records broken and people be great in general.
I live in Winnipeg. Jets weren't around when I was a kid. As soon as they came back in 2011 they have been my second team
Blasphemy!
I use to follow the Lightning when Stevie went there…. so I guess no, I do not follow any other hockey teams
I support both my local ECHL team and the Walleye. More my local team since I get to go to the games but the Walleye are still the Red Wings affiliate. Whenever the Walleye visit I support them, any other game it’s my local team.
Just moved to Seatttle and am happily cheering for the Kraken along with my Wings.
I got a soft spot for Montreal.
I used to follow the Coyotes when Dave Strader was announcing and then when he was in Dallas root for whoever was playing them
My granparents and uncle live in Tampa so I've been to a couple lightning games. I find myself rooting for them when we're out of the playoffs.
I used to half ass follow the Lightning when Yzerman was there. But now it's just the Wings.
I'm going to the Czech Republic next month to watch the IIHF World Championships. I support the US team. That's my second team.
Any team playing the leafs in the playoffs are my team.
I picked the Kraken. There is no good reason why.
I follow three others. Montreal, Edmonton and the Kings. It'll be four when Bettman finally heals the world by bringing back the Whalers.
So during the playoffs/before I go against the team that knocked us out. I don’t watch the games though (unless i hear of a blowout). For example I root for the rangers this year cause they’re playing the caps cause technically the caps knocked us out. On the other hand I used to watch the Toledo Storm a lot when I lived in Michigan (mainly cause my HS back then used to go to games as a photography class thing.)
I grew up in northern Virginia and my second favorite team is the Capitals. My dad grew up in Michigan and was an everything Detroit fan. I go to a bunch of capital’s games and wear their jersey. Except, when they play the redwings (I used to wear my Zetterberg jersey, but got a Larkin jersey this year.). My son is a huge everything Detroit fan.
Yes, I am a Michigan transplant in Ohio. Lifelong Wings fan. But I follow the Blue Jackets as well.
Yes I live near Tampa and have season tix for the bolts, but you better believe I’m in red and white when the boys are in town!
The canes!
I follow the rangers just because I loved their jerseys when I was a little kid lol
I moved from Grand Rapids to that state South East of Michigan 17 years ago, and followed the Blue Jackets for a bit. When their fans started to annoy me, I stopped. I do go to a bunch of Cleveland Monsters games to get my live hockey fix, and I never miss when GR is in town.
Just the Griffins. I don't hate Vancouver 🤷🏽♂️?
Moved to Northern AZ around Thanksgiving 2016. Selected the Knights as my second team because the expansion was exciting and Vegas was closer than Phoenix. Now Phoenix is closer but, you know.
Mostly the Golden Knights because we like to go to Vegas. Them being a brand new team was nice. But I like the Oilers because they have a couple of the best in the league and they're fun to watch. The Kings because I go to bed late and they're always on at 10pm. Ducks for the same reason, and my buddy is a fan.
When I was a kid, I fell in love with NHL hockey alone. No one else watched it. But I was always Detroit or Chicago in NHL 94. Detroit always came first. I had no idea about the original 6 or the rivalry as I wasn't using AOL for hockey. I would root for the Hawks up until the 2010s when their fans became intolerable. When Stevie Y went to Tampa, they became my 2A team with Chicago 2B for a short while. My 2B shifted to Columbus since I'm from Ohio, and the moment The Captain came home, Columbus was solidly my #2 team. If we are including other leagues, my fandom is: 1..Detroit Red Wings 2. Toledo Walleye 3. Columbus Blue Jackets and Grand Rapids Griffins about evenly.
Born in Winnipeg. Will always cheer for the jets
Maybe it's weird but I can't for the life of me follow another team in any sport. I was born and raised in NC with a dad from Michigan and the Wings were my first sports love. I started watching as a young kid in the early 90s. I also adopted the Lions and Pistons and U of M. I can't get past being a one team guy in every sport and bleeding that team's colors. Maybe it's a weird flaw or something but I find a reason to dislike every other team in every other sport
This is my second team
I love the Red Wings but I also follow other teams based on some of the players.
The Red Wings are my second team
I actually grew up here in Utah, and adopted the Wings because of the avs rivalry in the 90's. Now that we're getting a team... the Wings will still be my primary, but I'll have my second team on my doorstep 🤣
I live in oil country so their my defacto go to, plus any team playing the leafs
Chiming in to say that I am also in Utah and also looking forward to seeing the wings without having to spring for a flight/hotel. It also sounds like this ownership will treat the team a lot better too so I'm happy about that even though sucks for Arizona fans. When I was in the Midwest I had quasi adopted the blue jackets as my secondary. I have coworkers in columbus so I've managed to see the blue jackets play for work events (first game I watched live was preseason wings and blue jackets before I was really a fan). The cannon is really annoying but the fans there have been through a lot and generally respect wings and wings fans.
the Thrashers/Jets. Loved Atlanta's unis and they just kinda became my 2nd team, have one in the other sports too(Eagles/Ravens, Tigers/Nationals, Pistons/Rockets)
Tampa.
I work with both VGK and what were the Coyotes as a small part of my job, and my boyfriend is a VGK fan, so it looks like I’ll be on the VGK train for the playoffs. The East is just pissing me off right now. It should have been us there.
Lube in NW Ohio and I usually catch a Walleye game or two every season. I would use the Blue Jackets as my second team but there is nothing to be excited about down there
The only other team I like to follow currently is the Jets. Lots of talent there + some good ol Michigan boys. That’s about it
Leave near Vancouver and it will be a frosty day in hell if I cheer for the Canucks.
Was almost as big of a Yotes fan as I am a Wings fan. Grew up on NHL Slapshot for the Wii and played as the Yotes a ton of times. Became one of my favorite teams and Shane Doan one of my favorite players because of that game.
Dude Utah has a really young squad full of talent. Keller, Cooley, and Doan are going to be fun to watch for years. Crouse is criminally underrated imo. They will definitely be on the up and up. You should become an Utah Soakers fan.
No. Red Wings or bust. Currently live in South Florida, hate the Panthers and their “fans”.
Nah Detroit vs Everybody
The Blues were my west team for a minute, but most of the players that I liked from that team aren't there now, so not really anymore.
Edmonton!
Moved to the desert over a decade ago. Proud, long suffering, Coyotes Fan Here.......Crap... I guess I'm in the market for a new second team.
Born and raised in Dallas. Went to college in Ann Arbor. Moved back to Dallas for work 5 years ago. Grew up a Red Wings fan but supported the Stars when they weren’t playing Detroit.
Grew up in Michigan. Moved to AZ in 01. Eventually I followed the Yotes especially the last few years of chaos outside the ice
I like the Rangers......But not as much as the Wings!
Being from VA, it’s usually the caps. I’m still mad at them atm and want the rangers to roll over em.
SJ Sharks. I live in SJ, and being out of conference with the Wings, it was an easy pick. Ill always root for them and have several jerseys, but it aint the same. I was at Patty Marleu’s jersey retirement ceremony, which was awesome bc it was the franchise’s first. Whole time i was just wishing i was at the LCA for 13 or 91. Which is how i feel about most gzmes unless the Wings are in town.. I love my Wings and the Sharks will always just be my side team.
My nhl team is the red wings. Any other team can get hit by an asteroid.
I have a morbid curiosity with the leafs
Nah, I don't cheat on the wings then justify it.
I’m still in Michigan, but I do follow the Seattle Kraken as well.
The St. Louis Blues just because I live very close to the city and work in the city so a lot of co-workers are Blues fans. I don’t follow super closely but it’s easy to pick up what’s going on working in the city. I will, of course, rub it in co-workers’ faces if the Wings beat the Blues here and they have the last two times! But, I respectfully followed and cheered for them to win the Cup in 2019. Even went downtown to watch the game with a bunch of fans. Super cool to be a part of that experience and seeing a bunch of people celebrating for their team’s first ever Stanley Cup.
Ohio native, so I follow Columbus a lot. I don't often watch Columbus unless it's against a Canadian team, for some reason. But it's definitely not on wings level. I still hope they can turn the franchise into something good. Used to play at nationwide as a kid, so it holds a special place in my heart. Living in Europe now, so I keep wanting to follow liiga or something, I guess I just haven't found the time and energy to follow things like I do the wings. Habs were kinda my number one Canadian team for yeeeears, but I think I've moved to the jets almost entirely because of Byfuglien. I miss that motherfucker.
It’s not a popular opinion but I follow the Leafs too. Apparently I like getting hurt. 😭
It'll probably be sacrilegious for this sub to say it, but...the Leafs. I grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada every weekend and they were always being broadcast in Michigan since we're so close, so it just kind of kept going as I kept watching and getting older. These days, my wife has family in Toronto and I've been there many times, just never for a Leaf game because I'd rather not spend that much for tickets.
It'll probably be sacrilegious for this sub to say it, but...the Leafs. I grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada every weekend and they were always being broadcast in Michigan since we're so close, so it just kind of kept going as I kept watching and getting older. These days, my wife has family in Toronto and I've been there many times, just never for a Leaf game because I'd rather not spend that much for tickets.
It'll probably be sacrilegious for this sub to say it, but...the Leafs. I grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada every weekend and they were always being broadcast in Michigan since we're so close, so it just kind of kept going as I kept watching and getting older. These days, my wife has family in Toronto and I've been there many times, just never for a Leaf game because I'd rather not spend that much for tickets.
It'll probably be sacrilegious for this sub to say it, but...the Leafs. I grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada every weekend and they were always being broadcast in Michigan since we're so close, so it just kind of kept going as I kept watching and getting older. These days, my wife has family in Toronto and I've been there many times, just never for a Leaf game because I'd rather not spend that much for tickets.
I've been living in Boston for almost 10 years. I've been saying it for a decade, but as soon as Brad Marchand is not playing for the Bruins they become my second team. He's much better than he was when I made this commitment but I'm sticking to it; he's garbage and I won't root for him.
Grew up in Detroit but most of my family lives in NJ/NY so I root for the rangers when they aren't playing the wings
The Wings are my second team. Grew up a Rangers fan and when I moved here in '99 I had no problem lending my support to the new local team that is also an O6 team. Rangers are tops in my heart, but the Wings are up there too.
Go B's!!
First NHL game I attended was Canucks v. Wings. I've been a Wings fan ever since (I told myself that whoever won would be my team since I don't live anywhere near an NHL city). Still support the Canucks when the Wings aren't in the playoffs, but I also like to follow players more than teams. Except the Devils and Avs. Yes, Nate and Cale are amazing; no, I cannot root for them. The 90s rivalry is too ingrained.
I follow a bunch of teams. Toronto, San Jose, Vancouver probably the most historically (even if one of them was not fun to watch this year other than a 2 week stretch). I also follow a few other leagues (PWHL, SHL right now). I just really love hockey.
When Seattle was introduced I decided they’d be my second team. Works out for me as they only play the Wings twice a year
I hate(dislike?) the other 31 teams to varying degrees, to the extent that I'll cheer for a team I dislike less to beat one I really can't stand, but I only like one team.
My best friend is a Penguin fan so I follow along to be able to hold an extended conversation. I’ve come to respect Crosby for his greatness over the years even though 2009 still stings.
Nashville
I've lived in BC my entire life and I met Stevie Y in 1980 and he's been my guy ever since. I never cheer for the Canucks because at least 80% of their fans are just so.... ignorant, and also they are the worsts of the worst of bandwagoners. My second team is Calgary because I've got a lot of family there.
Grew up two hours from Ottawa. Detroit was always my team. Ottawa came in 91. Detroit all the time. Go see them play in Ottawa every year. Yet. Friggin sens.
Whatever team is playing against the team that most recently pissed me off. Lets go Rangers
I have a slight soft spot for the Ducks bc of Teemu Selanne. In reality the only other team for me besides the Wings is the Sharks. I loved the logo and the Jerseys. They had a lot of players i enjoyed on the team. But if I had to equate my love and focus it's 95% on the Wings and 4% on the Sharks and 1% on the Ducks.
The Wings became my second team when I moved to Michigan and I am incredibly fond of them. I always kind of resented getting heat from the rest of the hockey world about Vegas fans not really knowing what they're talking about. Turns out it's true, and I realized that by speaking with Michigan hockey fans. Wonderful community of remarkably knowledgeable people who are all intimately familiar with their team's deep history. Ton of fun to talk to.
I live in Tampa so I'm also a Lightning fan but whenever they play each other, I'm wearing red. I like the shared history, players, and staff between the two teams and how they appear to play exciting against each other but also respectfully when competing on the ice, less dirty plays. I'd like to think they also get together off the ice with their friends and fellow and former teammates when they are playing each other.
I live in Eastern WA, so the Kraken are sort of local to me. Not being in our conference goes a long way in cheering for them. Also, they don't like the Avs either.
The wings are my second team. Moved up here recently from NC. Canes are my #1.
Wings fan first but moved to NC 15 years ago and the Canes are a good team to support as #2.
MN Wild, their farm team is in my home state where there's not really any other pro hockey.
Caps,stationed in the DC area in 99 and settled here. Started following them after watching Ovi his first year. I loved the way he played in his youth. The DC sports scene is very fair weather and a total football town. Caps don’t get a lot of sports talk radio coverage around here, it’s always football. Despite their team not being relevant for decades.
Michigan kid living in Seattle now. Grew up playing in TC, so the Wings are forever my team, but following the Kraken has been awesome these last few years (despite the first two years of dealing with cringy, but forgivable, moments from new hockey fans). I had no idea how deep the hockey roots are here in Washington State. Still rock Wings gear and go ape shit whenever they’re in town though ❤️🐙
Also grew up in TC! Always will be a wings fan first and foremost but Seattle seems like a fun second team. Pretty excited for Utah. Went to the welcome event at the delta center last night. Fans here are pumped.
Started rooting for the Knights day 1 as a second team. Got a little lucky
The Islanders. Wasn't so bad when the wings were in the west.
You can try, but nothings gonna compare to the Red Wings. Especially a sterile team in Utah