Although a fast-paced and high-impact sport, ice hockey is rather low profile in communities like Saratoga. To the surprise of avid hockey fans, the sport has not generated the same popularity here as it has in other countries.
However, sophomore Jimmy Derner, a native of the Czech Republic, both watches and plays hockey. At a young age, Derner’s exposure to the sport in the Czech Republic was much higher than it is here.
"I started watching hockey because as a kid,” Derner said. “The first time I saw it on TV, I was just so hooked on to it."
Junior Noah Quanrud, too, appreciates the sport and has been watching hockey since 2010.
"I started watching hockey during the playoffs, and I thought the action was exciting," Quanrud said. “It became one of my favorite sports to watch.”
Sophomore Tristan Bush, another fan of hockey, has been playing since he was four years old. Bush’s family’s relationship to hockey has been a big influence for his interest in the sport.
"My mom lived in the midwest for a good part of her life and grew up a [Chicago] Blackhawks fan," Bush said. “And when I was 2, we sold our house to Patrick Marleau [San Jose Sharks left wing], and then my parents got season tickets [to Sharks games].”
The NHL has made attempts to spread hockey around America, basing a team in San Jose, the wildly popular Sharks, in 1991.
"I think having a team here is gradually increasing the popularity of hockey," Quanrud said. "Especially now that the players [on the Sharks] have shown that they have skills to perform well."
Derner, an experienced hockey player himself, said watching hockey games can be beneficial for his play strategies.
"I love watching them," Derner said. "They are a huge part of my life, and I like to go over their strategies, and play them into my strategies so I can progress and play better."
Right now, hockey is less popular than sports like football and basketball, but has the potential to grow in stature.
Quanrud said, “Hockey has already started spreading in popularity here, but it is far from finished.”
