I am a southerner complete with an intense love of sweet tea and a vocabulary full of "y'all's", but I am also a huge fan of hockey. Upon meeting me, it doesn't take long to discover how much I love hockey. I'm either talking, writing, tweeting, watching, or wearing something hockey.

Loving hockey in the south comes with some difficulties. First of all, no one recognizes my team's logo. I have a cup with the Capitals logo on it and someone once asked me if it was the Wonder Woman logo. Yeah, that hurt me on a personal level.

Living in the south also makes it harder to find hockey gear. I think I have found maybe 3 hockey shirts at the local goodwill, while every other shirt is related to football. I also hate that the closest NHL team is 4 hours away from my house, and yes, I have looked it up. Of course, my favorite team isn't even the closest one, so I'm just out of luck.

Even though I think all of these things are awful, they're not the worst part. The worst part of loving hockey in the south is being accused that you are not a true fan. Apparently, I can't possibly understand hockey because I'm a girl that grew up in South Carolina, I can't love a hockey team that is several states away because that's just unheard of, and I can't be a true fan because of where I live.

What kind of crap is that? I was just recently called a "bandwagon" fan because my team is in the north and they are good. Like, how do you know what kind of fan I am? Were you with me as I watched my team fail to get the cup year after year? Or when I sat on my couch during the 2012-2013 lockout praying that I would even get to see some hockey? I know what kind of fan I am.

While I hate being doubted and discredited based on my geographical location, there are some aspects I love about being a southern hockey fan.

For one, I love introducing people to hockey. When I first met my friend group, none of them liked hockey, I don't think any of them had even seen a hockey game, but that didn't stop me. I talked about it constantly.

If I could slip a hockey reference into the conversation, I did. If a hockey game was on, I made sure to give them updates every chance I got. I even got them to watch a few hockey games. Now, they still aren't super fans, but they can appreciate the game. Some of them have even taken a slight interest. There is nothing better than seeing someone I love enjoying something I love.

I hate not having an NHL team near me, but I do have an ECHL team. I am a proud fan of the South Carolina Stingrays! Our fan base is obviously smaller, but we have an incredible spirit. I love being a part of a smaller community that absolutely loves their team. Whenever I head out to a game, I see all the other hockey fans in my town and it's a great feeling.

Hockey fans are a rare sight in the south, but at a game, it's like having all of your best friends in one place. I love being around people all cheering for the same thing, something I love. Living in a non-hockey town made what hockey we do have, extra special. We might not be the best, but we love our Rays.

My absolute favorite thing about being a hockey fan in the south is meeting the other fans. I once took a trip to Chicago and I think 40% of the people I saw were wearing some sort of Blackhawks apparel. I'm not going to lie, it felt nice, but that's not how it is the south.

I'm lucky if I see one other hockey fan in a month. It's so special to see other hockey fans in town. I flip out if I see a hockey decal on someone else's car. I love that mutual respect between people that have never met when wearing a shirt for the same team. I feel instantly connected to someone just because they like the most incredible sport.

Hockey is such an amazing sport that just makes you feel good on the inside. From the smell of the ice to the sound of players hitting the boards, hockey envelopes you into something special. It doesn't matter if you live in Columbus or in Charleston, hockey is still hockey. While I don't know what it's like to live in a hockey town or even in a hockey state and maybe someday I will, but for now, I'll enjoy the little perks of being a southern hockey fan. As always, Go Caps!