Whenever I go to a college sporting event, I feel so at home. The sense of community in the student section is incredible. Everyone knows the cheers and chants, everyone has an understanding of the game, and everyone has the same reaction depending on the situation. I’ve only been to football, basketball, and hockey games so far in my college career. But, hockey is by far my favorite. The game is always action-packed, fights break out all the time, and it’s just so enjoyable to watch. Most times, I get way too into the game, and I’ll be on the edge of my seat at the end of the third period, my heart rate elevated in anticipation. But anyone who avidly watches hockey can confirm that feeling, especially if the team they’re cheering for is losing. Even then, however, it’s enjoyable and anything can happen.

I have always loved attending sporting events, especially in high school. I went to nearly every home football game for a couple years. I went to a handful of basketball games, too. I love seeing everyone dressed in school colors supporting their home team. It seems cheesy, but it makes me feel like I belong to something bigger than just a school. It also doesn’t matter if your team loses every game or wins every game, you’re going to cheer them on every single time.

There are superstitious activities you do every time there’s a game, and a special way to celebrate their victory. It’s just so cool to be a part of something like that. It’s even better when your friends enjoy the sport, too. Then you can talk game statistics and it’s not even boring, it’s interesting. Sports are also a great way to connect with people. They’ll ask you if you saw the game, and you’ll have a good conversation out about the highlights of what happened during the game.

Hockey is my favorite sport. I love the action and the game itself. There are a ton of rules that needed to be followed by the players in the game, but there doesn’t seem to be any sort of definitive strategy used. There are multiple positions the teammates possess. There are goalies, defensemen, and forwards. Each has a specific role and set rules they each need to follow in order to not get penalized. One of the best parts of the game is when the players fight and slam each other into the glass. It adds a ton of action to the game and it’s so entertaining to watch. Plus, there’s a chant for literally everything.

The announcer says the remaining time, there’s a chant. The referees send a player from the other team to the penalty box, there’s a chant. The band plays their songs, there’s a cheer. It’s very easy to pick up on the cheers and chants and it’s even more enjoyable to say them with the crowd. The game can change at any moment, as well. We could be winning one minute, and then losing the next. It’s a very fast-paced game. The periods fly by and you get caught up in the game. I just can’t express how much fun it is to watch hockey.

Attending sporting events is a great way to break out of your comfort zone. It’s a great place to meet people and make friends. You celebrate the goal, basket, touchdown with whoever’s around you. You groan at the missed opportunities and terrible referee calls. You chant along with such enthusiasm. It’s awesome. If you’re ever feeling lonely or thinking about switching colleges, go to a sporting event. It’s hard to feel alone when everyone around you is excited and energetic. Sporting events can really open your eyes to one of the best things about college!