This week I want my turn to talk about hockey. Our proud team did outstanding in 2008-09. This season's start of 6-1-1 looks equally promising and they're carrying a No.1 ranking in three major hockey polls. This is the sort of thing that's so fun to discuss, it's impossible to resist. We have a team ranked first in our division. A team that saw the national championship last year in Division 1. A team that draws massive crowds at home games housed in a fantastic new rink. We have a team that is consistently excellent.
One of the only downsides about a team this successful is that they're a little too trendy to like. Reminiscent of movies like Pulp Fiction and songs like "Don't Stop Believing," you can't accomplish being original and being a fan of these guys at the same time. Just like the aforementioned popular works our team is well liked because it's good, but it's no innovation to be a fan, there's an excess of focus on them. It's not as though they suffer from attention, on the contrary it's certainly an asset.
Considering this team, we all know something about it. Most of us are well versed in the chants and the cheers and the memories of waiting in ticket lines are ingrained in our minds already. We know our hockey team is great, and there's no question that we're happy to have them. So I might do well to examine why our team can compete so well.
A team by nature is multifaceted. At the most basic level multiple positions are filled by different people who all must perform together to have success. Beyond this a team needs to care about the game, specifically, winning it. Teams also need leaders in the players and more obviously the coaches. The RedHawks are doing so much better that these necessities are clearly covered.
After the basics there are periphery items that provide teams with backup support. These include but are not limited to: fan support, facilities and a little faith. As I've already mentioned our team does well with fans. As facilities are concerned, Goggin Ice Center is as massive as it is new. Finally, the faith we can put in our team is abundant because they've earned it. Our team doesn't just have the fundamentals. They've got the whole package.
This hockey season gives us a wonderful chance to expect great things. It's often a virtue to temper our hopes and prepare for the worst, but our team affords us that rare opportunity to be unguarded. We get to just feel good. Our hockey team gives us something more. We get a security so we can brag and expect greatness. We need to be thankful for this. We need to take advantage of our strong team and let loose with our pride. Times like these are times when being a trendy RedHawk hockey fan is outstanding, if generic.
