Get Hooked on Hockey

All you need to know about Columbus’s NHL team

By Joe Frye

While the World Series has been played and both Ohio NFL teams are having less than impressive seasons, some may be looking for a new sport to turn their attention to. Although Columbus is not home to any other professional teams, the city does boast one of the few NHL teams in the region: the Columbus Blue Jackets. Kicking off their season back in October, the Blue Jackets regular season will last into April, allowing all residents a chance to see the action go down at Nationwide Arena downtown. 

Joining the leave as an expansion team in 2000, the team is named after the Union army and highlights the city’s role in producing military uniforms for the north during the Civil War. Since its creation, the team has struggled, having a losing season in 15 out of the 24 seasons the team has played. 

This year’s team has been hit by a string of injuries, though still many strong players like Zach Werenski and Cole Sillinger are hoping to lead as they hope to expand upon some gains the team has made in its success in recent years.  

Despite this poor record, the allure of the team hasn’t dulled, with many residents of the city getting excited as summer cools and the Blue Jackets prepare for their next season. In its short time as an NHL team, the team has built many traditions fans take part in at games. These include the firing of the cannon at the start of the games and after each goal—a nod to the Civil War background of the team’s name—as well Leo Welsh, the team’s official anthem signer, who the crowd greets with a loud shout of “LEO.” 

The Blue Jackets play multiple times a week either on the road or at Nationwide Arena. More information, including the team’s schedule, can be found on the National Hockey Leagues official website.