Attending a sporting event is always worthwhile for the atmosphere and excitement that cannot be replicated in one’s living room. However, the experience is doubly unique when your favourite team is the visiting squad. 

As an avid fan of Washington Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin —  often dubbed the Great Eight — I had always wanted to witness his goal-scoring greatness in person. And this opportunity presented itself this past holiday season when I attended a Capitals game against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg. 

Upon entry, it was immediately evident that my red Ovechkin Capitals jersey stood out in the sea of blue and white Jets jerseys. Other Capitals fans were few and far between, scarcely scattered throughout the different seating sections in small groups. My section featured just myself and another Capitals fan, our chants drowned out by the surrounding Jets fans heckling Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek every time the Jets entered the offensive zone. 

When attending a home game, one of the best parts is reacting to the minute-to-minute action along with the rest of the crowd. Highlights include chanting “Defence!” to encourage your team to make a stop, collectively sighing after an intense save, distracting the opposing goaltender and erupting with cheers for a home goal. 

However, cheering on the away team feels contradictory and bizarre. When the Capitals struck first in the second period, I rose up from my seat cheering vehemently while the Jets faithful quietly slumped in their seats. After another Capitals goal, the arena fell into a lull, discouraged by the early 2-0 score. Being in the minority as a Capitals fan, each goal and celebration felt even sweeter. 

The uncanny feeling of celebrating Capitals goals while the rest of the arena sulked was aided by the lack of the goal horn. Each NHL team has a unique goal horn that is played when the home team scores, acting as an immediate signal for fans to cheer and applaud. Unlike a home goal, an away goal instead silences the crowd, with the only audible celebration coming from the players themselves. 

Although I was hoping to avoid hearing the Jets horn that night, they equalized the game at two goals apiece just two minutes into the third period. While the second goal and accompanying horn sent almost everyone at Canada Life Centre into a frenzy, my confidence in the Capitals’ chances began to wane. 

A once-sullen crowd came roaring back to life, and the arena filled with a palpable tension. Jets fans were on the edge of their seats, brimming with anticipation for the next goal that would turn the tide in their favour. 

Thankfully for myself and my fellow Capitals fan sitting in the next row, that moment never came. The Capitals scored the go-ahead goal nine minutes into the third period and never looked back. 

As is tradition in all hockey games where a team is trailing by one goal, the Jets team pulled their goaltender with about three minutes to go in order to field an extra skater and potentially score the tying goal. Any glimmer of hope that Jets fans may have had with this tactic was quickly squashed, as Capitals forward Michael Sgarbossa fired in an empty netter from the middle of the ice to give the Capitals a two-goal cushion. 

To add insult to injury, Ovechkin added another empty netter to end the game 5-2. It was not the goal I had envisioned him scoring, but one I was happy to see regardless. With the Jets’ losing fate all but sealed, fans began to vacate the arena. What was once a sea of blue and white became a small — but loud — crowd of red, cheering on the Capitals as they spoiled Winnipeg’s night. 

As I left the rink and walked out of the arena, eye contact with fellow Capitals fans turned into cheering as we shared the common joy of victory. Much like the Capitals players who prevailed despite the home ice and crowd advantage of Winnipeg, it felt like us few Capitals fans had conquered the massive Jets crowd by the end of the night. 

While cheering on your favourite team at their home arena is amazing in its own right, supporting them as an away fan is both a peculiar, yet immensely satisfying experience, and one that all sports fans should try at least once — as long as your team wins.

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Uday Chhina | Sports and Health Editor

Graphic: Jaymie Stachyruk | Graphics Editor