CBJ FANsided Friday: Fletcher Keel!

Welcome to this edition of CBJ FANSided Friday! In this series we will post a short interview with a fan from the Blue Jackets community and ask them about their Jackets fandom.  We interviewed Fletcher Keel, a student at Western Kentucky University. He is a junior broadcasting major at WKU and he wants to make a career out of play-by-play.  He is also the editor of the WKU Fansided Blog Wave the Red Towel, which was created a few days before the current NHL season began.  

Jan 30, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Derek MacKenzie (24) is congratulated for his goal against the Washington Capitals at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Jackets are his adopted child, as he is from Atlanta and he has no connection to the city of Columbus (except for Dan Kamal, who did Thrashers radio play-by-play and is currently on the Blue Jackets Live pre and post game), so naturally, his passions outside of hockey lie with the Braves, Falcons, and Hawks.  

U&B: When did you first become a Blue Jackets fan, and what drew you towards the team?

Fletcher: I first became a Blue Jackets fan last season. I’m from Atlanta, Georgia, so I am an NHL orphan so to speak. I loved, loved, LOVED my Atlanta Thrashers, and it shattered my world when the jetted off for Winnipeg. The following season I had trouble finding a team I really liked – I thought about Buffalo, Nashville (the closest team to me – both in Atlanta and in the town I go to college in, Bowling Green, Kentucky), San Jose, Montreal…a wide variety, I know, but I had a chance to start over and wanted to make the right choice. My girlfriend is from Cincinnati, and so I basically based my decision on that, as funny as it sounds.

Feb 3, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Dustin Penner (17) attempts to move the puck defended by Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Ryan Murray (27) during the third period at Honda Center. The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

But, the more I learned and divulged myself into the team, the more I realized they are very similar not only to the Thrashers, but to my situation as a hockey fan – a rebuilding stage. Luckily, I have made the right decision. Last year could not have been a better first season, and watching the success unfold this year is awesome. I’ve been to two games in NWA, and the community of fan is amazing – both in person and on twitter. While underappreciated by the league, and I can say with certainty from a somewhat outside perspective, that CBJ fans are some of the most passionate and welcoming in the league. I 100% believe I made the right choice, not only in the product on the ice, but the fans as well.

U&B: Who is your favorite Blue Jackets player on the current roster?

Fletcher: Aside from Chipper Jones, I’ve never been able to have a favorite player on any of my teams. It’s always a pair or collection of players, but I have a hard time singling players out – and that’s the case here. Nathan Horton and the young guys – Boone, Murray and Johanson – are the guys I get most excited about when they score, and would be the ones I’d get saddest over leaving, so I guess that equals favorite. I’m a “team,” fan, so (for the most part) if they have the Star and Flag on their chest, I will pull for them. Oddly enough though, I have a true disdain for former players (i.e. Nash, Carter, etc.) who left on bad terms before my time as a fan.

Jan 27, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets forward Nathan Horton (8) carries the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

U&B: If you could choose the teams next captain right now, who would it be?

Fletcher: I don’t want to say it because it’s so cliché, but there’s a reason that something becomes cliché – Nathan Horton. There’s no denying what his return, er, debut, to the team has meant; it all but sparked the win streak, they’ve only lost 4 games, and he has 10 points in his first 15 games (or whatever the stat is). Especially after Anaheim the other night, we can see what his line can do, and if guys like Johanson, Murray and Boone are going to be Jackets for a while, they’ll have a great Captain to look up to (and, I whole heartedly believe that if those 3 guys are in Columbus for the long haul, one of them will get the C at some point). Plus, aside from maybe Bob, Horton is the face of the franchise, and he is proving his worth early and often.

U&B: Who is your favorite team to see the Jackets beat, and why?

Fletcher: It should go without saying, Winnipeg. That 6-3 victory in WPG (which would be Claude Noel’s final game) was just about the icing on the cake. (I would say when CBJ win the Cup in game 7 against them will be the ultimate, but let’s be real – Winnipeg will never go the playoffs again.) But, when Columbus beats any of the former Southeast Division teams (Carolina, Florida, Tampa and Washington), it feels a little sweeter than anyone else, just because of my personal history watching my team play against them. Most of the fans will love a victory over Nashville, or Detroit, or St. Louis, but I get more excited over blanking the Canes. Probably more excited than I should. (Oh my, that 3-2 loss to them a week ago was heartbreaking.)

Jan 27, 2014; Raleigh, NC, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets forward Artem Anisimov (42) tries to carry the puck past the Carolina Hurricanes defensemen Mike Komisarek (5) during the 1st period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

U&B: How do you feel about the start to the season/where do you think the CBJ will finish this year?

Fletcher: My first Columbus game in Nationwide Arena, and simply my first time in Columbus ever, was the Calgary game to open the year, and the atmosphere was amazing. And, while the game was a loss, it was almost great to feel the disappointment in the air – the fans now know what this team is capable of, and to see so many people be upset over an early season loss was great. They’re a streaky team, and unlike last year, I don’t think the slow start this year will bite them in the long run (unlike last year). I don’t like making defiant statement as to where the team will end up, (I guess that’s the future broadcaster and analytical sports fan in me) but I feel it’ll be more of the same as last year – either the first team out, or one of the last two teams in.