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Columbus Blue Jackets: How We Became CBJ Fans

By Preston Byers

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 18: Columbus Blue Jackets mascot Stinger cheers with fans during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2017 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus defeated Pittsburgh 5-4. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 18: Columbus Blue Jackets mascot Stinger cheers with fans during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 18, 2017 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus defeated Pittsburgh 5-4. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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COLUMBUS, OH – DECEMBER 29: Sidney Crosby
COLUMBUS, OH – DECEMBER 29: Sidney Crosby /

Tony Mazziotti

TM: I actually didn’t even like hockey until I was about 16 years old. Baseball and football were the two sports I watched as a child.

Growing up in Northwest Ohio, I had one local hockey option, and it wasn’t the Blue Jackets. Their games are almost always blacked out in NW Ohio. My high school, Sylvania Northview, is known for being good at hockey, which is where it all started for me. I started going to hockey games and playing the EA Sports NHL games. Of course, once I realized that Columbus had an NHL team, that’s who I played with in the video games.

I grew up loving everything to do with Ohio State, so it was an easy choice for me to pick the Columbus team. My high school’s hockey team was even able to play at Nationwide Arena in 2012, where they won the state championship.

I traveled down to Columbus to watch the state finals that year and I fell in love with Nationwide Arena and the surrounding area. When I arrived at Ohio State for college in the fall of 2013, I was finally able to watch the Jackets on television and I became hooked.

I found myself watching the Blue Jackets as much as I could. There was actually one night in particular, I forget which game though to be honest, I realize I was addicted and would be a fan for life.

I also played intramural ice hockey at OSU, which was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. This contributed to my liking of the sport and the Blue Jackets.

The CBJ made the playoffs during my first year in Columbus, they hosted the All-Star game my second year and had their best year in franchise history in my fourth year.

Becoming a Blue Jackets fan was easy. Hockey is so exciting and I love that Columbus has an NHL team. No matter where I go in life, I will go there as a Blue Jackets fan, as a member of the Fifth Line.

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