The addition of Utah Hockey Club to our state’s professional sports team roster has been an exciting plus up for the culture vultures over the last year. The team’s presence has provided a whole new conversation topic for social gatherings and lots of event options for a fun night out. Even for the most casual sports fan like myself.
I am not a “sports person.” That is to say, I’m never electively sitting down on the couch to watch a sporting event from home outside of the Olympics, the Super Bowl, and the NBA Finals in 1997.
But I do enjoy attending games, especially the home games for Utah’s teams. I find the games way more interesting in person and I like all the ambient stuff — being around the fans and the goofy halftime performances and getting emotionally invested in the drama of the game with all its sights and smells. And so I’ve wanted to attend a Utah Hockey Club game since the team’s arrival from Arizona last year. But I’ve felt too intimidated.
For those of us prone to imposter syndrome and unfamiliar with the sport or its customs, there’s a barrier to entry for hockey games. We’ve grown up with a professional basketball team, but not hockey. And no one likes to sound or look stupid around thousands of fans, so we’ve been avoiding diving into the fandom and attending games to save ourselves from looking like idiots. Which is a shame, because it seems really fun to care about hockey.
So I, a hockey idiot, decided to take one for the other hockey idiots and attend a game knowing nothing about what to expect.
And now I’m prepared to answer all the questions I had, and you probably have, going in.
Is it chilly in the arena?
I kept my down coat on the entire time and never felt too warm so yes, I was colder during the hockey game than I’ve ever been at a basketball game, a monster truck rally, or a WWE SmackDown — the three other events I’ve attended in the Delta Center. It has to be colder, I assume, to keep the ice frozen. But it’s not hats, gloves, and scarves, cold. It’s more like a-man-is-controlling-the-thermostat-in-your-office cold.
I recommend layers that are easily sheddable for optimal comfort.
Is the game engaging and easy to follow?
The rules of the game are very simple — both teams are trying to get the puck in the opposing team’s goal. For me, a hockey idiot, the challenge was keeping track of the puck from my seat on the very lowest row of the upper bowl. Even while watching the jumbotron it took me a minute to lock in and focus on the tiny black disk sliding around the ice. I felt like a Hogwarts student looking for the golden snitch. I am so sorry for making such a dorky reference in a story about sports. It’s all I’ve got.
But once I figured out how to focus, I was riveted. Because while it’s not a high-scoring game, it is a fast-moving game. Three 20-minute periods flew by.
Is there anything unusually exciting or surprising about the game?
Yes! The violence!
Within the first few minutes of the first quarter, one of our players — a redhead man with a bushy beard who I’m told is nicknamed “Spicy Tuna” — got a bit entangled in a gloves-off fist fight with one of the players from the St. Louis Blues. He was ejected from the game. For five minutes. Before skating off, he looked directly into the crowd with blood streaming from his nose and gave some fist pumps, encouraging the crowd to cheer louder. Spicy Tuna indeed!
Reader, I loved it. But it also terrified me in an existential way. I’ve had to ask myself some hard questions since witnessing the altercation. Questions like, do I have a thirst for blood? And, would I have actually kind of enjoyed watching gladiator fights at the colosseum in ancient Rome? I fear the answers might be yes and yes.
While that first dust up was the bloodiest, it wasn’t the only fight of the night. Players slammed each other into the wall, the refs — on skates!— had to insert themselves between brawling players about every two minutes. Many a stick wielder was sent to the penalty box. But many of the pushes and shoves and stick whacks went unpenalized. “Is this allowed?” I asked multiple times, and the answer each time seemed to be yes, it was. And I was delighted.
So be prepared to face your own baser instincts.
Are there any quirks about the hockey fandom I should know going in?
I really tried to play it cool and blend in among the hockey fans and I think I pulled it off for the most part. But I felt, and I’m sure looked, very confused during the national anthem. Because over the course of a stirring rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” some fans cheered and others booed during certain words. I was aghast and worried for the feelings of the vocal soloist singing her heart out. But I seemed to be the only one.
After consulting a hockey expert, I learned that this is a thing in hockey. Fans will emphasize certain parts of the anthem that match their team. Seattle fans cheer during “Oh say can you SEA,” for example. Capitals fans scream the word “red” and Colorado Avalanche fans emphasize the line, “and our flag was still there.”
I’m not sure who was yelling what when or why during the national anthem I witnessed, but I am relieved to know that I wasn’t hallucinating the random shouts and cheers and that the soloist was likely prepared.
How are the snacks?
We as Utah sports fans are blessed to have a number of delicious food options in the Delta Center where both the Utah Jazz and Utah Hockey Club play. If I were to eat a meal at the game, it would likely be a J Dawg with sauerkraut, banana peppers, special sauce, and a pickle on the side. Then I’d wash it down with a giant Diet Coke with fresh lime from Swig.
But our game was later in the evening after I’d already eaten dinner so I opted for popcorn and a drink. And it was the best popcorn I’ve ever had. I’m not being hyperbolic. And you can trust me because I eat a lot of popcorn.
Every popped kernel was perfectly coated in artificial butter flavoring and salt. My hat’s off to the entire concessions team.
Are the snacks affordable?
A large popcorn and two sodas was 38 American dollars. So no, not really. But it’s 2025. Nothing is affordable. If you step outside you’re probably going to spend $500. So what’s another $38.
And again, I can’t emphasize this enough — it was the best popcorn I’ve ever had.
How many times can I expect to see a zamboni?
At least twice. During the two breaks between periods. And it’s as thrilling as you’d expect.
Can a hockey idiot enjoy a Utah Hockey Club game?
Look. The only thing I knew about hockey prior to attending the game was what I had learned from watching “The Mighty Ducks” (1992), “D2: The Mighty Ducks” (1994) and “D3: The Mighty Ducks” (1996) in my formative years and attending a women’s hockey game during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics. Two decades ago. I knew pretty much nothing about the game other than that it’s played on ice with skates and sticks.
And I had a spectacular time. And not just because the popcorn was so delicious. The bloody fight, the skating referees, and the action-packed game made for one of the more entertaining nights out I’ve had in a long time.
I can’t wait to go again. Next time as an expert.
