On Saturday, NHL fans across the city, from the Queen Victoria Market to the Central Business District to Melbourne Park, where fans took part in NHL Global Fan Tour activities outside Rod Laver Arena. I was able to see the gear.
It was an interesting mix of expats and Australians.
Kyle Webb is from the north-west coast of Tasmania. No, he’s not a New Jersey Devils fan. He is a Kings fan. He developed a love for ice hockey from playing field hockey, visiting Los Angeles to watch the Kings play the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015 and the Anaheim Ducks in 2019.
What did it mean to him to see the Kings in his home country?
“This is a huge opportunity,” he said. “That’s true. I see the game as a growing area as well because now even younger kids are starting to play street hockey. A lot of people who play field hockey are also starting to get more interested. Masu.”
Seamus Jones is from Canberra, the capital of Australia. He got into the NHL from video games.
“I’ve played ice hockey, but I wasn’t very good at it,” he said with a laugh. “We are in a country that is mainly desert.”
