Growing up in the South, hockey was always a sport that captured my imagination, but seemed to elude me.

Having neither a reasonably close professional team nor cold winters necessary to freeze a pond has led to a local lack of interest in the sport, making it less likely for someone to learn how to play the game at a young age.

One of the greatest postseasons in sports — the Stanley Cup Finals — ended last night with two goals scored in the last 90 seconds.

But why should we care? We don’t have a hometown franchise to pledge our allegiance to, and if you have never played the sport, it can be hard to know exactly what you’re watching — at least initially.

Hockey is saturated with history, tradition and excitement, creating a unique experience of which every sports fan should be taking advantage.

The Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup is arguably the most historic and coveted trophy in all of sports.

The origins of the prize is one that dates back further than the NHL itself when all a team had to do to win it was challenge and defeat the current holder of the trophy.

Win it, and your name will be engraved on the Cup, along with those of every member of every team to win the award since 1893 (save a few typos and accidental omissions).

The adoration players have for the Cup is so strong that it has become tradition for each member of the champion team to receive personal possession of it for one day.

There are a number of customs associated with winning the Stanley Cup, the oldest being the members of the winning team drinking champagne from the bowl that tops the trophy.

Lore

The playoffs are riddled with a multitude of traditions.

My favorite of these is the post-series handshake. The simple tradition that every child is taught in Little League is the ultimate sign of respect and sportsmanship.

There are few things more powerful than watching two teams who have viewed each other as enemies for a stretch of four to seven games come together and put the integrity of the sport above their own pride.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are also home to a number of superstitions, including a refusal to touch the conference championship trophy and, of course, the playoff beard.

One of the strangest traditions in sports is the Detroit Red Wings’ “Legend of the Octopus,” in which fans throw octopuses onto the ice.

The practice began in 1952, when two brothers hurled an octopus into the rink, symbolizing the eight games necessary for the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup. The team went on to sweep both of their opponents en route to a championship.

The practice has become such a popular part of the franchise, that there is now a proper etiquette and technique for throwing the octopus.

Other sports may try to replicate these traditions and superstitions, but they will never truly be able to capture the essence of the unique viewing experience created by hockey’s lore.

Unpredictability and Excitement

Fans may think they have an idea where hockey teams stand after a lengthy 82-game season, but when it comes to the playoffs, all bets are off.

There is no Miami Heat or New York Yankees in hockey. The playoffs could be considered a completely new season, and previous achievements mean nothing.

Just last season, the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Kings, who lost more games than it won in the regular season, won its first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

And not only did the Kings win  — they dominated. After a 40-27-15 regular season, they finished with a playoff record of 16-4, outscoring their opponents 57-30.

This season has been no exception, as 27 playoff games have ended in overtime.

The Boston Bruins made history in Game 7 of the first round by overcoming a three-goal deficit in less than 10 minutes to force overtime and defeat Toronto in what has been widely regarded as an instant classic.

The excitement of games like these combined with the history and tradition that the sport is entrenched in is what makes hockey great. Do yourself a favor and start watching them — especially the Game 7’s. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Tyler Nunez is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Lake Charles.