– Tara Hun-Dorris –

Forget pumpkin spice. This is hockey anticipation season. While college football has started and already disappointed this Mountaineer-Gamecock fan, I still have 35 days of optimism until the ‘Canes home opener. While there’s no Silver Anniversary or Carter Finley-based stadium series to look forward to, there is plenty to appreciate. Here is my top 10 list.

10. Blocking my calendar!

My job is West Coast based, so I take some evening calls in exchange for quiet productive mornings while many of my colleagues dream away on the shores of Puget Sound. But I have already blocked my calendar for the many home games. And while the weeknight games make for early mornings, especially for my teen son who starts school before 8 am, they are worth it in having something really fun to do on otherwise dull January evenings.

9. The first Hat Trick.

Will it be Aho? Svech? Jarvy? Maybe Burnsie with a defensive hattie? I love the tradition of other people throwing away perfectly good (and expensive) headwear in a burst of joy, although I’ve threatened my kiddo not to even think about it, even with the $10 Yard Sale hat.

8. Warm buttered popcorn.

I’m not a huge movie theater person. I do the Cinemark plan, and the tickets mostly accumulate. But I love the gushy buttery artery-hardening flavoring that is dumped all over the popcorn. It’s an especially good third period munchies snack, and I usually have leftovers to take home.

7. The bathroom lines.

OK – nobody likes a bathroom line, but what other event has much shorter lines for the ladies? It’s truly one of the perks of being a female hockey fan.

6. Goalie stuff.

Is there a more thankless job than goalie? The intensity, the seriousness, the (literal) human massiveness. The weirdness – just google some version of weird shit goalies do and the internet lights up. I always curiously watch the visiting team goalies. And while our Canes trio of goalies aren’t known for their exceptional weirdness, I do nervously enjoy them. The way the crowd chants “Freddie!” regardless of his previous performance, the massive presence of Antti Raanta, the adorable feistiness of Pyotr Kochetkov. My money is on PK to bring the Canes a Gordie Howe hat trick.

5. Visiting an away arena or two.

I love PNC, but it was really cool to watch the Canes play in Nashville last year. It was one of the worst performances in terms of play when we were exhausted near the end of the regular season, but the Predator fans were overwhelmingly nice, and it was fun to compare arenas in terms of local brews, food, and (too much country) music selection. I’m not sure which arena(s) we will visit this year but seeing the Canes play on the road is a trip (sorry – couldn’t help myself).

4. Music in PNC.

Yes, everything from the National Athem (you too Canada!) to the familiar – less countrified than Nashville – playlists. I may even checkout some ‘Canes playlists on Spotify to set the mood for the new season. A little Carolina on My Mind, Wagon Wheel, even My Own Worst Enemy come to mind.

3. Stanley Cup Playoffs

I’m getting ahead of myself, and nothing is guaranteed, but this team continues to be very good to potentially great. There’s nothing we can’t achieve if we stay healthy!

2. The first time I’m sitting in PNC and have to jump to my feet as the energy changes.

It doesn’t happen every game, even in the “loudest arena in the NHL”, but there are those moments where the shift in energy is palpable and in our favor. Think of the relatively meaningless in terms of the big picture but oh so fun comeback against the Sharks last winter. It was statistically improbable, but we could feel it happening. Those are the moments outside of playoff victories that bring real joy.

1. Time with my son.

I’m a busy mom of three. One on one time with any of them is an indulgence; attending games with my middle son (and co-blogger Gabriel) is quality time we get to spend together. Even stuck in PNC traffic there’s hockey talk. It gives a 14- and 49-year-old something beyond day-to-day family stuff in common and will be a source of joy these next four years until Gabriel heads off to college.

That’s my list. What are you looking forward to this season?