The smell of freshly cleaned ice, the roar of screaming fans, and the sound of the goal horn. These are the things all hockey fans live for but, unfortunately it’s only preseason and there’s only one question you can ask yourself…. Is it October yet?

As a hockey fan in the classrooms and hallways of Bethpage High School, rivalries are definitely prominent, especially between the New York Rangers’ fans and the New York Islanders’ fans. People are always looking for a way to boast their victories in each others’ faces. There are also rivalries between other teams like the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers, and in the Rangers/Islanders rivalry, everyone seems to dislike the New York Rangers; however, the New York Rangers are obviously the better team (biased reporting, naturally).

When a team has a great game, look around and you’ll witness a sea of colors affiliated with that team’s uniforms. Being a fan of a hockey team in high school is comparable to being a part of a community within a community. And everyone has an opinion, it seems.

Senior Ryan Mercer said, “I think the New York Rangers have a good team this year with a lot of potential.”

Outspoken Boston Bruins fan Jillian Leavey declined to comment.

So, as of October, it’ll be hockey season. On October 7th, the puck will drop for the first regular season games. See the list below to check if your team is represented on night one.

Maple Leafs v. Canadiens 7:00 p.m.

New York Rangers v. Blackhawks 8:00 p.m.

Calgary Flames v. Canucks 10:00 p.m.

LA Kings v. San Jose Sharks 10:30 p.m.