No Jacket Required

Where is the hobby love for hockey’s hottest team?

- Stephen Laroche

IF a team wins 16 games in a row, no matter what the sport, it is a remarkable feat that gets fans talking. More often than not, this buzz translates to the trading card market. It is a cycle that most of us are familiar with as collectors – but what happens when the team does whatever it can to have success and the hobby barely reacts?

The Columbus Blue Jackets have been part of the NHL since the 2000-01 season and from the beginning, hobby love has been difficult to find. Playing in a smaller market may play some role in that, but there is no denying that this year’s edition of the team is something special.

Toward the end of November, the Blue Jackets had a respectable 11-5-4 record which included a big 10-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens that took place earlier in the month. A home victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning began the epic streak and with each passing win, the team slowly earned the attention of fans outside of Ohio.