Blue Jackets appreciate support of 5th Line during summer camp

One fan standing outside of the OhioHealth Ice Haus had three essential items as he watched through the large bank of windows that line the team's practice facility as the Blue Jackets scrimmaged against themselves on Friday afternoon.

First was a mask.

Then came the Blue Jackets jersey and sign that read, simply, "We want the Cup."

As the coronavirus pandemic has impacted everyone's daily lives, being a sports fan over the past few months has been a tough time, with nothing but classic games and "Who's better?" debates on television to pass the time.

Now, with sports such as NHL hockey coming back, there will at least be live events to watch, but with the threat of virus spread leaving the doors locked and fans unable to attend, that communal feeling of watching games live with fellow supporters will have to be unfulfilled for the time being.

With precautions intact, fans were not allowed inside the Ice Haus for the past two weeks of training camp activities ahead of the team's trip to Toronto to resume the season, but that didn't stop team diehards from trying to get as close to the action as possible even while wearing masks and social distancing.

It seemed like just about every day, members of the 5th Line sweated through scorching hot summer temperatures just to get a look inside at the CBJ practices, with more than 30 fans lining the length of the window banks both for Tuesday's simulated game -- despite a passing rainstrom -- as well as Friday's final practice in Columbus.

"It's great to be here," said Dario Scott, a 17-year-old fan from Hilliard who watched the start of Friday's scrimmage with his mother and sister. Scott considers himself a Blue Jackets diehard, attending 10 to 12 games each season and watching the rest on TV.

"I wish we could be inside, but this is better than nothing. I love my team and want to support them. Nothing happened for five months, so (the games are) something to look forward to."

As he skated to take a faceoff during Tuesday night's simulated game, Blue Jackets center Devin Shore looked up and noticed one family watching together from outside the rink. Shore gave a quick wave to acknowledge the young fan before getting back to work.

"There was a little boy there on his dad's shoulders," said Shore, who was acquired by the team at the February trade deadline and played just two home games before the pandemic forced the league pause. "On one hand, you kind of remember being that age and being a fan of the NHLers, so you want to give them a little memory, but it's a cool thing that despite everything that has gone on, and the protocol and how camp has been and everything, it still goes to show how loyal these fans are.

"I came in here and learned very quickly how dedicated the fan base is here. Even just an intrasquad scrimmage during a COVID training camp, there's still people trying to watch and support the team, so that was really cool."

Shore was far from the only Blue Jackets player to notice the fans as they came out to see their team over the past two weeks.

"It's a great feeling," said Vladislav Gavrikov, who became a fan favorite for his upbeat personality this year as a rookie. "I saw it was supposed to rain outside (Tuesday) and they were still there. We really appreciate that and hope they got a little bit of fun out of that. We know they miss hockey, a lot like we are."

"It's awesome to see," added forward Kevin Stenlund. "Just standing there and watching us play, it's dedication from them and we appreciate it."

NHL players are entering a bit of a new world, as they'll soon be playing postseason games in a buildings in both Edmonton and Toronto without fans. Playoff hockey usually means raucous buildings and bursting decibel meters, but instead, the virus has caused a different path in 2020.

It'll be unique for both players and fans, but just to have the game back means a lot to both sides. And to Scott, the Blue Jackets fan who was at Friday's practice, he can't wait to see just how far the team can advance.

"I can't wait to watch the games," he said. "It's going to be incredible. We're going to beat Toronto so bad. It's going to be great."