Ever since the Blue Jackets came to Columbus in 2000, Michelle Harklau has been a fan. She'd been a lifelong supporter of hockey, but when Ohio finally got an NHL franchise, she decided it was time to align her support with her hometown team.
Now, the 2016-17 Blue Jackets season has rewarded her like no other year has.
"It's been an extremely special season," Harklau said. "It seemed like we finally had all the right pieces in place to make a real run for the Cup. All the franchise records that were broken and the number of award nominations that our players received are impressive. It finally seems like the rest of the league is taking notice of us and giving us some respect."
This year Harklau, a season ticket holder who rarely misses a home game, celebrated highlights like Matt Calvert returning to play after taking a puck to the face and scoring the game winning goal over the New York Rangers, and the 16-game win streak. She also took notice of fan support growing throughout the community.
Jackets' Success Gifts Reward to 5th Line
Columbus' fan base extends throughout Ohio after record-setting season
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