Love goes both ways.

(Ed. note: Joining us today is Molly Hahn, a personal friend and friend of PuckBuddys, L.L.C. (Cayman Islands). Molly moved to D.C. from New Jersey and is a lifelong hockey fan, around rinks her whole life, whether mites or the New Jersey Devils. Since moving to D.C., the Washington Capitals have made her feel some type of way, and she shares with us her thoughts on how her loyalty was won.)

I am about to put into writing the 5 words that will cause my beloved boyfriend of 5 years to cringe as if he saw my mother naked.

I am a Caps fan.

I am not a Washington Capitals fan by birth or even by convenience. I grew up in a state where “Nova” meant the Catholic college just across the border, and traffic only existed if  a plane landed in the middle of a highway. I am not a Capitals fan because I found hockey when I moved here. In fact, I grew up wearing my brother’s hand-me-down hockey jerseys, and going to school with eyes drooping and voice sore from staying up too late screaming at referees for calling slew foots out of spite. (Has a slew foot been called in the last 10 years?)

I am not a Capitals fan because my “home” team is the bottom of the barrel. In fact, we have 3 Stanley Cups, 5 division titles, and a former goalie some hail as the World’s Greatest. Go Devils.

No, I was not looking to be another team’s fan. I have stuck with my  teams through thick and thin, wearing jerseys to events and feeling like I was attending funerals. “I am so sorry for your loss,” friends would say politely, not making eye contact. I have hit rock bottom with my team and come to see the light again. We’ve had some great times.

But my team and I are taking a trial separation, because I am a Washington Capitals fan.

Nasty weather won’t stop (clockwise from top left): Backstom, Wilson, Beagle, Holtby and Ovechkin from taking pictures with this self-described “fangirl.”

I am a Washington Capitals fan because each player shows their true love for their fans by signing autographs in flip-flops during Hurricane Joaquin. I am a Washington Capitals fan because each year the team pursues the elusive goal of Lord Stanley’s Cup with the new found vigor of a teenage boy looking to score.

I am Washington Capitals fan because their fan base, while at times screaming outlandishly for penalty calls that do not even exist, love their team, and each other. They embrace each other and opposing fans not with the spite and malice of teenage girls looking at an outsider, but of that of a loving teacher who really does like your blog post for its honesty and personality.

So, here is to my first season as a Washington Capitals fan! My team and I will always love each other, and though I choose not to say it aloud, I know you never forget your first. But, this season I will ROCK THE RED!