The internet is a clever place where trolls play; young, wild, and free. It’s also a place where you can connect with others likeminded to yourself, people from far away, or a place where you can deliver a message in about a thousand different ways.
NHL fans, particularly fans of the Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames, have been a good example of how the internet can be used to send a message. Fans of the two teams have taken to Reddit, a website chalked full of community and culture, to voice their displeasure in an indirect, yet very clear way. The rebellion has transformed each of the teams’ subreddits (the individual threads designated to each of the teams) into a place that looks more like astronomical and disaster news threads.
The Dallas Stars’ subreddit, usually a place where fans can keep up with the latest on Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, or other Stars’ happenings, has transformed into a subreddit about stars. Not Dallas Stars, actual, astronomical, constellation-making, diamonds-in-the-sky stars.
On top of that, you’ve got posts discussing Patrick Star, Staryu the Pokemon, the “stars” (actors) from Dallas, and even Space Jam’s notorious “Monstars”
This is due to the Dallas Stars collapse of massive proportions. In their last ten games they have managed just a measly four points (1-7-2) and fell right out of contention. While they haven’t been mathematically eliminated, it would take the force of a black hole to get them back in (a black hole is a collapsed star… Get it?)
Meanwhile, Calgary Flames’ nation can relate to the feeling, as they also have only amassed four points of the past possible 20 (2-8-0). As a result, their subreddit has also taken a drastic change in content.
If you didn’t know what the subreddit was, you’d likely figure it’s some feed run by the Calgary Fire Department or some disaster news enthusiast.
The unique rebellion is hopefully putting a smile onto the face of the battered fanbases, but they would still likely rather their team to be playing playoff hockey.
