Second year success
Students share why they cheer for the Seattle Kraken during their second year
November 15, 2022
The Seattle Kraken are off to a hot start this season with a record of 8-4-2. Winning five in a row and scoring over three goals in ten straight games, the Kraken look a lot better compared to their inaugural season.
Only in their second year, the Kraken have already made an impact in the Seattle area and the Seattle Pacific University community. Taylor-Rose Moananu, a second-year student at SPU, is one of many welcomed to the hockey scene as the Kraken immerse themselves within the Seattle sports realm.
“I never watched hockey growing up, as I’m from Hawaii, but getting to see the preseason games was interesting to me. My boyfriend and I also enjoy watching the games together. They add to the community by creating a bond that everyone can be a part of,” Moananu said. “Their mascot alone is based on the Fremont Troll, which I thought was cool because not many people think of Fremont when it comes to Seattle. I just think the team as a whole allows more connection between our community.”
Fourth-year Sean Mayrhofer shared that the Kraken has filled the hole left by the Seattle Supersonics, the former Emerald city basketball team that departed for Oklahoma City in 2008.
“I think it’s just the culture of it. When it was first announced that Seattle was getting a hockey team, [I remember] just how excited everyone was because we don’t have a basketball team,” Mayrhofer said. “I know a lot of people turn out of the games no matter how the team is doing.”
After a 5-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Nov. 8, Kraken right-winger Jordan Eberle, who led the team with two goals, shared his thoughts on getting to play for Seattle and represent the fans.
“It’s been unbelievable. You can feel the energy of the building; you feel the energy of the fans. They’ve really got behind our team, especially with how things went last year; it was kind of tough. So for them to support us and hear them out there, it’s great,” Eberle said.
Eberle used to play for the Edmonton Oilers and New York Islanders before coming to Seattle. He was selected through the expansion draft the NHL put in place before the Kraken’s inaugural season, which allowed Seattle to fill their roster with players from other teams.
Ultimately, the Kraken hope to have a better campaign than their inaugural season. The franchise had some trouble in their first year as they finished with a record of 27-49-6, placing eighth in their division and 30th in the league overall.
For now, the Kraken are focused on improving every day and building the chemistry necessary to win games. As for the fans, continuous support and home game attendance can only add to the team’s spirit.
“It’s a fun place to play; the city’s been awesome. You know, my experience is probably the same as every guy here, so we love playing here,” Eberle said.
