How Our Dads Helped Us Become Blues Fans

Blues hockey was sacred growing up.

For several seasons, we had the luxury of season tickets, and I still remember the electricity of watching the “young guns” era unfold—T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund, David Perron, and Erik Johnson injecting new life into a team hungry for success. Whether it was a bone-rattling hit from Cam Janssen, a clutch save from Brian Elliott, or a Tarasenko highlight-reel snipe, the Blues became more than just a team—they became a part of who we were.

That passion made its way into the next generation, as we now share games and memories with our own kids. When the Blues finally hoisted the Stanley Cup, it wasn’t just a championship—it was a shared moment of joy, tears, and legacy. My late father shed tears that night. So did we. The Blues have always been, and still are, a thread that runs through our family—a tradition rooted in love, loyalty, and unforgettable moments.

And I’m not alone.

I asked fellow members of the STL Sports Central team to share their own stories of how their dads helped spark their love of hockey. Here’s what they had to say.

From Walden Pond to The Arena – Sara Dayley’s Story

For Sara Dayley, hockey wasn’t just something that happened on TV. It was something that happened in her cul-de-sac.

“Some of my most meaningful memories are in the subdivision we grew up in,” she says, remembering Walden Pond and her childhood neighbors: none other than Rich and Rhonda Sutter.

“Hockey became part of my childhood not just because of the sport, but because of the people who made it feel like home.”

While her dad, Ken Dayley, was a pitcher for the Cardinals, it was off the field—and off the ice—where the magic really happened. Street hockey, bike rides, trips to the old Arena, and that unspoken bond between neighborhood dads and their kids. “We lived at Busch,” she says, “but off the field was pretty amazing because of some phenomenal dads who made it that way.”

High Fives and Heartbeats – Luke Slabaugh’s Story

For journalist and Blues lifer Luke Slabaugh, the Enterprise Center holds sacred ground.

“It’s where I learned to love sports,” he says. “I still get a little misty-eyed whenever I go there.”

He remembers the early 2000s—the chants against Mike Ricci, the gritty playoff series with San Jose, and the long walk back to the car, the city still buzzing with Kerber’s voice on the postgame show. Even through losing seasons, the experience never stopped being magic.

Then came 2019. The Blues were dead last in the league. It felt hopeless—until it didn’t.

“They rattle off three goals in 75 seconds against Tampa,” he recalls. “The roof was about to come off the place. My dad and I high-fived and hugged with the understanding that our team was back.”

And sure enough, they were.

A First Game to Remember – Ethan Hannaford’s Story

Ethan Hannaford’s dad wasn’t a massive Blues fan, but he still made sure to be part of Ethan’s first hockey memory.

“He took me to my first ever game,” Ethan says. “It was on a Sunday, and they played the Anaheim Ducks. They beat them pretty good. I want to say it was 5-2, but I was no older than 10, so I don’t entirely remember.”

What stuck with him wasn’t just the score, but the feeling—especially when the Blues scored what he believes may have been the fastest back-to-back goals in franchise history.

“My dad took me to a lot more Cards games than Blues games growing up,” Ethan adds. “But I’m thankful for all those awesome moments with him.”

The Bond That Built a Fanbase

Not every hockey story begins with a game-winning goal or a banner-raising ceremony. Sometimes it starts in the nosebleeds. Sometimes in a cul-de-sac. Sometimes it starts with a simple invitation: “Want to go to the game?”

For Blues fans across generations, those early memories with their dads helped make the team feel like more than just a team. It made them feel like home.

So to all the dads who passed down their love of the game—thanks for showing us the way.