Hockey was a bit of an acquired tasted for Denny and Arlene Galagan, but once their palate adjusted they have soaked in as much of the sport as they can.

Denny, a retired railroad worker, followed the Wild when the team first started, but he and his wife really got behind the sport when their grandson, Jordan Fitzlaff, started playing the game in second grade. Ever since they have become staples at the City Arena.

People attending games at the arena often wondered who the man in the camouflage coveralls was and they found at the Albert Lea boys’ hockey banquet. The couple was named Fans of the Year at the banquet after attending a total of 61 hockey games this past season.

“I started watching the Wild when they started,” Denny said. “Then Jordan started playing and she (Arlene) wanted to go our grandson’s games so we started going to the games, and gee, it got real interesting.”

Jordan is a ninth-grader who plays goalie for the B bantams, but their interest in the other teams grew as well this season. Not only did they attend a majority of his games, but they also watched 15 home games and one away game of the boys’ varsity team, 14 home games and one away game of the junior varsity, and 15 home games and one road game of the girls’ varsity team in addition to 13 of Jordan’s home games and two on the road.

“We know what’s going on,” Arlene said.

“It’s fun to watch good talent,” Denny said.

The Fan of the Year award started in 1970s and has been awarded annually.

The Calagans said watching all the games is fun and allows them to beat the doldrums of winter.

As they started watching their grandson, they became interested in the other players on the other squads, like their neighbor Luke Cheever, who played on the junior varsity this past season.

The sport has given the couple a chance to follow their grandson and they keep mementos from each season. In addition to his camouflage coveralls, Denny also sports a button with his grandson’s picture inside on his cap.

Expect the two to be around the arena plenty next season as well because as the Fans of the Year, they get to choose the next Fan of the Year.