Hockey Fans in This Maine Town Rank as Best in the Country

If you’ve ever been to a hockey game in this Maine town, this should come as no surprise at all.

Get our free mobile app

Yes, Mainers love hockey! Our closest NHL team, the Boston Bruins, is one of the most storied franchises in hockey history, being a member of the 'Original Six' and home to some of the most passionate sports fans in the world. And, of course, this passion for the Bruins extends up to our Pine Tree State.

Additionally, Maine is cold for half of the year, so finding ways to enjoy the winter months is a must, and hockey is one of the best ways to do that.

So, yes, we love hockey up in our neck of the woods, but how does one determine where the 'best cities for hockey fans' are?

Well, the financial planning website WalletHub recently released a report highlighting the ‘Best Cities for Hockey Fans’ in 2024, and, naturally, ‘Vacationland’ ranked highly on the list.

To determine the ‘Best Cities for Hockey Fans’ in 2024, WalletHub compared 76 U.S. towns and cities, focusing on two categories: NHL and NCAA (Division I Men’s). The cities chosen for the analysis each have at least one college or professional hockey team.

WalletHub’s methodology involved evaluating these categories using 21 metrics, each graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the best conditions for hockey fans. Each city’s overall score was calculated as a weighted average of all metrics, and these scores were used to rank the cities.

With all of that being said, what Maine town ranked as one of the best for hockey fans in 2024?

Orono, ME, ranked 27th overall in the study, 4th in the NCAA ranking, and tied for 1st in ‘College-Hockey Fan Engagement.’

It's no surprise that Mainers, especially those in Orono and nearby towns, are passionate about their University of Maine Black Bears. The hockey team, in particular, has a special place in our hearts, thanks to its national success with two NCAA Tournament championships and numerous Frozen Four appearances.

Plus, we’re completely unbiased here, but the UMaine Black Bears jerseys are pretty cool, too.