The Western Hockey League: Ten things to know

I sometimes enjoy going to big-league ballparks and arenas for sporting events. I do this not only because of my love of sports but also because, in today’s tumultuous world, I find it comforting to know that I can sit in a stadium with 50,000 other people, all with different backgrounds, politics, and religions, and all of us have the singular common goal of hoping that “our” team performs well.

As I get older, I am starting to find a similar comfort but greater satisfaction in attending what I call “pre-professional” sports. Watching young people play for the love of the game, the pure joy i...