[VIDEO] No sport does the anthem better than the NHL

So very true.  SB Nation published a great story on this very topic.

Maybe it is the environment within the arena instead of outdoors?  But if that were true, the NBA would do it just as well.

It must be the fans.  And the emotion.

Here is an excerpt from SB Nation’s story along with a perfect example.

Instead of giving us drivel about which team wants this game more or who has momentum, we get Jim Cornelison’s riveting rendition of the national anthem, capturing the atmosphere of one of sports’ best in-person experiences.

At many sporting events, the national anthem can be uninspiring. It feels more like a rote task, something to check off a list, a mandatory chore we need to get to before we can get on with things. Teams will give the task of performing the song to a fan, a minor celebrity, or a recording. Everybody stands up and puts their hat on their heart, but few stand at rapt attention. People make chatter. People check their phones.

The national anthem at a big hockey game doesn’t feel obligatory. It’s a performance as thrilling as the game we’re all here to watch. Most teams have their signature singer, generally gorgeous operatic voices as linked to the team as any of the players. The crowd’s verve builds and builds until the singer reaches the song’s climax, and the crowd’s roar carries on until puck drop, ensuring the game starts with an awesome energy.