Mike Berry is more than just a hockey fan or a Columbus Blue Jackets season ticket holder. His family has quite the history when it comes to the club.

His son, Jared, was one of seven people to create the name "Blue Jackets." He wanted the new team to have a regional name. However, Mike's son was awarded more than just naming rights.

"They put all their names in a hat and they drew one out for two season tickets for the first season," Mike said. "And they drew my son Jared, they drew his name out so he won those."

Since the first season in 2000, Mike has been a season ticket holder every season. He's gathered a lot of his memorabilia from the number of games he's attended over the years. Tickets from the first game at Nationwide Arena, to the 1,000th game.

Mike's in awe of how much the franchise has grown from that first season.

"The organization has done so much to build the product. Not just the team themselves, but to build it universally throughout the whole state," Berry said.

This season, Mike is looking forward to seeing a young, but hungry, team as well as the pregame introductions inside the arena. A feeling that never gets old, Mike said.

"It always is, great when you know they turn off all the lights. The players come out, they introduce each one of them, individually. They come out, shoot flames up and everything. It's incredible," he said.

The Blue Jackets open their season at Nationwide Arena against the Arizona Coyotes Thursday night.