For a long while now, I've always thought of ice hockey and soccer as kind of connected.
Fans of hockey most closely align with that of soccer than of any other professional sport in America. There's a special dedication that soccer and hockey fans have to their team as opposed to a baseball or football fan (and don't even get me started on basketball fans). Hell, even the Blue Jackets have supporters groups. A very soccer thing making its way to Nationwide Arena.
And, I argue, the reason these fans are so passionate in a way that other sports' fans aren't (nothing against other sports, mind you) is the niche culture of the sport.