Patel has always been a big fan of Werenski, even before the star defenseman's time with the Jackets.
The support started back when Werenski was still in college playing for the University of Michigan. Being from Gahanna, you might expect the family to be Ohio State fans, but Patel got his love for the Wolverines from his father, Sandip.
When Michigan was in town to play the Buckeyes, Patel was usually there. That is where he first saw Werenski play and decided that he was a personal favorite.
When Werenski came to the Jackets, Patel was excited to see that a player he liked would be with his favorite NHL team.
And instead of showing his continued support by wearing a normal Blue Jackets Werenski jersey, Patel wears a bright, maize-colored University of Michigan jersey to stand out among the crowd. From there, Patel stands in the same spot during warmups and caught Werenski's eye over the years.
"It was a thing I saw when he played college, and then he just kind of did it here so I put up a target and it just kind of went from there," Patel said.
Patel and Werenski have been doing the tradition together for seven years. Patel was only 9 years old when they started, and he is now 16 and attends St. Francis DeSales High School, where he is on the soccer team.
Not only has the routine forged over the years meant a lot to Patel, but it also has to Werenski. When the Detroit native was talking during a recent interview about how Columbus has become like a second home, Werenski realized the bonds with fans like Patel have made the city a special place.
"It's crazy, seeing him on the glass for so many years and pretty much just watching him grow up," Werenski said. "I don't think he really knew I was watching him, but (I saw him in) a Michigan jersey all the time and sitting in the same spot. It's really cool just to get to talk to him and meet his family."
