Central Ohio Hockey Fans Tie the Knot at Blue Jackets Game

Couple exchanges vows at Nationwide Arena during Valentine's Day game

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Catie Shuman and Keith Damanti, a couple from Central Ohio, got married at a Columbus Blue Jackets hockey game on Valentine's Day. The two met through a dating app and bonded over their shared love of hockey, with the Blue Jackets becoming a regular part of their relationship. The couple incorporated hockey elements into their proposal and wedding, including getting married in front of the team's signature cannon and having custom jerseys made for their guests.

Why it matters

The story highlights how sports can bring people together and become an integral part of relationships. It also showcases the creativity and personalization that couples are incorporating into their weddings to reflect their unique interests and experiences.

The details

Shuman and Damanti met on a dating app and discovered they both had a passion for hockey, with the Blue Jackets becoming a regular date night for the couple. When Damanti proposed, he used a hockey puck that had been carved out to hold the engagement ring. For their wedding, Shuman pitched the idea of getting married in front of the Blue Jackets' signature cannon at Nationwide Arena, which Damanti initially thought was a trick but ultimately agreed to. After the ceremony, the couple brought their family and friends to the game, with everyone wearing custom jerseys that had their names and the wedding year printed on the back.

  • Shuman and Damanti met through a dating app.
  • Damanti proposed using a hockey puck that had been carved out to hold the engagement ring.
  • The couple got married at a Columbus Blue Jackets game on Valentine's Day 2026.

The players

Catie Shuman

A Central Ohio resident who is a season ticket holder for the Columbus Blue Jackets and met her now-husband Keith Damanti through a dating app.

Keith Damanti

A Central Ohio resident who shares Catie Shuman's passion for hockey and proposed to her using a hockey puck that had been carved out to hold the engagement ring.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The National Hockey League team based in Columbus, Ohio, whose home arena Nationwide Arena was the site of Shuman and Damanti's wedding ceremony.

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What they’re saying

“We met through a dating app and one of the things I think that connected us was we both put hockey in our profiles. And on our first date, I think we spent most of the time talking about hockey.”

— Catie Shuman (abc6onyourside.com)

“When he proposed, he actually had a hockey puck that he carved out the center of it and said, 'Will you marry me?' and put the ring in that. so there was even hockey in that. I had to. I had to.”

— Catie Shuman (abc6onyourside.com)

“I didn't believe her. I thought this was some trick. In my mind, I'm seeing dollar signs, and it actually wasn't that bad. So I mean, yeah. let's do it.”

— Keith Damanti (abc6onyourside.com)

“My only regret is they didn't fire the cannon off after we said I do.”

— Keith Damanti (abc6onyourside.com)

What’s next

The couple plans to attend future Columbus Blue Jackets games as a married couple, continuing their shared passion for hockey.

The takeaway

This story showcases how sports can bring people together and become an integral part of relationships, with couples finding creative ways to incorporate their shared interests into their wedding celebrations.