It's game day for the BC Women's Ice Hockey team. The players have arrived at the rink an hour and forty-five minutes ahead of game time to stretch, warm up, tape their sticks, and get treatment for their aching muscles and minor injuries. They gather in the locker room for a quick cheer before lining up outside the door to the rink ready to put their week's hard work and practice into play. They are ready; they are stoked, and they are pumped. Their warm up music comes on over the loud speakers and they step out on to the ice into a stadium of absolute silence and empty seats.
As a close friend of one of the members of the women's ice hockey team and a regular attendant at their games, I am upset and shamed by the lack of fans present in the stands. In comparison to the attendances at the men's games the number of fans is about two thousand for the men and thirty for the women. Thirty! And the majority of these thirty fans consist of parents and loyal friends.
While the men's team at BC receives the support from the band playing patriotically behind the goal of the opposing team, the most the women receive is an ensemble of cow bells rung by the player's parents. There are also no refreshments; no hotdogs; no popcorn; no big screen; no fan cam (because that would necessitate fans); and no tickets. Anyone who wants to see the women's game can do so at no price and still there is no support present for these women who work just as hard and dedicate just as much time to the sport of hockey and their school as the men do.
I feel that this lack of support for women's hockey from the BC community is absolutely degrading to the coaches, players, and managers. Now, it may be true that the women's team has had less than a winning record in the past, which may be the cause for the lack of yellow super fan shirts present in the stands. However, anyone who has attended games would know that the team has more than improved: It is good! The team is currently on a five game winning streak and posses a winning record of 6-4-1. The women have a few big games approaching including Providence (Women's Hockey East's apparent powerhouse) who the Eagles will take on at home on January 18th.
All I ask is to show your school and your women athletes some support. This not only includes the women of the ice hockey team, but of all sports. If the community of B.C. can show so much pride and dedication to men's football and ice hockey, why can it not show even half that support to the women who deserve just the same. Come support the women's ice hockey team. Afterall, it's free.
Megan Scully is a freshman in the college of Arts and Sciences.
Spring Break
