Open Response 1: UML Hockey

Sports have always held a special place in my heart.  I grew up in a family that loved sports, too.  Ice hockey has always been my favorite sport, and I think it always will be.  Every winter my father builds an ice rink in our back yard.  Some of my favorite memories have happened when we were all together on the rink just having fun, and doing what we love. What I love most about sporting events is the atmosphere.  At my high school, the student fan section referred to themselves as “Wamp Nation”.  This brought about a sense of pride and unity within all of the students.  Everyone went to every game, no questions asked.  We loved it.  During playoffs, our girls basketball team played at The Boston Garden.  Our fan section was unbelievable that night; we even made the news for it!  Going to these sporting events is what made high school so much fun and so memorable.  But all that time, I had no idea that I would eventually become a part of an even greater fan section.

On Friday October 10^th my friends and I attended the season opener against Sacred Heart University for the UML hockey team.  I was excited to see the team play, especially after how well they did last season.  I walked into the Tsongas Arena having no idea what to expect.  I had only been in the arena once before, and that was for Convocation.  The arena looked nothing like it had before; it was packed with thousands of excited and energized fans all dressed in blue in red. We arrived a half an hour early and it was still difficult to find seats.

This event lifted everyone’s spirits.  Everywhere you looked you saw friendly faces that were so happy to be at the game.  There was a real sense of community amongst everyone in The Tsongas Arena, and I found that to be very special.  There was music blaring through the speakers, getting the fans roweled up.  All different clubs and sports teams came together to support the hockey team.  There was tables set up all over the arena for activities to do during the game.  This gave the arena such a welcoming vibe.

The music got louder.  It was time for the Riverhawks to come onto the ice.  All of the stands stood up in unison, it was like a mass of blue moving about the arena.  We went wild when they announced the player’s names.  That night was especially important, and not just because it was their season opener. Banners that marked this teams incredible accomplishments would be raised in the arena for everyone to see.

Last year, our hockey team did things that nobody thought they could do.  They defied all odds and showed everyone how good they could really be.  They were Hockey East Champions and made it into the Frozen Four.  These were both huge successes and I had the honor of seeing the ceremony that celebrated each of them.  The ceremony was unlike anything that I had ever seen.  As the banners were uncovered, fireworks and explosions went off on the ice.  Cheering echoed throughout the arena.  Chills ran down my back as I looked at the line of players standing on the ice.  These players and their outstanding accomplishments had such an impact on the University and the city of Lowell.  It gave this town something to cheer for, as well as the university.  This team’s hard work and dedication was able to better this school’s reputation in so many ways.  The raising of these banners made me proud to be a Riverhawk.

The fans were chanting cheers the entire game.  Between periods a UML Riverhawk blimp came flying above us.  Everyone went wild as they screamed in confusion.  This blimp added to the excitement as it soared through the arena.  Everyone, even those people who were not particularly hockey fan, were so unbelievably engaged in the game.  There were moment of anxiety and moments of pure excitement.  For the first time, sitting in the fan section, I felt like a Riverhawk and I could not have been more proud.  Unfortunately, the Riverhawks lost to Sacred Heart that day.  Nobody let this loss dampen their spirits.  After this great experience, I am looking forward to a season full of UML hockey games!