Ice Cat Nation

Its 7:28pm and the boos are raining down on the ice at the Tucson Convention Center arena.

No, nothing has happened to the fans’ beloved University of Arizona Ice Cats – the puck hasn’t even dropped.

The boos are for those assigned to bring order to chaos this Friday night, the referees. It’s not that the refs have done anything wrong. It’s the fans’ passion that brings out the boo birds. It’s also a good warm-up for the reception awaiting tonight’s opponent.

“I like it down by the glass. You get to yell at the referees when they don’t make the right calls,” said Ice Cat fan Kris Felton. “I’m hoarse by the time I get home.”

The Ice Cats play hockey at the TCC arena, 206 S. Church Ave., on Friday and Saturday nights between October and February. Skating for anywhere from several hundred to a few thousand of these passionate fans, crowd size often depending on the opponent (tip: don’t wait to get tickets for ASU weekend, February 26-27). Most nights you can walk up to the box office a few minutes before game time and get affordable seats for your family.

Felton has been coming to see her team play for ten years. Knowledgeable fans like her help to lead the crowd in a game where it’s often hard for new fans to appreciate the beauty of a last-second deflection or the strategy behind defending a penalty kill. First-time fans are more than welcome to join what the arena’s announcer dubs “Ice Cat Nation.”

“It’s one of the simplest games to understand, rules-wise,” said James Reese, who has not missed a game in over six years. He says hockey has to be watched live. “My favorite part of being a fan is the other loyal fans, the players and their families. It’s a personable experience.”

Reese takes the personable experience a bit farther than most, racing up and down the arena stairs as the Rocky theme is blasted over the arena’s sound system, exchanging high fives along the way with the team’s youngest fans. Each night the run ends up above the team’s championships banner, where Reese leads a section by section cheer for the team as it takes the ice for the final period.

“When you get the crowd in to it, the players respond,” Reese said. He didn’t begin this tradition but he’s maintained it, one of many fan traditions forged over the team’s 30 years in Tucson.
Felton has a word of advice for new fans thinking about attending an upcoming game.“It’s a ten – it’s the most excitement you can have in your sports life.”

To which we’ll add the succinct thoughts of seven-year-old Alex Romero, attending his first ever game tonight.

“It’s awesome,” he shouted, reflecting all of the fan’s passion as they await the next goal from their Ice Cats.

You can become part of the tradition as the team wraps up its 30th season. For a schedule and more information, visit UAIcecats.com.