There’s just something so oddly fascinating about watching a 45-year-old electrician duke it out with a 20-year-old student, especially when they’re both sliding around the ice rink on skates. You almost wonder who wins a fight like that: the younger might feel guilty about beating up on a dad, the older about knocking over someone like his son. Yet it happens with decent regularity at the Brentwood Ice Arena, where the Washington University club ice hockey team plays their games every Thursday evening.
I’ve been going to the games since sophomore year, since my then and current roommate was on the team. At first it was out of simple sympathy and a pinch of novelty that I attended; I never really liked hockey that much, and considering the level of play that I might expect from a men’s league, I didn’t know how long I would stay. But somehow, two years later, I’m still there in the stands every week.
Why? Because, well, it’s fun, it’s unpredictable, and it’s free. The league that Wash. U. is in now is a “no-checking” advanced league, which basically means that you can hit, slash and bump anyone as much as you like, provided you don’t let the referees catch you. Often, though, the referees seem to be watching a different game altogether, which allows for a great bit of frustration from both benches. In a league where enforcement is expected but rarely, er, enforced, there are bound to be some attempts at retribution. It’s men with day jobs playing men looking for day jobs – there are a lot of axes to grind. Wash. U. students don’t want to be pushed around by people their parents’ or older siblings’ age, nor do the “elders” want to be beaten by a group of wealthy, elitist college kids.
This is not to say that games are solely about pseudo-fighting; pure violence isn’t very common. But I believe it to be the driving force behind why these club games are so fun to watch. The hockey isn’t the NHL, but it is good and Wash. U. has some very talented players, including their player/coach/captain Tom Paskvan, who was recruited by a Division I hockey club. The team also has some mediocre players. This combination is, in fact, how most of the teams in the league are built, which is what makes each game a good one. It’s good old-fashioned hockey – no one is playing for money, fame or a job. They’re playing because they like playing.
At most games, you would be hard-pressed to find enough spectators to fill one row in one section of a pro hockey rink. But the fans that do come are as participatory as any I’ve seen at a packed house. There are about a half-dozen of us who seem to be there week after week, yelling, cheering, jeering, pounding the glass and generally making asses of ourselves. Sometimes, like at last week’s game, we have about 20 fans, which is great because the rink is less likely to try to throw us out for being rowdy. And, of course, it makes watching the games a lot more fun. I even heard a Washington University fight song last week (five times – one for each goal), something I hadn’t ever heard in my four years here. Yes, we do have one.
This isn’t a plea to have people come to the games, nor is it a shameless plug for the hockey team – they’re still going to play no matter what. This a fan trying to outline a fun alternative to dorm/frat-party grab-assing. The games are short, about an hour, so if you have other plans you probably won’t miss them. Yes, you do have to drive to the rink – it’s about five minutes past the Galleria on Brentwood – but I’m telling you, it’s worth it.
If you’re interested, visit www.brentwoodmo.org/index.asp?SID=97 to see the schedule, standings and directions. The next game is this Thursday at 8:55 p.m. Where else can you bang on things, lose your voice, watch live hockey, pay nothing and be back in time to go out?
Jeff is a senior in Arts & Sciences and a Forum editor.