Shen Hockey players love the energy the student section provides but ultimately, they love the game and they play for each other.
“It’s certainly nice [to have a student section], but we always play the same. We play the best we can. We play for the boys, not the birds,” said #17, Matthew ‘Triple T’ Truitt (Birds means ‘fans’ in this context). Truitt is a senior and plays the grinder position for the team.
“We can feed off the energy but our passion comes from playing for each other,” said #5, Steven Anslow. Anslow is a senior and captain this year. He’s a starting defenseman for the team.
Not only do the Plainsmen love playing for their own student section, they say that they find great joy in playing in front of the opponents student section as well.
“Playing away games when the other team has student sections, it’s a lot of fun. It’s very easy to feed off their energy,” said #18, Frederick ‘Fred’ Hicks. The senior, team captain and starting center said he enjoys the pride he feels when he scores in front of the opposing viewers.
“I think it’s a lot of fun to play against them. It’s almost like they’re part of the other team so I actually think it’s a lot of fun when they’re cheering against us,” #25, Jeremy ‘Ricer’ Rice, a senior forward for the Plainsmen, said.
“When we can use the other student section as a positive, to play harder; it’s always nice. But we try to keep our game the same intensity and energy every single time, regardless,” Truitt said.
While every player says they appreciate anything the student section does to support the team, there are definite stand outs that players appreciate.
“I’m a big fan of when we get student leaders that come up to the front of the student section and get everyone riled up. Whenever they get loud, it’s always really good,” Truitt says. #16, John ‘Westy’ Westrick appreciates the energy a specific student provides. “We need more people like Logan Linn. He’s got all the energy, we love what he does,” he said. Logan Linn, a senior, said he shows up at nearly every hockey game to support not only the team, but his brother. #24, Keegan Linn or ‘Shmeegs’ to his teammates is also a senior and plays center for the Plainsmen.
‘More noise’ is a common request from the Plainsmen. “I feel like our energy on the bench kind of outplays the energy we get in the student section. So, when we bang out sticks on the boards, we’d like to get maybe some feet moving, maybe some noise going,” Rice said.
“The games go by quick, there’s not a whole lot of them. So, show up, be loud, and support,” said Truitt.
Above all else, the varsity Plainsmen say they enjoy when students simply show up for them.
“Just being there means a lot to us,” Westrick said.
Rice agreed. “Having everybody there is nice; that’s all I can ask for. I’m just happy everybody is there.”
The Varsity Hockey Team has a limited number of regular season games and say they hope to see a lot of support come playoffs.
“Sectionals are coming up, big games, we need everybody there! I mean everybody,” Hicks said.
