The TCU Ice Hockey team is looking for support from TCU students and fans during the conclusion of its season this weekend.
Senior Captain Michael Authier, an original founder of the club team, is hoping fans will come out to support the team for its final home games of its third season on campus.
After a 10-4 victory over the University of Texas at Arlington last Saturday, the Frogs will take on the Texas State University Bobcats Feb. 13 at 9:30 p.m. and Feb.14 at 9:15 p.m. The games will be at the NYTEX Sports Centre, where the team hosts all of its home games.
The team’s founders started the team in the Spring of 2012, Authier said.
“The current season is our most successful to date,” he said.
TCU heads into its series against Texas State at 6-10-0, the best record in the clubs’ history. The team plays at the Division 2 level in the West Region, which includes all of the other Texas schools with ice hockey teams, Authier said.
“My favorite part of playing on the team is the camaraderie that we have,” Authier said. “It is great being able to continue my playing career with a group of guys that share the same love of hockey that I do.”
The team is optimistic about the future, said right winger Andrew Peterson, a sophomore.
“From where we were two years ago, where a few friends or girlfriends would come to our games… people who genuinely love hockey are now coming,” Peterson said.
The team still expects, hopes and strives to attract more fans, Peterson said.
“What I would like to see is consistently 100 or more fans at our home games,” he said.
The team wants to win and improve every single year, said Peterson.
“We care about this team. We are putting in 110 percent every time we are out on the ice, and you will be entertained if you come watch us play,” Peterson said.
TCU Ice Hockey has also brought in the new TCU “Ice Girls” to cheer on the team during games.
Helena Virga, who works public relations for the team, came up with the idea of bringing in the Ice Girls.
“Through my love for the NHL, I noticed how much the professional ice girls brought spirit and fun to the games,” Virga said. “I recruited the girls by getting the word around campus, allowing for the girls with interest to contact me. Then we held tryouts where the boys then chose the girls they wanted to represent their team.”
Hayley McCurdy, an Ice Girl, said Virga reached out to each sorority on campus to advertise the group.
“I played hockey growing up and played for an all-girls varsity team for two years,” McCurdy said. “When I heard about an opportunity to be back on the ice and watch my favorite game, I couldn’t turn it down.”
Ice Girls does not require a big time commitment, but constant promotion is important, McCurdy said.
“We always need to be advertising and promoting the team. We only skate during home games but are expected to attend away games as well and cheer on the team,” she said.
In addition to Ice Girls, the ice hockey team promotes itself by selling jerseys to fans and wearing their jerseys around campus.
After the Texas State series, the team will close out its season with a road game against Texas Tech. The game’s time has not been determined.