To cheerlead or not to cheerlead. That is the question.
Last month, the Edmonton Oilers became the first National Hockey League team in Canada to introduce a cheer squad. The Octane is a team of 19 women aged 18 to 29 who will use their sassy dance moves to rile up the fans in Edmontons Rexall Place.
The only problem is that a lot of Canadians dont seem to be too fond of the idea.
Within days of the announcement, an online petition was launched protesting the creation of the team, a petition which now boasts more than 1,500 signatures. The critics say that the arrival of cheerleaders on Canadian soil is proof of the further Americanization of hockey and that they dont need scantily clad girls to tell them when to cheer.
Just like the title of the hit cheerleading movie, I say bring it on.
For far too long, hockey has clung to its archaic traditions, which is one reason the games worldwide popularity languishes. Remember the debate from the same tired whiners about teams having mascots? In todays economy, people want bang for their buck and the more entertainment, the better. I think I came to realize that when the Vancouver Grizzlies came to town for their all-too-brief run back in the late 90s.
Sure, the Grizzlies were arguably one of the most poorly run franchises in professional sports history, but they entertained you. They had mascots, cheerleaders, stunts and other gimmicks to keep you having fun (or to distract you from how terrible the team was). I remember comparing a Grizzlies experience to a Canucks game and there was no contest. The atmosphere and environment at a Grizzlies game blew the Canucks away.
Were no longer entertained by a pair of hands clapping in unison on a big screen. Or by singing along to The Good Old Hockey Game (or other tunes from my fathers era). Fans today want a show and with the exorbitant ticket prices charged by the Canucks and other pro sports teams, they should be delivered one. The average price for a single ticket to the Canucks is $65.20 and we should demand more for our dollar.
Not only that, but the cheerleaders have an opportunity to make a positive impact on the community. Members of NHL cheer squads are usually required to attend charity events and volunteer in the community. And its not like the girls are on the ice. Theyre in the stands, interacting with the fans and helping to enhance the overall game experience.
Professional sports is all about entertainment and its high time hockey started embracing that reality.
