On Sunday we were gifted last minute tickets to a hockey game at the Prudential Center. It was a home game for the (ahem) New York (cough) Sirens, on their home ice in my hometown, Newark, (not New York) New Jersey. Once again, Newark doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Snubbed!
The (questionably) New York Sirens are part of the PWHL. It felt appropriate to see a women’s hockey game on International Women’s Day. It was coincidentally the start of Daylight Savings Time, so Women’s Day was cut short by an hour! Once again, women don’t get the equal treatment they deserve. Robbed!
In a show of support for women and girls in hockey, and awareness of inequity both on and off the ice, (across the river from) NY siren player #24 switched out her jersey for #23. #23hourplay uses the metaphor of a shortened Women’s Day to encourage fans to donate $23 in support of girls’ hockey.
The game was well attended. The (not really) New York Sirens recorded their highest attendance yet, over 8200 people.
The overwhelming majority of spectators were female presenting. I could feel the full spectrum of feminine energy all around me. Women of all ages, colors, shapes and sizes. Straight women, queer women, trans women. The familiar blues, greens and browns of Daisy, Brownie, and Girl Scout vests and sashes in almost every section.
The cheers were a bit more alto and soprano than most other sporting events I’ve attended. The vibe between plays was very girl’s night out dance party. The youngest fans jumped and screamed and vied for the attention of the Jumbotron camera person.
People were holding up handwritten signs that said things like ‘Women Rule the World’ and ‘Maybe we should invite the men next time?!’ and ‘I Love Lesbians’. A lot of fans were holding signs that said ‘Wee Woo’. It took me a while to realize that wee woo is the chant of the (adjacent to) New York Sirens.
Call: Let’s go sirens.
Response: Weewooweewoo.
In between periods (Yes, periods. And yes, it was a struggle for the 12 year old boy in my mind to not make the period jokes out loud) two teams of tiny females from a local hockey school took to the ice. They all clustered together, following and fighting for the puck, attempting goals without passing to each other at all.
It was clumsy and chaotic and adorable. And it was empowering and awe inspiring. I got a bit choked up at the sight of them. Amazed by and also slightly jealous of, the progress that has been made in the world. I felt a sense of longing to be young again, in a time more like this, but also less like this.
In this Women’s Hockey world, much like in the musical/theaterical world, there is an unspoken sense of safety and freedom of expression. It feels as if no matter how one chooses to show up, on any given day, she/he/they will be accepted.
It all feels very open and vulnerable. Nothing about it feels toxic or threatening. Sure, a couple of minor fights broke out on the ice but they were de-escalated immediately. Sure, the woman next me firmly ‘asked’ the excited girls in front of us to sit down a couple of times, but then they sat during the plays, and got up in between to dance and scream.
It was a joyful and uplifting experience. A good (23 hour) day for me, and also for the winning New York (but we know it’s not really NY) Sirens.
Way to go, Sirens! Weewooweewoo. Everyone is watching you.
On second thought, perhaps they should just keep the name as it is. It would probably be better PR to not associate Newark with sirens. Too much low hanging fruit about crime…
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