I thought you should know about my game experience on Friday Feb. 7. Prince George was playing the Red Deer Rebels. One of your sponsors was handing out thunder sticks. Me and my boyfriend took a set and wanted to show our fan support. We got to our seats excited that we got thunder sticks to make some noise and cheer on the Cougars. We love going to both the Spruce Kings and Cougars game but have noticed a big difference in the fan support. I was using my sticks to clap along to the music when I got a dirty look from a man sitting a row down from us. Then the man next to my boyfriend looked at us and said "I agree with him that is annoying." I got very upset and was almost in tears and stopped using them until my boyfriend said they were given out to make noise now show your support for the Cougars. I did so. In the second period the lady in front of us rudely asked us to stop making noise with the sticks as it was getting old and annoying already. I thought the idea of going to a hockey game is to cheer on your team. When the older man next to my husband proceeded to tell me I was a disgusting annoying disgrace. I said "pardon me." I was told that I should be ashamed for yelling at the top of my lungs. I thought hockey was about showing your team you are there for them. I now know why your seats are empty and the Kings games are packed. They encourage cheering, they sell noise makers such as cow bells, horns, and thunder sticks and the fans use them with pride knowing they are cheering on their team. No one gives you a dirty look or tells you that you are annoying for cheering. The older man told us that we were nothing and he was a season ticket holder. Whether we paid for our tickets or not we have the right to go to a hockey game, enjoy ourselves, cheer on our hometown team without being attacked verbally. Although I would like to say I will never go to a Cougars game again and that I will only support the Spruce Kings, I am true hockey fan and I am not going to let this experience prevent me from loving and cheering for the sport I love.
Christina Clark
Prince George
