We here at the Deke have had our discussions regarding the pro’s and con’s of “Ice Girl” squads and what they do for the fans, franchise and league.  I can honestly say I have no idea what goes into these squads, preparation, function, etc … the only knowledge I have about Ice Girl squads in the NHL is what I have seen at games and what I have read online.  This got me thinking why, if there is such negative reactions to these squads, do teams and franchises invest in developing and adding the function to their organization.  So, I went out to find someone with first hand knowledge.  I have been chatting with Lauren for a few months now via Twitter (you can follow her @CanesSSQ) regarding her role as a Carolina Hurricane Storm Squad Member.  I approached Lauren and asked if she would be interested in answering a few questions and she agreed, and also brought along Big Mike to throw in his two cents.  Lauren has been an amazing help, answering my questions and chatting with me through email.  I really appreciate the time it took to jot down the answers to these seven questions (and future questions that may arise).  Here are their answers:

What/Who introduced you to Hockey?

• LAUREN: Growing up, my parents decorated my room with Philadelphia sports pennants, so I had knowledge of who the Flyers were. Other than that, hockey wasn’t in the picture for a while. Hockey caught my attention once the Hurricanes moved to Raleigh. Their arrival in Raleigh marked the first professional team in this area. I didn’t actually get to attend my first game, however, until 2005. After that game, though, I was hooked.
• BIG MIKE: Once in a while a game would come on TV here in Raleigh NC. I remember seeing the Flyers and Capitals. I liked watching it, but it did not come on very often. Aside from that it was video games. Games like Blades of Steel and NHL ‘94 got me even more into hockey. The first video game that I ever bought when I got my Playstation 1 was a hockey game.

What do you think Hockey has that other sports don’t?

• LAUREN: I think hockey has a unique culture, a sort of camaraderie you don’t necessarily find with other sports. As far as what happens on the ice, I’m a big proponent of the saying “hockey is the fastest team sport in the world.”
• BIG MIKE: Hockey can be graceful and aggressive at the same time if that makes any sense. Also, in other team sports, players can “take plays off” and get away with it. If you do that in hockey you are going to pay for it.

What does the Storm Squad bring to the team/league?

• LAUREN: The Carolina Hurricanes Storm Squad was the first fan development team in the NHL. The Storm Squad enhances the experience of a Hurricanes game and also promotes the Hurricanes and the NHL in the community through charity events, public appearances, corporate outings and local promotions. When you ask local fans what comes to mind when they hear “Carolina Hurricanes,” it’s not just the players or coaches – it’s the Storm Squad and our mascot Stormy, as well.
• BIG MIKE: The Storm Squad is a fan development team. By being a visible and active part of the community, we help bring exposure to the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL.

What does the Storm Squad bring to the community?

• LAUREN: The Storm Squad is always involved in events around the community like fundraisers and charities, of which a lot of the proceeds go to the Kids ‘N Community Foundation.
• BIG MIKE: The Storm Squad is very involved in community events. We help out at different charity events such as fundraisers, golf tournaments and hospital visits. Some of our events that we have taken part in are “Strike Out Autism”, Toys for Tots and visits to Fort Bragg Army base. We are also involved with the Hurricanes’ in-house charity, the “Kids ‘N Community Foundation”.

Do you think Ice Girl squads contribute to the spirit of the team?

• LAUREN: That all depends on what each organization wants their squad to accomplish. In order to contribute to the spirit of the team, the squads should interact with fans during games and within the community. It should be a big goal of the squads to enhance the experience of a game for fans of all ages. Doing in-game promotions and focusing on fan development are two aspects of a squad that enable them to contribute to the spirit of the team, the organization and the fans.
• BIG MIKE: It depends on how the squads are used. If they are not active parts of the community and are not available to interact with fans before and during the games, I can honestly say they are not serving a great purpose. I have been to several games at different arenas around the NHL and I have seen a few squads that I think are there just for men to look at during the game. I have seen a few squads that could give all of the other squads in the NHL a bad name if you do not know anything about them. A few of the squads that seem to be doing a good job with promoting the team, fan development and helping out in the community besides the Storm Squad are the Washington Capitals and the Vancouver Canucks Squads. There are probably more, but those are two that come to mind.

How did the Stanley Cup championship help the Canes build a fan base?

• LAUREN: Prior to the ’06 Cup run, the Hurricanes had already established a solid fan base having reached the Finals in 2002. Until the Cup, a lot of fans were aware of the Hurricanes, seeing as they are the only professional team in this part of North Carolina, but a lot of focus here tends to be towards college sports (mainly basketball – UNC & Duke). After winning the Cup, the Hurricanes gained an even bigger fan base, having won the respect of many in this area and beyond. They were the first (and only) professional team in North Carolina to win a championship!
• BIG MIKE: The first time the Hurricanes went to the Stanley Cup finals in 2002, the Raleigh area was really captivated by the Canes. That carried over into the next season and helped build the fan base. After finishing last in the league in 2003, and again missing the playoffs in 2004 the enthusiasm somewhat dwindled, as expected. When the Lightning won the Cup in 2004, that actually brought some excitement to the Canes fan base, as we figured if Tampa can do it, why can’t we. After the cancelled season in 2005 we were all ready for hockey in the 2005-2006 season. Winning the cup in 2006 helped to solidify even more fans and brought back excitement to the Hurricanes fans and the community. Although the Canes missed out on the playoffs in 2007 and 2008, we still draw good crowds on a nightly basis due to the fans that became season ticket holders during the cup runs and the excitement that hockey brings night in and night out.

Why do you think certain NHL teams do or do not have Ice Girl squads?

• LAUREN: I can only imagine it has to do with what each organization wants. The Hurricanes developed the Storm Squad in alliance with marketing and promotions and to aid in that area of the organization.
• BIG MIKE: I really can’t answer that. I do know that the Hurricanes marketing and promotions managers get a lot of calls from other NHL teams about how to implement a team into their organization.

Tags: Carolina Hurricanes, Ice Girls, Interview