These Maine-iacs take it to an extreme, but all across New England on frigid winter nights rabid fans congregate inside lively college hockey rinks that crackle with an energy as warming as a roaring fire. Pigskin is king in the South and hoops reign supreme in Kentucky and North Carolina, but pucks dominate the sporting scene on many New England campuses.
The arenas hosting New England’s 20 Division 1 men’s college hockey programs (and 14 women’s teams) offer a feast for the senses: the sounds of pep bands playing fight songs on chilled instruments, the smells of popcorn and hot dogs, and the sights of raucous student sections hurling invectives — and sometimes seafood — at opposing goalies. But rink rats will find that six particular hockey barns — one from each state — make an All-Star lineup.
Alfond Arena University of Maine, Orono The university’s fight song urges fans to “shout till the rafters ring,’’ and the boisterous supporters who fill the den of the Black Bears eagerly fulfill the request. The student section, perched right above the action in the balcony, stands and chants for most of the game. After each Maine goal, a loud foghorn bellows and the Naked Five, a quintet of male students stripped to the waist and covered in body paint, takes a lap around the arena, slapping hands with fans and clanking cowbells. Filled to its capacity of 5,445, Alfond is one of college hockey’s most intimidating venues for visiting teams.
Nathan Fournier, cofounder of the online Maine Hockey Journal, says a trip to Orono is a must for any fan. “It’s a great hockey experience, and Alfond is one of the best buildings anywhere in the country. No matter how good the team is, the fans come out and cheer, and the student section is one of the tops in the nation.’’
