Boiling the bunny: Forcing puck bunny stereotypes down the rabbit hole
Every female hockey fan battles with . Girls are not always taken for loyal fans of the game. Instead they’re…
Every female hockey fan battles with . Girls are not always taken for loyal fans of the game. Instead they’re seen as groupies waiting for what goes on after the game.
“They’re groupies,” said Matt Krause, who referees recreational games and used to play hockey in the minor leagues. “They congregate around the rink chasing after hockey players.”
Some women are hardcore hockey fans. They’re at the game to cheer and watch hockey. Some are there to watch the hockey players and maybe hook-up with one if they are lucky enough, said Krause.
“Growing up in a big, old hockey town, there were lots of girls around the rink,” said Jessica Rogers. She grew into the game watching the Collingwood Blues, a minor league team in Ontario.
“I associate with the chicks who just come to the game to watch the guys. They were there to wait after the game, really dressed up, hair straightened, makeup on, high heels on, ready to go.”
Being or a hockey honey is degrading and implies girls who go to hockey games are only there to sleep with the players, said Rogers.
“They’re in it for the idea a guy might be going to the, so she better sleep with him now and get him. It’s stupid and it gives other girls a ,” said Rogers. She thinks this type of girl exists primarily in the minor leagues.
“It’s pretty sad too,” continued Rogers. “Girls that think they need to act like that to get attention.”
Rogers doesn’t deny some hockey players are good looking. They’re professional athletes and athletes are in shape.
Girls admiring a male athlete’s body are no different from guys complementing tennis player Anna Kournikova’s physique, said Rogers.
But muscles aside, female fans are challenging men for the title of ultimate fan.
They know the statistics: the highest scorer, save percentages, wins, loses, shutouts and penalty minutes. They easily could dual it out with the boys, said Krause.
But for Rogers, and the slew of female hockey fans , it’s long past time the bunny is thrown into the pot.
If it’s not, Rogers will still be watching the game.
“I don’t care what people think, as long as we win.”