Team Tampa Bay's Take with Joey Johnston: Friday at the Frozen Four
A Visit with College Hockey Super Fans at the Priority Ticket Holder Luncheon
By Joey Johnston
Sixty-three years ago, when Fred Raymond was a student at Holy Cross, he hitchhiked to the Frozen Four at the Boston Arena, a 5,000-seat barn that opened in 1910.
“There might’ve been a thousand people at the championship game (Denver 5, Michigan Tech 3),’’ Raymond said. “I’m a hockey guy. I thought, ‘You know, I like this event.’ I want to keep going back.’’
Raymond, 82, a retired fifth-grade teacher from Ticonderoga, New York, keeps coming back. This weekend’s Frozen Four at downtown Tampa’s Amalie Arena is his 39th — and 28th consecutive — as he continues to be fascinated by the NCAA’s annual championship for men’s college hockey.
He’s not alone.
Raymond was part of a group of about 150 priority ticket-holders at the Frozen Four — the fans who attend every year, regardless of the field — that was honored during a Friday afternoon luncheon at the Florida Aquarium. Tampa Bay Lightning founder and Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Esposito, whose statue welcomes fans in the Amalie Arena plaza, regaled the audience with tales of his life and times.
But he also displayed admiration for the dedication of these Super Fans.
“I’m telling you, these people are dedicated to hockey and it’s great to see,’’ Esposito said. “Nothing like true hockey fans. Their loyalty is a big part of what makes our sport so special.’’
Tampa Bay Sports Commission executive director Rob Higgins said it was an honor to host the fraternal group. Each fan was presented a Tampa Bay/Frozen Four hockey puck and they had full run of the Aquarium’s offerings following the luncheon.
“Frozen Four fans are as passionate as any we have ever seen,’’ Higgins said. “We’re happy to have them in Tampa Bay and want them to enjoy the event, as they always do, and everything our area has to offer. It’s a really special group of people.’’
Raymond said he looks forward each year to the Frozen Four, where he can catch up with his hockey friends.
“I just love the enthusiasm of meeting people and maintaining these relationships,’’ Raymond said. “I feel like these are my brothers and sisters. These are fun people.’’
People such as Betty and Eric Beaverstock, avid University of New Hampshire fans who are attending their 23rd Frozen Four together.
“This is the greatest sport in the world because every year you have new kids coming in and we have seen so many of them make it big (in the NHL),’’ Eric Beaverstock said. “We love making memories in every city and we really love Tampa. We’re so used to wearing our winter coats. That’s not necessary here. It’s a great place to be outdoors and explore.’’
Betty Beaverstock has dozen of lapel pins — either individual teams or the assembled quartet from each Frozen Four they have attended — on her UNH jersey. She already put the pins from Minnesota and Quinnipiac — Saturday night’s championship finalists — next to each other.
“These pins are fun to look at … because they paint a picture of all these places we’ve been and all the teams we’ve seen,’’ Betty Beaverstock said. “This becomes our vacation outing every year and we always look forward to Frozen Four time.’’
People such as Mary and Michael Mahoney, the University of North Dakota fans, who have attended the Frozen Four for two decades.
“It’s like a family reunion,’’ Mary Mahoney said. “We see the people we know every year and it’s always a good time. We have really good memories of Tampa (UND won the 2016 event in Tampa). But whether our team is here or not, they always do a great job with it. We just love the game. And we love the people. That’s what keeps us coming back.’’