9.2

SPORTS

The Norwich Guidon
Feb. 12, 2004

Men's Hockey gets big support from Blue Line Club

By Kevin Schieve
Norwich Guidon staff writer

The Norwich Blue Line Club has been involved with men's hockey at Norwich for five years and has been helping to raise money for the team by putting on various functions throughout the year.

The club is considered a second family by many of its members. However, many of the club's members live across the country and are unable to attend functions as well as the games to find out what is happening with the team. This is why the Blue Line Club website is so important to many of its members. The website was spearheaded by Business Professor Frank Vanecek, who has overseen the project for four years.

"We first started this back during the 1999-2000 season, the same year the Blue Line club, itself, began," Vanecek said. "The website began with action photographs, game schedules, scores of games, and a few interviews in print form. It has evolved today into a much more modern site, using templates and having superior graphics," Vanecek added.

The website of today is far more in-depth, having almost everything there is to know about Norwich hockey on the site. Player profiles, coach profiles, Crosby game reviews, and Kreitzberg arena characteristics are some of the features showcased, that keep Norwich Alumni, hockey fans, and Blue Line Club members up to date on everything they need to know.

Under the watchful eye of Vanecek, Norwich students maintain the site, constantly adding new features and updating the look. Having this responsibility can be rewarding, as well as make the student aware that their work is admired.

"After working on the site for a semester, I think that we definitely did good things with it, and I've even received some positive feedback from people who view the site regularly," said senior Phil Aucoin, 21, a communications major from Chelmsford, Mass, who was one of two students working on the site last semester. "It's kind of nice having people outside school commenting on your homework," Aucoin added.

"I think the Blue Line Club website is important to a lot of people who lived near or graduated from Norwich and now live far away, because it allows them to keep in touch with all the happenings of the team," said Bob Jaggard, a 23-year-old senior business major from Dundas, Ontario, who also worked on the web site. "The site features a lot of stats and other information that people want to know."

The Norwich Blue Line Club is famous in central Vermont for supporting the men's hockey team in multiple ways. In the past two years they have increased their support by organizing bus trips to accompany the team to away games, often bringing more fans to the competition's arenas than the home team.

"The support we've had on the road has been unbelievable. The Blue Line Club brings a ton of people to our road games, and they're more loud in the rinks when we score than the home team's fans," said junior Mario Chinelli, 23, a business major from Laval, Quebec.

These bus trips are organized by ordinary members within the club and always turn out successfully due to effective planning.

"Blue Line Club member Al Robataille organizes all the bus trips, right from calling the bus company to booking the hotels and everything necessary," said longtime club member and former president Dave Maxwell.

The fans aboard the bus are treated to much more than just hockey games when they sign on for the trip, as Robataille sees that extracurricular activities are also part of the experience.

"There are other functions that we do when we travel with the team, including get-togethers before the games, as well as Norwich alumni functions that prior graduates put on near opponents' rinks," said Maxwell. "Guy Huntley, Norwich graduate of 1963, recently hosted over 60 people at his home near the University of Southern Maine," Maxwell added.

Players on the team are also grateful for the support they have away from Kreitzberg Arena and for the dedication that Blue Line Club members and fans show for the team on the weekends.

"It's nice to have so many people pay money from their own pocket to come to away games and show us so much support. They could be doing anything with their weekend, and for them to spend it with us is incredible," said Junior Mike Serba, 22, a business major from Rexdale, Ontario.

For a one-game trip that leaves for the destination, and returns the same night, the price per person is around $30, and for a two-game weekend, which includes tickets, the cost of the bus, and hotel, the price is usually just under $90, according to Maxwell.

"All the guys on the team think that their [club members'] dedication is unbelievable, and we're just grateful that we play at a school that gets so much local support," Chinelli said.

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 056632. www.norwich.edu/guidon. If you have any questions or comments about the paper, please contact Professor Ken Bush at kbush@norwich.edu.