USICERINKS.COM SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER.2017 / 19
Pride and joy
The Boston Pride also
calls Warrior Ice Arena
home. Starting on their
third year, the team is one
of four franchises with
the NWHL. Business
Director Zach Hamilton says the Pride has benefited from
sharing the sheet with the Bruins, who bring with them a
more established brand. The Bruins also bring in spectators
who may not initially be interested in women's hockey. With
their help, and with the growth of women's hockey as a whole,
especially in the New England area, the Pride sold out every
game they had last season.
Warrior Ice Arena's coziness helps amp up the players,
too. Its seating capacity is less than a third of the size of the
Pride's old ice at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center.
"It's a smaller arena, so they only have seating on one side,"
says Hamilton. "When you're playing the games at home and
you sell out and play with the full stadium on that side of the
facility, it just gives you a larger, more intense atmosphere."
"They've got very loyal fans, very similar to the Bruins,"
adds Marwell. "And it's really cool for me. When I was in
high school, we didn't have a hockey program for girls…so,
just seeing the girls be able to pursue their dreams and inspire
young girls to continue to play hockey and aspire to be like
them, it's very rewarding to watch."
Hamilton says the Pride is happy to be among the first
teams at Warrior Ice Arena. With their own locker rooms,
"It's a smaller arena, so
they only have seating
on one side. When
you're playing the
games at home and you
sell out and play with
the full stadium on that
side of the facility, it just
gives you a larger, more
intense atmosphere."
