On Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins organization announced that they would be holding auditions for a skating "ice crew" at the end of the month .
According to the Penguins' website, the ice crew will be "a team of energetic girls and guys who will help clean the ice, interact with fans and take part in other promotional activities."
A recent growing trend in the NHL has been the ice girls—essentially cheerleaders on ice skates. Some of the teams' ice girls also dedicate time to charity or other good causes in the community.
These ice girls have been a hit in many NHL markets. A look at the photograph of a Chicago Blackhawks ice girl is all the explanation necessary.
I'm going to come out and say that I don't like the idea of ice girls, but I can begrudgingly understand the concept in some markets. But when I saw the announcement on the Penguins' main website that they would adopt a similar concept, I was not happy.
The crew is meant to be a step above the Pens Patrol, a group of girls who tossed t-shirts into the crowd during games, interacted with fans in the concourse, and were in charge of on-ice and jumbotron contests.
I don't have a problem with the Penguins hiring girls to do some promotion work for the team, but it sounds like that's not going to be the case.
I checked out the online application and saw that required dress code included midriff bearing tops (crop/bra tops) and yoga/dance pants for the ladies. There were even specific nail color/design requirements.
The crew would also sign autographs.
Hello? Are we in the NHL or have we stepped into Hollywood?
I will reiterate that I understand the use of these girls in some markets, but not Pittsburgh, a city built on a blue-collar, low-key mentality. Even the Pittsburgh Steelers don't have cheerleaders, one of seven NFL teams to make that claim.
Why?
Because it doesn't fit with what Pittsburgh represents, at all. It's showy and fake.
Girls skating around in tight and revealing clothing cheapens what Penguins hockey is about: hard-work, grit, and creativity.
Not only that, the ice girls were started in weak hockey markets to boost sales and fan interaction.
Last I checked, the Pens didn't have a problem with either. Adding them to the organization makes us look like a franchise desperate for attention, something I believe we have too much of because of Sidney Crosby.
Whether the Penguins mean to do this or not, an ice crew will give off the "sex sells" vibe. Whether you agree with that concept or not, does anyone actually think that message represents Pittsburgh in the slightest?
No way.
I was in Pittsburgh for the Fourth of July weekend and when I was walking around the Strip District and Station Square, I was reminded of how real Pittsburgh is. It isn't showy or gimmicky, almost the opposite of what we see in places like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, or New York.
The people of Pittsburgh are a no-bullshit crowd who love their Steelers, Penguins, and yes, even Pirates. When they attend those team's games, they're there to watch the game. Everything else is considered pointless and in the way of what really matters.
While I know many guys will disagree with me, Pittsburgh isn't the place to be flashing this sexy image.
Fellow Penguins Featured Columnist Alison Myers pointed out to me that the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins used to have ice girls, but the complaints from fans were so overwhelming that the organization got rid of them.
I would hope that the Penguins organization opens their eyes and realizes that adding this "ice crew" is the equivalent of placing a hillbilly in the middle of Fashion Week.
It just doesn't work.
If I know the city of Pittsburgh as well as I think I do, the complaints will rain down from season ticket holders if this ice crew resembles anything of the ice girls in Carolina or Chicago.
Please, Pittsburgh, there's no need to be like the other franchises in the NHL.
Let's keep real.
