Halloween Didn’t Stop Naturals’ Fans from Supporting Their Team
Posted on Nov. 2, 2009
Halloween could not keep Northwestern Health Sciences University’s students from cheering on the Naturals, the University’s American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) team, in their game against the Gustavus Adolphus junior varsity on Oct. 31. Some spectators dressed in Halloween costumes and others talked of Halloween party plans after the game, but overall cheering on the team took precedence.
Alyssa Hansen, chiropractic student, watched the game while wearing an ‘80s costume complete with brightly-colored tights and a high ponytail. “I think it’s pretty cool that we have a team to cheer on,” said Hansen. “Hockey has definitely brought the students together.”
Two seats away, chiropractic student Jon Pinnow wore a tangled mullet wig with a trucker hat. “We came to cheer on a friend of ours on the Naturals team,” Pinnow said. “But we had to wear costumes to the game because it is Halloween.” His unwritten rule seemed to apply to Hansen and a few other students as well.
The back of a costume worn by Blair Runde, chiropractic student, was a Hawaiian shirt while the front looked like a business suit. “My costume is business in the front and party in the back,” Runde said with a slight smirk. “I am ready for the Halloween party after the game. But we had to cheer on Naturals’ forward Jake Bohnen first.” Next to him, Riley Klassen, also a chiropractic student at Northwestern, said that ACHA hockey games give the students something to do on a Saturday night. “It is also really fun to see people I know, like Jake, skating on the ice,” she said.
Tiffany Sayuk, chiropractic student, had the same reaction. “It is fun to support the people that I know on the team and I know about half the guys on it,” she said. Even though she did not follow Pinnow’s unwritten rule to attend the game in a costume, she said that she never considered skipping the game because of the holiday. “The game is more fun because it is on Halloween,” Sayuk said.
One of the Naturals’ captains, Jake Bohnen, said that he was surprised with the fan turnout for the game. Due to the holiday, he was not expecting so many to show up. “It is always great to have friends and parents out there cheering us on,” said Bohnen.
Come watch the Naturals’ next home game at 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 20, 2009, against St. Mary’s JV. For more information about the Naturals upcoming games check the complete Naturals season schedule.