Pitarresi: UC a phenomenon

 

I headed over to the Utica College hockey game tonight expecting a smaller than usual crowd.

 

The Pioneers were playing a nonleague game against Johnson & Wales, and there was plenty of competition. New Hartford and Camden were playing for the Section III, Class A football title at the Carrier Dome, and Dolgeville was playing Watertown IHC for the Class D championship.

 

I figured a lot of people would make the easy drive to Syracuse to see those games, and that a lot more would watch the games on Time-Warner. It had to cut into the crowd at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

 

It didn’t. UC drew a school-record 3,786 fans. Amazing. Even UC coach Gary Heenan, who has earnestly promoted his team and made it a big part of the community, was stunned.

 

“I don’t understand it,” he said, although he said it with a big smile on his face. “We had 3,000 for opening night.”

 

I think what has happened is this – after many years of failed professional teams in the Aud, people still want to see hockey in that building. UC is it, and fans don’t have to worry about whether the team will be here next week or next year. The players are like your brothers or kids or whatever, they are involved in the community, people like them, and they’re pretty good.

 

It’s pretty phenomenal.