Men’s Hockey Games at the University of New England Draws in Bigger Crowds, Leaving the Women’s Team in the Shadows
Despite equal athletic talent, the women’s hockey team struggles for recognition as fans overwhelmingly favor the men’s games, highlighting a deeper gender imbalance in campus sports culture.
Angelina Keizer
University Student
February 27 2025
At the University of New England, the men’s hockey team continues to attract larger crowds, overshadowing the women’s team despite both groups showcasing equal levels of athletic talent. This disparity in fan support underscores a broader issue of gender imbalance within campus sports culture. While the women’s team competes at a high level, it struggles to gain the same recognition and fanbase as its male counterparts, reflecting a persistent societal preference for men’s sports. This trend not only impacts the visibility of female athletes but also perpetuates the unequal treatment of women’s sports in college athletics.
Cayden Macqueston (She/her), a Nursing major and a freshman on UNE’s Women’s Hockey team, notices the difference in the attention her team attracts as opposed to the men’s team. When asked how she felt about the issue, she thinks that it’s “just funny” the way only parents and friends come to games to show support. Meanwhile, the men’s team crowd swarms the entrance doors, anxious to reserve a seat before someone else does. To Cayden, it isn’t really the crowd that feels sexist but more so the game itself. She emphasizes how, “To everyone else the men’s games are more entertaining because they can hit. It’s sexist how us girls will get penalties for hitting but the men are allowed to. Realistically what is the difference between letting guys hit themselves and letting us hit each other?”
Marine Biology freshman, Christian Morton (He/Him), prefers to watch Men’s Hockey because “It’s more entertaining and physical. Coming from a football background, I’m big into physical contact sports. All men’s sports in my opinion seem to get into the physicality aspect. I’ve seen more fights in men’s hockey and it’s just overall more aggressive.” Morton recalls back to the Teddy Bear Toss for both men’s and women’s hockey. He emphasizes how there was a “long shot” difference at the men’s game. I remember there being a line going out of the Forum, people shoulder to shoulder waiting to get in, meanwhile, there was no wait whatsoever for the women.”
He claims, “The Men’s Teddy Bear Toss was THE game.” Another thing Morton touches on is the importance of equality in the game. Morton states, “I do think it’s sexist when striving for equality. Why have different rules? In my opinion, I feel as though physical games are the most exciting. That is an aspect missing with the women’s games.”
