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
This imbalance in attendance and support reflects a larger issue of gender inequality in sports. Men’s hockey has been well-established in the public eye for years, with a long history of fan support and media coverage, while women’s sports struggle to gain the same recognition, despite equal talent and effort.
Cayden MacQueston (She/Her), a Nursing major and freshman player for UNE’s women’s hockey team, notices the difference in fan support the men’s team receives in comparison to her team.
When asked about the issue, Cayden expresses frustration yet also finds humor in it, “It’s just funny,” referring to how only friends and family show up in support. On the contrary, the men’s team draws in a crowd beyond just friends and family alone.
For Cayden, the focus on gender dynamics aren’t targeted at the fan’s behavior, but instead the way the game itself is perceived. “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?”, she questions.
Marine Biology freshman at UNE, Christian Morton (He/Him), offers his honest perspective on the issue. Coming from a football background, Morton finds himself drawn to the physicality of men’s hockey in the belief that it is, “more entertaining and physical.”
When reflecting back to UNE’s annual Teddy Bear Toss event, which is held for both men’s and women’s hockey, Morton recalls the drastic difference in attendance. “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’s game.”
This striking contrast in attendance doesn’t go unnoticed for Morton, who observes, “The Men’s Teddy Bear Toss was THE game.” For him, the crowd dynamics at both events are telling of the broader cultural attitude toward men’s versus women’s sports.
He touches on the importance of equality in the game, “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 due to the different rules and regulations.”
From another fan point of view, a freshman in Occupational Studies at UNE, Sarah Jarry (She/Her), shares her own experience of noticing a distinct shift that can be seen in the crowd’s behavior at men’s and women’s hockey games.
“There’s a change in crowd dynamic, typically at a women’s game the crowd seems less enthusiastic when scoring. The men’s game seems more engaged and supportive” Jarry’s observation speaks to the emotional investment that fans often make in sports.
The difference in how fans react could be tied to the societal assumption that men’s sports are inherently more exciting or worthy of sincere support, while women’s sports are still fighting for visibility and equal treatment.
Anthony Montalbano (He/Him), women’s hockey coach, being a lifetime hockey enthusiast and advocate for women’s sports in general, finds this to be an interesting subject to discuss.
Coach Montalbano describes his players as “passionate with a drive to be the best.” He states, “If there is one person or a thousand in the stands, I don’t think that will change the drive. Naturally if you are in a building that is rocking there is an elevation of excitement and energy. I don’t think it downplays their performance.”
In his eyes, “For women, with it not being as physical it can actually speed up the game by not being pulled into the physicality part of it all. The women’s game is more about the brains, skill level, and speed.”
Coach Montalbano’s biggest concern, much like others, is: how can we continue to get people to support women’s sports? He questions, “Why do women’s big leagues continue to fail when they do so much promotion?”
As UNE’s female athletes continue to push forward in the face of these challenges, the hope is that their talent and dedication will eventually be recognized as equally deserving of fan support and attention, thereby closing the gap in gender inequality that has gone on for far too long.
