“Do you think we should go?” I asked my husband while sitting on the couch browsing social media. Tonight was the home opener for the return of professional hockey and the Topeka Scarecrows to the capital city. We had been discussing this all week after hearing others buzz about their excitement and spotting the team's brand-new mascot around town.
I knew nothing about hockey and had never seen a game before. I was born and raised in Topeka and ice sports didn't really exist around here when I was growing up. My Minnesota-born husband, however, knew a lot about hockey, and cold things, of course. We finally decided that we would go check out the team and see what it was all about. This decision changed the course of our future for good.
We hopped in the car, headed to Stormont Vail Events Center and were amazed at the traffic in the parking lot. There was a buzz of excitement all around, and I began to realize just how special this moment was. All types of people, all ages, all excited to see hockey come back to the capital city.
I quickly noticed the people in old Scarecrows, Tarantulas, Pilots and Roadrunners jerseys, showing years of commitment to our past local hockey teams, and then the giant scarecrow that sits atop the escalators at the entrance to welcome fans. Another scarecrow sits in a corner of the arena overlooking the ice.
We quickly took to our seats and took in the ice for the first time. I had never seen an ice rink in person before, and, honestly, I never even realized that we could turn Landon arena into a rink. Once people packed the arena, the lights went out and a video played with the message that hockey was back in Topeka, and then the grand entrance began.
Cop cars took the rink with their lights and sirens flashing in the dark arena. Then, Stanley the Scarecrow (mascot) took the ice with his high energy and eclectic personality. The team then took to the ice one-by-one through an inflatable tunnel and pyrotechnics on each side. Coach Robbie Nichols followed his team on to the ice, making his grand entrance riding at the back of a Jeep.
When the lights came on, chants of “drop that puck” began and then loud cheers erupted with the sound of cowbells and horns.
As the game went on, my jaw dropped. Hockey is fast, aggressive, and exhilarating. People are getting slammed into the glass and carrying on like it’s nothing while making the most insane plays I’ve ever seen. How do they know where the puck is?! How are they able to keep their balance like that?! What is icing and why are there only three periods?! I think my hand was covering my mouth or on my chest the entire game, completely in awe of what I was watching.
The Scarecrows won their first home game 5 to 2, and it left me wanting more. For a girl who had only just seen her first game, I was immediately hooked. Thankfully for me, my husband was also hooked. We started to attend more games and even other events like meet and greets, and even got our family and friends involved.
Let me tell you, one of the best parts about this team is how kind, dedicated, and passionate they are. Every player and staff member I’ve met over the season has such a genuine love for what they do, and it makes the experience more special.
They’re invested in the community, and you can often find them visiting our local schools or hanging out at different businesses around town. The fans are dedicated, too, as you can see with their booster club and even a fan page.
Fast-forward to February, and we’ve managed to make it to 11 games so far! I can confidently say that the same energy and excitement I experienced during the first game has followed into all the others. They have one of the highest average attendance numbers in the league, making each game loud and electric.
The last game I attended, on February 7th, was the best game by far. The Scarecrows were having a wonderful season so far with lots of success, but were currently struggling to break a four-game losing streak. It was the first period and both teams were 0 and 0. In the second period, the opposing team scored two goals. Things were scary, to say the least, but thankfully, scary is something the Scarecrows team knows best.
When the third period began, a new wave of momentum hit the team. They needed two goals to tie the game and needed to ensure no other opposing goals were scored, and they delivered. The game went into overtime, just like the night before, and I was close to biting all of my nails off.
I wish I could put into words how truly momentous it felt in Landon Arena when the team scored the overtime goal that broke their losing streak. I don’t think there is anything more incredible than a Scarecrows goal, but this one was spectacular. The energy in the Stormont Vail Events Center could power the entire city for a week.
During the replay of this goal, you could see my husband and I in the crowd. The camera caught me jumping up and down and cheering as loud as I could, which is crazy because I don’t remember jumping once. It was that good!
This team fights hard, doesn’t give up, and puts on one heck of a show. I’m so incredibly proud of our hometown team, and they’ve truly made a ride or die fan out of me.
If you find yourself asking if you should go see a game, the answer is yes. Always yes.
If you haven’t seen the Topeka Scarecrows in action, you can catch them at their next three home games on February 19th, 20th, and 21st at the Stormont Vail Events Center.
