What Is Heckler's Grove?
Good question...
"Hecklers Grove" is the name given to the section of loud, rowdy fans who sit in Section 65 at Cincinnati Gardens. The "Grove" is something you may find in a Garden, hence "Heckler's Grove" is that place in the garden where your likely to get an earful.
Cincinnati Gardens has been known as the "Hockey Barn of Bedlam" during the tenure of the IHL Cincinnati Cyclones. The loud, rowdy fans took the name of their section - Section 60 - and the place simply rocked. Players even commented that they hated playing the Cyclones at Cincinnati Gardens because of the noise factor. After the Cyclones vacated Cincinnati Gardens for the renamed "Crown" on the river, the owners of the Gardens took in an AHL team and named it the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. The fan base was split, and the roaring crowds were no more...
During the first few years of Ducks hockey at the Gardens, the atmosphere was more "family oriented". Some fans characterized it as "Disney-like" or "Lilly White". The players noticed it too - very little cheering and jeering, no clapping support during the penalties kill...
A group of fans decided that it was time to get the "old barn" rocking again, so starting with the 2001-2002 season, the fans in Section 65 decided to turn up the volume. The Referee's Seeing Eye Dog made it's first appearance, and home made signs started to adorn the walls in front of Section 65. Unfortunately, the section had no identity, and with the start of the 2002-2003 season, the suggestion was made to find a name that would fit - something that people could remember - something that wouldn't be tied with the name of the team. Heckler's Grove was the answer.
Our goal is to be the "7th man" for the team, to rid Cincinnati Gardens of the "Disney-like" "Lilly White" atmosphere and make it more of a noisy, loud, rowdy good time. We yell at the ref - we yell at the opposing team - we cheer and chant at the goalie - all in an attempt to get into a players head and give the home team a little advantage.
One thing to remember though - While we ride the players hard and are sometimes downright mean, it only lasts for 60 minutes. Hockey players are some of the greatest professional athletes, and some of the nicest men you'll ever meet. Just as we reminded John Simm (Utah/Dallas) and John Eirskin (Utah/Dallas), "You only suck for 60 minutes, after that we're all friends and we share a drink." They agreed...
It's fun! We encourage you to get a ticket in Hecklers Grove and join us! You'll see some great hockey, and have a great time at the expense of the opposition. And when you do, stop by and say "hi" - I'll be the "guy with the seeing eye dog"...
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