Two words: wicked cool. Through a combination of skilled players and beginners, crazed fans and a biohazard of a nickname, the Plague carves itself a chilly place in the OC student’s heart. For those that have never seen Oberlin’s club hockey team in action, for shame! One on both of your houses.

A new year of club hockey dawns and with it comes one of Oberlin’s most exciting events: The Plague game. For those students who have never been to a game, ask someone for confirmation of awesomeness, then make plans to come out and cheer like mad. Similar to Drag Ball or co-op pizza in their longstanding status as coveted OC traditions, hockey games represent an opportunity to scream and dance around like a crazy person while watching your friends and classmates engage in that most Canadian of sports.

Not to mention the traditional Plague mascot. Which brings us to the season preview and to the hard truth that no article about the Plague, nor game involving them, can really be free of the giant paper mache penis used as a makeshift mascot. Fan-created and fan-maintained, this mascot has seen its day, according to senior captain Dan Cole.

Cole and the rest of this year’s team encourage fans not to bring the penis to games. “Obviously we still want people to come out and have a great time, but I would urge people not to bring [it],” Cole said.

He stresses that because the Plague are now practicing and playing at off-campus sites, behavior that occurs without mention on-campus might not be appropriate. “I want us to be able to continue playing at these rinks,” Cole said.

The presence of the controversial mascot caused not only conflict within the athletic department, but also contributed to Oberlin’s loss of rink time in North Olmsted and merited complaints from parents of children practicing before a Plague game at an Elyria rink last season.

Mascot problems aside, there’s a lot more to hockey than paper mache genitalia. There are also players. This year’s roster will list about 20-25 players, although the team is by no means closed to more. “We always welcome new players – beginners or experienced players,” Cole said. “Joining is easy, just send me an email (dlcole@oberlin.edu).”

It will be somewhat of a rebuilding year, with the graduation of last year’s co-captains Sarah Benjamin and Paul Hanson, as well as “really good player” Nate Beckett. This year, with increased funding and new equipment, the Plague hope to continue growing as a program.

“The additional support this year has been really helpful,” Cole said. “If it continues, we might be able to do some great things with the program.”

He cites intramurals and ExCo classes as future possibilities. The 2004-2005 Plague SFC budget doubles from last year’s $4,000, which just covered ice time and game time. The athletic department has also extended meaningful support this year.

Betsy Bruce, whose many jobs include overseeing club sport scheduling and organization, procured a donation of hockey equipment from Hamilton College. Hamilton’s used varsity equipment comes at a great time for the Plague, who have many unequipped players and who experienced equipment theft last year.

New jerseys are also on order, with a promise that they will be “tight.” If past years are any indication, games will be tight as well. Only one game is scheduled thus far – a December match against Youngstown State University’s club team. Other games are being scheduled, so check www.oberlin.edu/stuorg/plague/ for an updated schedule.