A fan-tastic experience
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Sierra Metcalf, 7, of Barre reaches out to slap the hand of Frost Heaves player Kerry Lyons of Milton during their warm up period before the ABA championship semifinal game Tuesday with the Wilmington Sea Dawgs at the Barre Auditorium. The Frost Heaves warmed up and stayed hot, dominating the Sea Dawgs throughout the game to finish on top 113-85. Story Page C1. Ticket information can also be found on Page C1, or check out The Times Argus sports blog at www.timesargus.com. Stefan Hard/Times Argus |
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By James Biggam Times Argus Staff - Published: March 28, 2007
BARRE – Only diehard fans tend to stick around until the end of a 28-point blowout.
On Tuesday, it was a different story at the Barre Auditorium.
Just about every one of the 1,327 Vermont Frost Heaves' faithful could have cared less about beating the post-game traffic. Instead, spectators sat tight until the final whistle to celebrate Vermont's 113-85 victory over Wilmington in the semifinals of the American Basketball Association.
They danced in the stands, partied next to the court and lined up in droves to have players sign autographs.
For a first-year franchise, the 33-6 Frost Heaves are the definition of overnight success.
The Heaves are one game away from the ABA title, and everyone on the team quickly credits the raucous Granite City fans as the secret to this season's accomplishments.
"It's a dream come true, especially in our first season," said Vermont forward Antonio Burks, who scored a team-high 22 points Tuesday. "There's been a lot of fan support, and that's really important to us. We really love our fans. We're 20-1 at home and it's because of them."
Packed houses have become a common sight when the Frost Heaves play their home games at either the Barre Aud or Burlington's Memorial Auditorium. But the Barre crowds have been especially lively, with fans of all ages stomping their feet and clanging cow bells.
"We're really blessed to be playing in an atmosphere like this," Burks said. "We go on the road and sometimes there might be 200 people, 300 people, or not even that much in the stands. It's truly a blessing to get this many people out every night in the stands."
While other ABA teams like Rochester have venues that hold 5,000 fans, Vermont has had more sellout crowds than anyone else. That's translated into a crazed, high-energy environment where fans are off their feet almost as much as the players.
"More than anything, the opportunity to play in front of these fans one more time is almost as meaningful as being in the championship game," Vermont coach Will Voigt said. "We feed off them all year and tonight was no different. They just bring so much energy to our group and that's the style of play we have. We're an energy team – we really need that to be successful. I can't say enough about what this crowd brings to our group."
One of Vermont's most hardcore fans is 39-year-old Brattleboro resident Eric Kingsley, who drives two hours or more to make the pilgrimage to Barre or Burlington.
"It's about 120 miles between where I live to here," he said. "It's a little bit longer to Burlington, but I don't mind the trip."
Kingsley has been to every Frost Heaves home game except one.
"I only missed the Strong Island game in Burlington," he said. "We had a freezing ice storm and I missed it, but I made it up to the team by taking the bus to Canada for the Montreal and Quebec games."
Lester Felch of Barre started going to see the Frost Heaves after his 10-year-old daughter Gillian won a contest through Barre City Elementary School and received free tickets. Since the start of the season, Felch has only missed two home games.
"The interaction with Bump (the mascot) and the kids, the interaction with the players and the kids – it's just so family-friendly here," he said. "It's good for the whole community – it gets everybody out. It's like winter's Thunder Road."
During most games, Gillian Felch and her 7-year-old sister Erika dance from start to finish at midcourt. According to their father, the fan-friendly scene is just what the doctor ordered for Barre during the winter months.
"It's like a fever – once everybody's hooked on, we can't leave it," Lester Felch said. "We want to go right through summer and start in October again. We don't want summer to even come right now."
Thirteen-year-old Thomas Eldridge of Burlington has been to every Frost Heaves home game in addition to making a couple away games in Canada.
"I think they're going to win (on Thursday)," he said. "I'm really sure."
According to Voigt, it was an inspiration to see a crowd of 50 Vermont fans that followed the team during a recent road trip to Montreal and Quebec City. And when Vermont's home games are at full capacity, the Frost Heaves do not disappoint.
"Their energy is phenomenal, so how can we let up when our fans aren't letting up?" Voigt said. "There's no place louder than this. There's big arenas like in Rochester, where they have their 5,000 fans, but in terms of noise and energy this is where I want to be."
The past few months have truly been a fantasy for everyone involved with the franchise, which was little more than an idea until 16 months ago.
"It was Dec. 14 of 2005 when we had our first press conference in this building," Frost Heaves owner Alex Wolff said after Tuesday's game. "It was an incredibly cold morning, we got up real early and my wife and I and our kids drove over from Cornwall in Addison County. It was minus-12 or something and I said, 'If we can start our cars this morning, we can start a pro basketball team in Vermont.'"