Spirit Organizations at Texas State provide a strong and passionate presence at Bobcat athletics.
There is one unique group that brings a unique dedication and camaraderie all their own: the Texas State Ice Angels.
Since 2014, the organization has existed as a way for volunteers to support the Texas State Club Hockey Team, where they run fundraising promotions in the Quad every fall and winter, profit shares around San Marcos and raise social media awareness for the team and themselves. These funds help support the Team’s expenses during the season.
While these responsibilities take up a lot of their time, their primary focus is building up bonds with each other.
“We put sisterhood first,” Ice Angels treasurer Carmen Nichols said. “Sometimes when we get new girls, they come in and don’t know anything about hockey. We welcome anyone, whether you’re a huge hockey fan or not. It’s a learning experience for all of us.”
What makes this organization unique compared to others on campus is that the Ice Angels limit their membership on purpose in order to ensure the bonds are more personal with each member. To date, the Angels have 30 members, with 6 being officers.
“We’re kind of on the same level of spirit org as Bobcat Belles or Diamond Sweethearts, but in comparison to them, our numbers are a lot smaller,” Ice Angels Vice President Emily Thompson said. “We do value that close-knit, sisterly aspect.”
The organization collects dues from its members, which pay for their signature hockey sweaters and jackets. They also do their own fundraisers, which help pay for travel and lodging on away trips and to provide resources for club activities to build sisterhood.
“We’ll sell [Texas State Hockey] merch and their tickets at the games, but what we do doesn’t necessarily affect them outside of the hockey games,” Thompson said. “Even during the games, we’re primarily there to support.”
During the home games at Northwoods Ice Center in San Antonio, the Angels can be seen standing at ice levels all around the protective glass, cheering on the squad, donning their hockey sweaters. They also assist in staffing the penalty boxes and helping the PA announcer. They even help play music in the arena during intermissions and timeouts.
“It helps to learn the game when you have to pay attention and be ready to play a song [during inaction],” Thompson said.
Despite the outward theme of the Angels being Texas State hockey, Senior Erin O’Shea said the Angels don’t make hockey fandom a prerequisite for interested future members.
“People don’t necessarily join to be a part of hockey [culture], because a lot of us don’t even know how to ice skate,” O’Shea said. “When I joined, I was a freshman, and I just wanted to meet people. Through [the Ice Angels] I’ve met my best friends, people who I now live with.”
One of the highlights of the Ice Angels that all members cherish is the road trips to the Texas State hockey games, as most home games are an hour drive away from San Marcos in either Cedar Park or San Antonio.
“That’s been how I’ve bonded with the sisters the most, my carpool group that we’d go to every single game,” Thompson said. “We got so much closer because we were spending hour-long car rides with each other.”
Hockey in Texas is far from the most popular sport, and at Texas State, it might be easy to overlook. But if there’s one thing that the Ice Angels take pride in, it is in raising awareness on campus for the team and gathering those who are interested in going to the games. And the Team is incredibly grateful.
“They’re kind of like a sister to us brothers,” sophomore and Texas State hockey Team President Jake Recore commented, “They’re at every single game, supporting us. And then even in the offseason, they hang out with us. We are so grateful to the Angels.”
