From hardcore rap to country, there is an eclectic mix of music featured in the women’s hockey locker room.
Forward Jenna Welch often chooses to honor her Texan roots with “Cowboy Casanova” by Carrie Underwood while fellow forward Jordin Pardoski opts for “Lurkin’ ” by Waka Flocka Flame featuring Plies..
Pardoski said the songs with lyrics that the team can sing along to together are blasted in the locker room and get the players dancing. She also said those songs provide an “energy boost.”
“You can go from just sitting down and then everybody is up and like, ‘let’s get on the ice,’ ” Pardoski said.
Some of recent team favorites include songs by Timeflies and Tech N9ne in addition to the locker room classics, such as “Don’t Wake Me Up” by Chris Brown..
Defender Paige Jahnke said that some songs help her visualize play on the ice before the game while forward Micayla Catanzariti likes anything with a good beat.
Defender Madison Smiddy said a good pump-up song can help her focus and that is where the preparation process begins off the ice.
Smiddy also said she thinks listening to music bonds the young team together and brings it closer.
“I think that it just gets everybody on the same page and it gets everybody on the same beat,” Smiddy said. “It kind of lets everybody interact and gets us pumped and ready to go play some hockey.”
Smiddy said “No Love” by Eminem featuring Lil Wayne has been her favorite pre-game song ever since it was released in 2010 because of its powerful beat and lyrics.
Goalie Nicole Paniccia said her current favorite pre-game song is “Blessed” by Avicii, but she is superstitious and has to switch her songs if she has a bad performance on the ice.
Welch said she plays her best when she is relaxed and that she loves the songs that make her feel happy.
“These songs get me loose and let me have fun,” Welch said. “Pretty much [so] when I’m out there, I’m not all tense — gripping the stick tight.”
Welch also said that she likes to listen to more calming music a while before the game, but come closer to game-time, she wants to hear the “hardcore stuff.”
