In a move that reeks more of political correctness than equal opportunity, the New York Islanders said they are thawing out their Ice Girls squad and replacing them with a co-ed ice cleaning crew.
The NHL hockey team is dropping the sexy, cheerleader-like team when it moves from Nassau Coliseum to Barclays Center in Brooklyn this fall, according to Sports Illustrated.
“We decided to go in a different direction,” Barry Baum, spokesman for the Barclays Center, told the magazine.
“We’ve spent a lot of time talking with Islanders fans who made it clear they wanted their favorite traditions brought to Brooklyn, and we have listened.”
The Islanders were the first team in the NHL to introduce an all-female ice cleaning squad back in 2001. Besides shoveling loose snow off the ice at stoppages, they performed various promotional duties.
Other teams — such as the Philadelphia Flyers and the Los Angeles Kings — soon followed suit.
But then came the protests from some who felt the female skaters' sometimes revealing attire was both unnecessary and demeaning to female fans.
The Flyers ended up dumping their Ice Girls after bowing to pressure, but later went co-ed after fans booed the all-male crew at every timeout.
Other teams — such as the Philadelphia Flyers and the Los Angeles Kings — soon followed suit.
But then came the protests from some who felt the female skaters' sometimes revealing attire was both unnecessary and demeaning to female fans.
The Flyers ended up dumping their Ice Girls after bowing to pressure, but later went co-ed after fans booed the all-male crew at every timeout.
But Islanders fans need not despair as many members of the team will remain on the new co-ed squad.
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