Fan of the Year: Captain Freedom

By Alice Kim

JULIA TIERNAN/YH

Is it a bird? A plane? A caped superhero in blue sweatpants hanging off the Zamboni machine with aplomb? If you have ever gone to a home game of the Yale men's hockey team at Ingalls Rink, you have probably seen super-fan Captain Freedom. Wearing blue sweats, a mask sporting the initials "C.F.", and a white t-shirt emblazoned with a blue star, the red-caped devotee runs through the stands carrying cardboard signs, stirs up a frenzy, tosses out hot dogs to fans, and rides on back of the Zamboni between periods.

Many players don't understand the precise meaning of Captain Freedom's presence, but view his enthusiasm as a morale booster as they catch glimpses of this fervent fan cheering them on. Forward Ben Stafford, BR '01, said that he has noticed the flag a couple times after goals: "I see him as a symbol of support, but he is actually better for the crowd because all our attention is mostly on the game and not on him."

Captain Freedom is an ongoing men's hockey tradition. The current Captain Freedom is the sixth man to pump up the crowds at The Whale. While someone serves as Captain Freedom, the undergraduate in him is surpressed. The current Captain Freedom would only reveal that he is a junior in Berkeley College.

Captain Freedom's primary motive is tradition. Although Freedom admits that the origins of the role are a mystery, he knows that it has been handed down from senior to freshman for about 24 years. The current Captain Freedom was anointed as a freshman by Corey Stern, ES '96, and will seek out a worthy freshman to carry on the tradition next year. He elaborated on two prerequisites for the next Captain Freedom. "First, he has to be an avid hockey fan, but he must also know how to deal with the Zamboni. This Zamboni part is one of the most important roles because Captain Freedom never slips--or hopefully will never slip," Freedom explained.

Another part of the tradition is the ritual performed with Captain Freedom's blue Yale flag. As the Bulldogs take the ice, each player touches the special flag with his hockey stick.

According to Captain Freedom, his job is "a lot of fun and very exciting." Commenting on the exhilarating 5-3 win over Harvard at The Whale, he said, "The fans were out of control! It was a lot of fun and I even got interviewed by Sports Illustrated."

He finds a certain magic in being Captain Freedom and loves the character for what it represents. As an unofficial mascot started by fans, it is indeed a task taken on out of admiration and a true love for the game.

--Alice Kim

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