Preview of the Jonny Wookey Game

We Have an Ice Hockey Team? Yes, and You Should Know About it!

Not many university students would pass on a night of school spirit, cheap beer, and a packed afterparty — especially when it accompanies a live sporting event against our university's rival in one of their biggest games of the year. So why haven’t we heard more about the St Andrews Typhoons? It certainly isn’t because the team lacks talent or passion for their sport. Founded in 2011, the St Andrews Typhoons are the University’s competitive co-ed ice hockey team. They currently hold a record of 8-1-1 and have won the northern division of the BUIHA. “It's a great accomplishment for us,” said team President Tristian Long. “That’s the highest division in British university ice hockey,” added third-year player Andy Benstead, who is set to be president of the team next year. 

Long and Benstead both hail from the United States and were involved in ice hockey prior to arriving at St Andrews. “One of the draws here is that we have a very tight-knit team,” remarked Benstead. They’ve been playing for the Typhoons since their respective first years at university and have both experienced wins at the annual Jonny Wookey Memorial Game. The Jonny Wookey Memorial Game is played in honour of Jonathan “Jonny” Wookey, a founding member of the ice hockey team who died shortly before graduating from St Andrews in 2012. 

The Typhoons have won all but two Wookey games. Last year's game resulted in a tough loss against their rival, the Edinburgh Eagles. Long commented that the unfortunate loss has inspired the team to redeem themselves in the upcoming showdown. “Last year we got a little too emotionally involved, but we’ve gained a lot of experience since then. We just need to keep our heads cool and remember that we’re the better team,” he reflected. This year, the Typhoons will enter the game with a 2-0 record, already an improvement from last year when they went into the game with a record of 1-1. “I think the biggest difference between this year and last year is that our average player age is up by three years. We have a lot of guys who have been around longer,” explained Benstead. “We know what we're capable of as a team and we have a better record. We know that if we stick to our plan, it’ll go well,” second-year player Tommy Griffith chimed in. 

This year's Wookey game takes place on 17 April, the Thursday after reading week. “We tried to schedule it at a time when people don’t have a lot of work, and it's after dissertations [are due],” Long mentioned. But the fun starts before the game even begins. Snow sports, lacrosse, and Canadian society (which Wookey founded) will be hosting a pre at The Rule. Everyone who shows up with their wristband can receive discounts, and members of sports societies will receive an additional discount code they can use for food and drink. Beer pong will be set up outside The Rule, where the buses arrive. With direct transportation from the pre to the game, the experience is convenient and inexpensive. For £15.45 (including fees), you receive access to the pre, transportation to and from the venue, as well as entry into the game. If you also want a spot at the afterparty, tickets are £20. Considering the ease and affordability of the experience, it is surprising that the Wookey game hasn’t gotten more buzz. 

To spread the word, the Typhoons have been handing out flyers around town to advertise the game. You may have seen them set up outside of the main library on your walk to class. “For every person who says no to a flyer, there’s another person who says they didn’t know we had a hockey team. It's more about awareness than anything,” Benstead stated. But once the game begins, spirit is no issue. Last year, over 700 spectators showed up to cheer on the Typhoons. “There aren’t many events when you can pack that many people all screaming for the same team in one place,” observed Griffith. Long excitedly showed me a picture of a beer snake formed by the crowd last year and proclaimed, “It measured six-and-a-half feet long”. 

Long, Benstead, and Griffith want readers to know that they are trying to market the game as a new and different experience in town that won’t break the bank. They also emphasised that it is a unique opportunity for American and Canadian students attending a European institution. “The University has a pretty big North American population, and a lot of our friends back home have larger sports cultures. “[The ice hockey team] and rugby are probably the closest thing that these North American students would have to that culture, especially since we’re playing our rivals,” remarked Benstead. This means that students from the United States and Canada can get a taste of what college life back home would look like without having to leave St Andrews. 

After the game concludes, you can head to the afterparty, which will also take place at The Rule. Despite the loss, over 400 fans came to last year's afterparty — “and there’s usually more people when we win,” the team members exclaimed. The Typhoons will be busy after the Wookey game with more upcoming games this season. Two weeks after the Wookie game, they will play Oxford for the League Championship. There are countless opportunities to see this team in action and watch their players give it their all. I concluded our discussion by asking Griffith what his favourite memory of being a Typhoon was since he had yet to experience a Wookey win. “I’ve had a lot of great memories, but I'd trade it all for a win,” he joked. So, if you’re free on 17 April, bring your friends and your St Andrews spirit to Kirkcaldy Ice Arena for a unique, inexpensive chance to see the Typhoons emerge victorious once again. 

Photo by Derek Young