OU Hockey Teams Up With O'Connell's Irish Pub and Grille

OU hockey players played a different role Thursday at O'Connell's Irish Pub and Grille as the Sooners left the ice to become waiters and hosts. 

In an effort to help a sponsor and build a fan base the Sooners hockey team gathered for a radio show and the “Skaters as Waiters” event Thursday, September 27, 2012.

Chris Joseph, host of 360 sports on Sports Talk 1400 The Ref, interviewed the Sooners coaching staff, assistant general manager and a few players. Joseph is a self-proclaimed sports lover and fan of the New Jersey Devils so he had no problem talking hockey as the players chatted between busing tables, refilling drinks and taking orders.

Nearly the entire OU hockey team was there and the players seemed to love the atmosphere. Troy Puente, a Senior captain, was one of many talking hockey with the guests and Joseph.

OU hockey Senior Troy Puente shoots and scores Friday, September 28, 2012 against Texas A&M. Puente's goal was the first of the game and led the Sooners to a 7-0 victory. PHOTO: Lee Davenport

 “It was a good time. [Joseph] was really into the hockey and he seemed to have a feel for the game,” Puente said. “I was really excited to see the [public] so into the game and open to coming out to support us.”

Rachael Ogilvie, an OU student, was in attendance at O'Connell's on Thursday night and she could see the support for the team growing.

"It was an interesting thing, I've never seen [OU's hockey team] get the support they have so far this season," Ogilvie said. "It was definitely a fun environment [at O'Connell's] and I'm looking forward to the season... especially since the football team lost and doesn't have a game this weekend."

OU hockey has never been the main attraction in the OU sports scene, but attendance has been up in recent years. Chris Perry, the assistant general manager, estimated that 1,200 fans showed up for last weekend’s games against the University of Arkansas. That is a drastic change from last season.

“I would say last year we averaged around 750 on a good night, but the year before that [2010-2011 season] we had about 400 to 500,” Perry said.

With the increase in fan support and some new recruits the Sooners hockey team is looking to win the American Collegiate Hockey Associate Division 1 national championship this year. The season is officially four games in and the Sooners are a perfect four for four.

“Skaters as Waiters” is an event that will be held every Thursday evening from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at O’Connell’s Irish Pub and Grille. O’Connell’s owner Jeff Stewart is especially excited for the OU hockey season as he gave a pep talk to OU Seniors August Hoffmann, Justin Giles and Puente before this past weekend’s games against Texas A&M. 

O'Connell's will be providing a party bus to take students to the OU hockey home games every Friday night. The party bus will leave from O'Connell's and take students to and from the game while serving beer on the bus to the games. For more information stop into O'Connell's located on Campus Corner at 769 Asp Avenue.