In the world of professional sports, teams are always looking for ways to stand out and energize their fans. The New York Sirens of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) have found a truly memorable way to celebrate their goals – with a mashup of pop star Britney Spears and an iconic cartoon character. Could this be the birth of hockey’s most unforgettable goal tradition?
A Siren’s Call: Britney Meets SpongeBob
After each goal scored by the Sirens at their home games, the 2007 Britney Spears hit “Gimme More” blasts through the arena speakers. But that’s not all – immediately following the song, a sound clip of Patrick Star from SpongeBob SquarePants plays, featuring the starfish making a frantic siren noise. The combination of the dance track and cartoon sound effect is unexpected, attention-grabbing, and downright fun.
According to the Sirens, the idea for the Patrick Star siren noise came directly from the players themselves. At the end of practices, the team started breaking their huddles with a “wee-woo, wee-woo!” chant before heading off the ice. Forward Kayla Vespa suggested integrating the silly siren sound into their official goal celebrations, and the team’s game operations and content crew ran with it.
From Locker Room to Jumbotron
Wanting to ensure the new celebration would resonate with fans, the Sirens tested it out at a fan fest event prior to the season. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees gleefully chanting along with the “wee-woo!” The team knew they had a hit on their hands.
At the Sirens’ first home game of the season, a 4-2 victory over the Toronto Scepters, the goal song and sound effect made their big debut. Each time the puck found the back of the opponent’s net, “Gimme More” would play, followed by Patrick Star’s escalating siren noises. By the end of the night, Prudential Center was filled with fans joining in on the “wee-woo” chants, with some even bringing signs featuring the phrase.
We could hear the fans from the bench tonight, they were really loud. I would say they brought the energy and that really helped us through this win.
Emmy Fecteau, New York Sirens forward
Making Their Mark
As a new team in a young league, the Sirens are focused on building an identity and establishing traditions. Defender Micah Zandee-Hart, who pushed for using the Britney song, said she loves their unique celebration.
We say it as a team all the time. When we cheer after practice, we’re like ‘wee-woo, wee-woo, wee-woo!’
Micah Zandee-Hart, New York Sirens defender
While some teammates weren’t initially familiar with the 2007 dance hit, the whole squad has fully embraced making “Gimme More” and the SpongeBob sound effects part of their identity. The hope is that their one-of-a-kind celebration not only hypes up fans, but also gets in the heads of opponents who quickly grow tired of hearing that siren call repeatedly in a game.
Sirens Sounding Off
As the PWHL continues to grow and attracts more fans, moments like the Sirens’ signature celebration will be vital in shaping the league’s personality. By incorporating player input, engaging the crowd, and not taking themselves too seriously, the Sirens are showing how new traditions can form organically.
With each lighting of the lamp and every “wee-woo” echoing through the arena, the New York Sirens are making their mark on professional women’s hockey. In a sports world often dominated by stoic celebrations, it’s refreshing to see a team fully embrace the fun and irreverent side of the game. Don’t be surprised if you start seeing more goal sirens sounding off around the PWHL.
