Ice Girls and Prom Dresses
By Leeanne T. Stronach
GateHouse News Service
Mar 31, 2010
Holbrook —
As a Boston Bruins Ice Girl, Kristen Wysocki is used to trying to please the crowd at the home games at TD Garden.
On April 17 at Simmons College, Wysocki will try to please high school girls planning on attending the prom by helping them pick out dresses.
Wysocki, 24, a 2004 Archbishop Williams High School graduate, interviewed to be an Ice Girl right before the beginning of the last hockey season.
She decided to try out because she loves to skate and grew up in a hockey family.
Her father coached and her brother played, she said.
Although Wysocki didn’t play hockey, she did figure skate and belonged to the Commonwealth Skating Club in Randolph.
As an Ice Girl, Wysocki is one of 15 women hired to interact with the fans at the game.
She isn’t a cheerleader or a dancer, but she does try to keep the crowd interested in the game, she said.
At times some of the Ice Girls get to skate on the ice during intermission.
For a three-minute period, young players from local hockey clubs get a chance to play on the same ice that professionals use. During that very brief action, a few Ice Girls referee the game.
The Ice Girls also get on the ice when they hold a T-shirt toss; again, this is done during intermission. The Ice Girls throw shirts up into the crowd.
Wysocki enjoys getting on the ice but at first had a hard time with hockey skates rather than figure skates.
“It was a huge adjustment,” she said. “I wasn’t used to not having a toe pick.”
Along with their job responsibilities when they’re at a game, the Ice Girls occasionally help out a charity.
This year, the team has been collecting prom gowns for the Belle of the Ball collection drive, sponsored by Anton’s Cleaners.
Wysocki was able to gather up almost 30 dresses from her cousin, neighbor, herself, and her former college roommates, she said.
All together, the Ice Girls collected over 60 dresses.
When the sixth annual Belle of the Ball boutique opens on April 17, the Ice Girls will be on hand to distribute dresses to high school junior and senior girls who would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend their school’s prom.
All the donated dresses are free of charge.
In order for a girl to get a gown, she must be referred by a guidance counselor, a teacher, church clergy, or a social services representative, be able to present a valid school ID card or other proof of current enrollment, and provide her name and contact information.
Other requirements apply and can be found on the website www.antons.com/belle/.
Wysocki is looking forward to participating in the Belle of the Ball boutique for the first time.
“It’s an incredibly warm feeling to be able to help girls who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it and give them an experience like I had so I’m really excited,” she said.
Wysocki remembers her own prom fondly.
“I have excellent memories of my prom,” she said. “It was so much fun.”
Wysocki is studying to be a registered nurse. She will graduate from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions with a bachelor of science degree in nursing.
She also has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston University that she earned in 2008.
