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Flying the River Hawk flag

Jacob Boucher

Connector Contributor 

While having a having a Division I team is the best a university could hope for, what good would top-tier sports do them without loyal fans? UMass Lowell has some of the most devoted, committed fans around, especially at ice hockey games. Some fans go one step further, though, in their pursuit of celebration, and for that they deserve some recognition. In the spotlight this week are three individuals: Tyler Farley, Greg Dorian, and Dave Caizzi.

Tyler Farley and Greg Dorian share the title of flag-bearer at each ice hockey game. The giant flag at hockey games is waved at the beginning of each period and after each River Hawk goal. At UMass Lowell, there is a tradition in which the former flag-bearers, graduating that year, pass down to a choice freshman or to the official flag and the responsibilities that go along with it. Farley and Dorian were the two recipients last year, inheriting the duty. Its previous owner was Kelsey Harper, former Assistant Resident Director at Leitch Hall. The flag remains in the Tsongas Center, waiting for the two to claim it, and then they bring it into the stands. In an interview, Farley said, “When we scored, you know we scored, because you can see me waving the flag.” Both of these people are incredibly happy to have this responsibility and fulfill this duty for the UMass Lowell River Hawks community.

A newer addition to the River Hawks fan community is the so-called “Penguin guy.” He also goes by Dave Caizzi. “I’m a big hockey guy,” he said, “I have a plastic penguin that I like to bring. That kind of happened randomly.” The Penguin, officially dubbed “Poseidon the Party Penguin,” makes an appearance at almost every River Hawk game, and whether it is Simba Cam or Kiss Cam, you can usually see Poseidon and Dave up on the Jumbo Tron. His origin story is nothing spectacular; Poseidon was bought at Newbury Comics and the shirt in the baby section of the River Hawk Shop. “It’s more than paid off for itself,” Caizzi says. “It was a good buy.”

At first he was hesitant to bring the plastic penguin to a hockey game, but he decided to and it obviously paid off. Poseidon is now so popular he makes an appearance not just during the game but before in the River Hawks hype video. No one entirely knows why Poseidon has gotten so big, nor why his rise was meteoric, but very few people would have it any other way. While Dave loves the penguin, and would never give up bringing it to the games, he also feels a little “type-cast.” In interview, he said, “I’m just a little disappointed that when people see me they’re like ‘Oh, there’s the penguin guy,’ and it’s like, ‘My name’s Dave’… I’m glad everyone loves him though.” When asked what this year holds for Poseidon, whether any new elements will be introduced or the penguin will remain the same, all he said was, “Anything can happen, let’s put it that way.” He also hinted at the presence of Poseidon at other sports games.