HERSHEY, Pa. — The sight and sound of a Hershey Bears goal can send any fan into a craze, no matter their age.
"It's been so much fun," recalled Ellen Crowther. "Being in the action, actually getting to meet some of the players over the years, forming some relationships, fans and player-wise has been great."
Crowther can be found right behind the glass at the games in the GIANT Center. These days, even when she's at work, Chocolatetown's hockey team is the topic of discussion.
But at work, she's Miss Ellen, a summer camp teacher at Tender Years Summer Development Center in Hershey.
They teach about colors, like chocolate and white, and the alphabet.
"B-E-A-R-S," spelled Walter, a camper and young Bears fan.
"I came in wearing my Bears gear talking about going to the game and our kindergartners this year seemed really into it. They talked about it every day. As summer camp started they all continued and were super excited when I'd come in and say, 'Aw, they won,' and they'd be disappointed with me when they lost. They just really celebrated everything with me," said Crowther.
Like Miss Ellen, the next generation of Bears fans have a wide range of favorite moments from hockey games in Hershey.
"Warm-ups and how hard they hit the pucks," "When they score a goal," "I've got like two or multiple pictures with Coco," "Chicken and fries," answered different students.
Now, when the camp is not asking hockey questions they're making signs, and even working on their cheers and chants for the games.
"One of the campers started it the other week. From the time we got here in the morning, she started doing the chant on game day and it went every five minutes, the whole day, and it just kind of spiraled from there," laughed Crowther.
They remember scores of big wins for their nearby Hershey neighbors...
"When the Bridge(port) Islanders scored zero and the Bears scored 4," recalled Walter.
And everyone knows with California Calder Cup games, there will be some late nights.
"I stayed up late," remembered a student named Aubree. "One of their games I had to stay up until 11:04."
"I've had some struggles with the 10 p.m. games, going to bed at 2:30 in the morning and being back here early in the morning," added Crowther.
But if Hershey's team shows even half the passion these fans have shown, then the fans are confident, they will "Repeat the Roar!"