Fans Backed Hockey Team All Season Long

seniors Neil Marker and Zack Zilch know how to stick out in the crowd.

And they wouldn't have it any other way.

The two are surely the most talked-about fans from this year's state championship hockey team.

During the games, the pair donned colored spandex suits covering their entire bodies, including their head. Zilch was the blue and Marker was the yellow in creating life-size images of the Roosevelt school colors.

Marker and Zilch, who will both be attending Central Michigan University in the fall, said they first wore the suits to a 2010 Bears football game and then carried the idea into hockey season. Wyandotte’s football team was undefeated in the regular season.

“It couldn’t have gone any better for our senior year,” Marker said.

Marker said they wear the suits to show school spirit and to excite the crowd.

“It gets them pumped up,” he said

The two were in the stands along with many other banner-waving fans when the Bears beat Brother Rice on March 12 to become the Division 2 state hockey champs.

Kiley Kanowski, a junior at Roosevelt, held up a sign that reflected Wyandotte’s entire season. Her sign simply read “Believe.”

In the same section of the arena, a huge banner reading “Beat Brother Rice” stretched across several seats. Due to the sign’s size, several fans were needed to help hold it up.

Roosevelt junior Rachel Zimmers said the idea for the banner came from marketing teacher Elissa Cumiskey. It took three people and about 30 minutes to complete the banner, Zimmer said. 

Aside from students, school staff members also came out to support the hockey team.

During the game, school security staff member Walt Miller said he was happy to be there and was ready to see Wyandotte bring home the state championship. 

“I love it,” he said. “I want to see us win it all.”

English teacher Sean Soules brought his two small children, Madelyne and Will, to the final game. He said that the hockey team’s success is a positive for everyone involved.

“It’s great for our school, it’s great for the student body and it’s great for these (players),” Soules said. 

One fan said he had two reasons to cheer for the Bears.

Bob Groat graduated from Roosevelt in 1963 and is the grandfather of junior Tyler Groat.

After the game, Groat said he was impressed with the Bears’ play this season and is proud of his grandson.

“It was great, fantastic,” Groat said. “I love (Tyler), I love him dearly.”