Scouting for New Boomer: Open Audition-Saturday, March 3rd
February 21, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Alaska Aces will be holding a two-part audition to locate its next alter ego for the popular mascot, "Boomer."
The Alaska Aces mascot, Boomer, should need no introduction. But his "alter ego," Bud Bovee, is retiring after five exciting years with the Aces. Bud started when the new Aces owners bought the ECHL club in the summer of 2003 and, with the cooperation of his employer and Alaska Aces sponsor Unique Machine, has been a fixture ever since. As a powerful hockey skater in his own right, Bud has developed Boomer into a lovable character for the young hockey fans and an explosive team leader for the Aces.
Filling Bovee's skates will take someone with talent and dedication. Basic qualifications include:
- Aged 21 or older
- Experienced skater
- Height must fall between 5'9" and 6'1"
- Able to perform at all 36 regular season home games (no travel to away games)
- Can interact with children and adults
- Comfortable wearing and working with pyrotechnics
Boomer's costume weighs about fifteen-pounds and includes a head attached to a hockey helmet, inner and outer costume covering, pads, jersey and a water cooling system. Boomer arrives about two hours before each game and begins his transformation, meeting with the production staff and reviewing the game activities for that night.
About an hour before the game, Boomer puts on his costume and meets with the pyro technicians (on Friday and Saturday games) to get wired for the explosives used on his hands and skates. With a water-cooling system, Boomer keeps the costume on for about 20 minutes before removing the outer garments and taking a rest. During the actual game, Boomer will walk around the arena greeting fans and hugging young hockey fans. At intermissions, Boomer helps on ice with contests, entertainment and throwing t-shirts to fans.
An open audition to find Boomer's new alter ego will be held at the Sullivan Arena on Saturday, March 3rd. Registration begins at 11am. Anyone who meets the above qualifications may try out. Three local judges will evaluate the skaters and those who pass the first round on Saturday will move to the second round the next day Sunday, March 4th at noon.
The audition on Saturday serves to evaluate the skating ability of each applicant and consist of two tests. The first test is to judge general skating ability since Boomer has to negotiate pyro devices on the ice, team players, zamboni and other items. The second will test the ability to skate with limited peripheral vision. Because of Boomer's headpiece side vision is limited. Skaters will wear ski goggles with blacked out portions to simulate the vision as seen when wearing the headpiece.
Skaters who pass those two tests on Saturday will move to the next judging round on Sunday, March 4th. During this time, each applicant will be evaluated on their ability to meet and greet Aces fans, interact (without speaking) to youngsters, try on Boomer's costume and experience pyrotechnics. After this round the applicants will be eliminated down to three.
These three finalists will attend the Aces home games during March and will be trained and conduct some of the activities that Boomer normally does during the games. For the final home games of the regular season (April 4, 6 and 7), each of the three finalists will perform as Boomer. On Saturday, April 7th, during the second intermission, the judges will announce the winner. The new Boomer will begin duties effective immediately, for the 2007 playoffs.
Boomer is paid $100 per game and is required at every regular season home game each year as well as all playoff games (schedule TBA). Public appearances at other events are optional. For more information, please call Chuck Hickman at 244-0802.
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