VHLM Fan Chants #1: Mississauga Hounds

[OblivionWalker 239]

As any hockey fan can attest, going to the games in person is much of the appeal of the sport. Being able to support your team and boo and hiss at their opponents is a tradition as time honored as any in the word currently. In the spirit of being able to bring more of the VHL and VHLM experience to those who may live farther away and cannot attend these games in person, our historians will be working to compile and bring to our readers the most important part of any game: the fan chants.

 

These are designed to not only pump up the players, but also get into the heads of those playing against them and provide amusement and consternation, depending on the target of said chants.

 

For the first in our series of fan chants, we travel to the city of Mississauga in Ontario. Bordering Lake Ontario to the west, it is a part of the greater Toronto area and with the Toronto Legion as the main VHL team in the area as well as having both the Hounds as well as the Ottawa Lynx in the province, hockey and the love of it runs deep here. The Hounds first season was VHLM season 66 and they have been going strong since. Their fans are loyal, as anyone who has played against them can attest. The atmosphere in their arena is always high octane and has been since their entrance to the VHLM.

 

The Mississauga Fight Song, written by Jerry Salk for the Hounds inaugural season, remains in rotation as one of the most enduring pieces of the Hounds legacy. Sung or chanted before the players walk out onto the ice, every fan knows the words and if those who are new to the team don't know the words, they can always be found on the programs.

 

Hard as ice and cold as stone,
This is where the Hounds were born.
At the river's mouth we stand,
Skates on feet and sticks in hand.
Hear our howls on the wind,
See our toothy, wicked grins.
This is where the Hounds call home,
Far and wide we'll always roam.

 

The next chant is simple, but always remains a fan favorite for a reason. Also in use since the first season that the Hounds began to play, its simplicity is such that even the newest fan can come away from the arena with it firmly implanted into their brain. After the last word, the fans always bark like dogs, making a cacophony of noise that can never be fully expressed in words.

 

MISSIS! SAUGA!
MISSIS! SAUGA!
HOUNDS, HOUNDS, HOUNDS!

 

One of the newer chants, this particular chant came into fashion during Season 95 when Hounds captain Slava Kovalenko made his mark in the M by winning the Ryan Sullivan trophy. The fans always enjoyed seeing the 6 foot 8 defenseman wind up for a blistering slapshot and with the alliteration of his first name as well as his favorite shot to take, it quickly came to prominence when the fans wanted to see him tee one up.

 

SLAP SHOT SLAVA (clap, clap, clap clap clap)
SLAP SHOT SLAVA (clap, clap, clap clap clap)

 

Of course, the fans love when someone on the opposing team has to serve a penalty and as they make their way over, they are almost always greeted with the next little ditty. Sung to the tune of "The Addams Family", this is another fan chant that even newer fans can catch onto quickly and feel like they're a part of the action.

 

GET IN THE BIN! (clap, clap)
GET IN THE BIN! (clap, clap)
GET IN THE BIN, GET IN THE BIN, GET IN THE BIN! (clap, clap)

 

The last of our chants for this installment, this is another fan chant for one of the players. Laimdots Sarkanis is prolific in his own right and whenever he has the puck with him, it's almost certain he will make the other team pay and what better way for the fans to show their appreciation than with a pun? Thumping on the glass or anything else they can lay hands on, this chant is one for the ages.

 

SARK ATTACK!
SARK ATTACK!

 

As always, there as many we may have missed but the fans are clever and always coming up with new things to show their dedication to their team. Should we need to make any significant additions in the future, we will naturally keep everyone apprised. Our next stop will be with the Lynx.

 

(word count: 758 words)

[mmrs617 321]

This is so cool! It brings a whole new side of the game that I didn't even realize we needed!

[OblivionWalker 239]

4 minutes ago, mmrs617 said:

This is so cool! It brings a whole new side of the game that I didn't even realize we needed!

I’m a soccer fan in the real world and i just thought that the VHLM and VHL needed some fan chants!