When she was 10, her theater group was offered the opportunity to sing the national anthem at a men’s ice hockey game at Quinnipiac.

“I remember seeing the rink and thinking it was so big,” Baldwin said. “It really came full circle this year as I stood on the ice while that same theater group sang the anthem!”

For 10-year-old Baldwin, just beginning her dance journey, the IceCats were one of the most interesting parts of the atmosphere.

“I went to almost every weeknight game in middle school because my best friend had season tickets and both of her parents couldn’t make it every time,” she explained. “I was sometimes more interested in the IceCats than the actual gameplay. I’d copy their dances in my seat every game and tell myself, ‘I could do that one day.’”

Originally unsure if she could make the team because of the time commitment, Baldwin decided to go through with trying out because of the fun they brought her when she was younger.

Of course, she didn’t just go to games with her best friend. Her dad was usually the one making the drive from Meriden to Hamden on the weekends, nurturing a love for Quinnipiac in the next generation.

Playing for the Quinnipiac Braves in the ’86-’87 season, where they went 20-6-1 and came second in their division, he still cheers on his old team.

“He’s loved hockey his whole life and wanted to expose me to the sport and follow in his footsteps,” she said. “He certainly succeeded.”

Despite her father’s hockey history, she hadn’t had much time on the ice before tryouts.

“I came in with a little bit of skating technique, but I wasn’t afraid. My teammates stuck a helmet on me and I threw myself into myself into learning. Failing is part of the process. Just this week, I learned how to do a cartwheel on the ice!”

So far, her time on the IceCats has been short but powerful. Growing up around hockey means she understands the game and loves watching from the seats, but being part of the community makes the energy electric.

“When we watched the shootout against Cornell, everyone was so focused. Everyone’s emotions matched, there was such a sense of camaraderie,” Baldwin said. “I’m looking forward to the rest of the season with my team and supporting Quinnipiac hockey in their most important games."