Local hockey moms back Gov. Palin's remarks in her speech

Gov. Sarah Palin's critics had better hope she doesn't sick America's newest brand of super hero on their heels.

A group of women in Yuma say Palin is absolutely right, that no one has the same driven bark and protective bite as a hockey mom hustling to care for her brood.

These ladies say they cheered Wednesday when the vice presidential candidate joked during the Republican National Convention that the only difference between hockey moms like herself and pit bulls is lipstick.

"We're fierce, loyal and competitive, just as competitive as our kids," said Karen VanDeberg, whose son plays hockey with Yuma Youth Hockey League. "Nobody messes with our kids. You can dog me all you want, but don't mess with my kids. We're protective - that's the word."

Like the good mom she is VanDeberg was watching "Tom and Jerry" cartoons with her kids during Palin's speech, but that didn't stop the hockey mom from hearing about Palin's now-famous remark. Friends phoned her immediately.

"I thought it was pretty funny, but I think I've heard it a long time ago," VanDeberg said, adding with a laugh that there's only one problem: "I don't wear lipstick!"

VanDeberg said the adrenaline rush felt in the rink is just as intense in the bleachers, at least with hockey moms.

"You're screaming your head off and you're yelling at the coach from the stands," she said. "But you're also doing everything else, hurrying to get someone a glove or you're fixing their skate. You're doing everything. You don't see football moms going 'Oh you forgot your helmet!'"

Hockey mom Christy Land said she thinks that her brand of mom is just plain tough in lots of good ways.

"Hockey moms are maybe a little tougher," Land said. "Maybe we're more supportive, not tougher. I think we're a little bit more go-getter."

Hockey dad Wade Dennis agreed.

"I think they're tougher and expect more form their kids, like no one cries in hockey and stuff like that," Dennis said. "When their kids are playing they get pretty riled up and into the game. People should go to games just to hear hockey moms scream. You can hear them screaming from the bleachers miles away!"

But Yuma's hockey moms say they aren't just glad to see their own kind in the national spotlight. They stress their happiness of seeing moms and women in general finally getting attention for their contributions to society.

Therese Sanchez, a hockey coach for 11 years and mother of seven said she was delighted to see Palin hold up her mother as valuable experience in her political career.

"I was glad that Palin said that because it means this is the real world," Sanchez said. "There are hockey moms out there and soccer moms. To say that she is a mom and then to hold up her children and have them there, that was awesome."

Sanchez added that Palin's decision to portray herself as a family person will help voters identify with her.

"She hit a lot of people that way," she said. "I think she is going to get a lot more votes that they expect, just from her being a mom and hockey mom."

Land said it's about time "the hardest job on earth" enjoyed such attention.

"Mothers are the unsung heroes, we like to be called," the hockey mom said. "The world doesn't realize how much moms do. I just think we're in a great place in American history where hockey moms can be in the highest political office in our country."

Land stressed that people shouldn't underestimate the value of motherhood on Palin's resume, either. Land said that such experience could easily translate into political power and know-how.

"As a mom you have to learn how to juggle, make compromises, and know when to give in and stand your ground," she said. "I think that's actually pretty good for political experience. You use a lot of the same skills."

But it wasn't just Palin's remark that local hockey moms seem to be liking. The woman herself also seems to be earning some new fans.

"So far she seems pretty on the ball," Land said. "She's got her feet on the ground and I'm really quite hopeful for her. I wasn't sure about who McCain was going to pick, but I think I'm happy with this one."


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Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.