Avs celebrate International Women's Day by reminding us they objectify them
Sometimes, it's just better not to tweet.
The Colorado Avalanche learned that lesson Wednesday when an attempt to show support for women became a reminder that the club still employs ice girls.
The team's account was quickly flooded with critical replies.
@Avalanche @AvsIceGirls delete this
— Devon (@finger_guns_pew) March 8, 2017
@Avalanche @AvsIceGirls maybe rethink this
— Mike Bobcat (@LeafsRamblings) March 8, 2017
.@Avalanche Would you care to know why this was a very bad idea?
— Melissa Geschwind 📎 (@MGeschwind) March 8, 2017
@Avalanche @AvsIceGirls might want to try this again. Just a thought.
— piece de resistance (@CouchTarts) March 8, 2017
@Avalanche @AvsIceGirls You couldn’t have possibly thought this through...
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) March 8, 2017
@Avalanche your organization is an embarrassment
— Boris Badenov (@LD10) March 8, 2017
@Avalanche @AvsIceGirls (presses buzzer) Nope, try again.
— Julia (@JuliaHass) March 8, 2017
@Avalanche @AvsIceGirls WTF Avs????
— McBarb (@hawks_sox) March 9, 2017
Several NHL clubs have been quietly phasing out ice girls, the often scantily clad women whose duties rarely involve more than shoveling during breaks in the action.
The New York Islanders chose not to bring their ice girl crew to Barclays Center when they relocated to the Brooklyn facility in 2015, and the Boston Bruins replaced their ice girl squad with a "grit, passion, and heart"-themed promo team last summer.
The Philadelphia Flyers got rid of their ice girls in 2014, but then drew ire for bringing them back when fans complained.
Women who serve as ice girls league-wide are undoubtedly talented, but they deserve to be given more meaningful opportunities and shouldn't be objectified like this in 2017.
The Avalanche are well within their right to employ them, but drawing attention to their controversial role on a day that celebrates equality wasn't the best idea.
Most teams understand that now, but Colorado's gaffe shows how much work still needs to be done.