Hockey Q&A with the cast of “The Abominables”

Published in

Off Book

6 min readJun 6, 2017

Children’s Theatre Company just announced the cast for the world premiere of The Abominables, the first Minnesota hockey musical! With the idiosyncratic, creative terminology and distinctly hockey-esque personas one might encounter at the ice arena, we asked some of The Abominables cast a few hockey-related questions.

Rink rats, hockey moms, tournament weekends and the quest to play your best — It’s tryout season in the Great State of Hockey! Mitch has always played on the A team for the Prairie Lake Blizzards — these are his guys — they’ve played together forever. But he hasn’t hit his growth spurt yet and he’s worried this could be the year he gets sent down to the B team. When a new “kid” appears at Bantam tryouts, things go from bad to worse. From the land of ice and nice comes the first Minnesota hockey musical! Will you love it? You betcha!

Reed Sigmund (Charlie Munson — Mitch’s dad)

What is your favorite hockey term and why? I’ve always just loved the term Penalty Box. The whole idea of it is directly from the world of toddlers. When my 3-year-old is naughty, he takes a seat in the “Naughty Chair.” The “Penalty Box” is simply a “Naughty Chair” for athletes. I love that players have to just sit there and think about their choices. I say we take it a step further. I think every player should have to get on a microphone and apologize for their bad choices before they can leave the “Box.” The entire concept is wonderfully embarrassing. Nothing else like it in all of sports. It’s brilliant.

What type of hockey personality are you? Goon!!! I’d be a Goon! If there was a reality show to discover “The Worst Ice Skater on the Planet,” I would win that coveted title. However, I’m a hefty fella with a low center of gravity. I’d be good at shoving people. Yeah, I could be like a vigilante. Protecting small, fast teammates from any injustices on the rink. I’d be like Batman, but without any skills or technique.

Favorite hockey movie of all time? THE CUTTING EDGE. But it’s not just “The Greatest Hockey Movie.” It may very well be “The Greatest Film of All Time.” It has romance, drama, laughs, tears, romance, and then, more romance. So much romance. If you like romance, see it! If you don’t like romance, see it! It will teach you to love romance. Oh, and there’s a little hockey in it too. Romance and hockey. That’s what life is really about.

Autumn Ness (Ellen Munson— Mitch’s mom)

What is your favorite hockey term and why? Hockey Hair is my favorite hockey term, as well as my spirit animal. I realize it is not an official NHL term — but it should be. In my day, hockey hair was spiked on top, and permed in the back. Worth every penny.

What type of hockey personality are you? In my life, I feel like The Coach. I give the Herb Brooks speech before school every day to my son — “You got heart kid, now get out there and show them what you got!” I’m always thinking 10 steps ahead to plan my family’s life and keep my boys from maiming each other.

Favorite hockey movie of all time? I hear my husband stole the greatest ice movie of all time — The Cutting Edge, so I will pick a most excellent alternative…Strange Brew. With Bob and Doug Mackenzie, all the “hosers” playing hockey according to the organ commands of Brewmeister Smith. Genius movie.

Doug Neithercott (Coach/ Papa Yeti)

What is your favorite hockey term and why? Favorite Hockey Term: High Sticking…I often mishear it as “High Kicking” and then laugh thinking about hockey players doing an Ice Capades-type dance routine.

What type of hockey personality are you? I’m either a Forward (I stand up for my team and am happy being the first line of defense) or a Goon (if necessary, the gloves will come off and I’ll fight for my team).

Favorite hockey movie of all time? I am sure a lot of people will say Mighty Ducks or Miracle, but I’m going with Slap Shot. Paul Newman is great and the Hanson Brothers make me laugh…it’s an underdog story, and who doesn’t love the underdog? Close second for me is The Cutting Edge. Sure a lot of people will say it’s not a true hockey movie, but nuts to them! The story of a hockey player re-inventing himself as a pairs figure skater is great and speaks to what a lot of people go through — don’t give up; re-invent!

From “Slap Shot”

Elise Benson (Judy Snood— Harry’s mom)

What is your favorite hockey term and why? Probably Muffin …because I love muffins. :)

What type of hockey personality are you? I’m not much of a hockey person, but the few times I have gone to a hockey game I’m usually the person freaking out and closing my eyes because personally everyone looks like they’re going to get hurt.

Favorite hockey movie of all time? Definitely Miracle. (Really the only hockey movie I’ve watched, but I do love it!)

Stephanie Bertumen (Mary Beth Larsen/ Melinda Peterson-Anderson/ Felicity Papadopoulos/ Mama Yeti)

What is your favorite hockey term and why? My favorite hockey term…I like Biscuit in the Basket, which, I learned, means “to score a goal.” Biscuits are fun, alliteration is fun, and scoring a goal is fun!

What type of hockey personality are you? I think I’m a hockey mom/fan type. I might seem cool and collected at first, but once the game gets going, I am one fierce fan cheering on my team! :)

Favorite hockey movie of all time? With my rather limited knowledge of sports films and my affinity for Disney, I’d probably say The Mighty Ducks. :)

“The Mighty Ducks” flying V formation

Full Team Roster