Besides the typical "Go [insert team/player name here]!" proclamations seen at games, signs asking players to prom are probably the most harmless that fans (usually female ones) bring to hockey games. Yes, they're a little ridiculous. Realistically, most prom proposals are. I myself was asked to my junior prom with a soccer ball that said, "Alex, will you be my prom date?" surrounded by a heart of Hershey's kisses. Oh, and did I mention that I was presented with this ball in front of half my school and then later accidentally got that ball stuck in the gym rafters during P.E. class? Yes, ridiculous.

But I digress. Prom signs at hockey games are almost always scoffed at. I admittedly laugh at them a majority of the time myself. What's not funny about a girl who really thinks that Jonathan Toews is going to stop in mid warm-up to say yes to her prom proposal? I've convinced myself that most girls with prom signs at hockey games really aren't serious about asking a player to prom. They're probably just looking for a laugh or the possibility of being acknowledged by their favorite player. Not so outlandish when you think about it that way, right? I'd probably wet myself if Tazer winked at me again.

However, some player prom proposals (say that one five times fast) are serious. Take Jordan Homa for instance. She recently posted a prom proposal video for Chicago Blackhawks rookie Andrew Shaw, a video that quickly went viral and gained her a lot of attention, both negative and positive. Her video, unlike other celebrity dance invites, was very tasteful and clever. Jordan emulated the Blackhawks seasonal One Goal commercials, and had a friend narrate the video for her. Like I said, clever.

Now, we may never find out what Shaw thought about the video, or if he even saw it. Will he say yes to Jordan? Who knows. The fact of the matter is, her video, like prom proposal signs, is harmless. Silly? Yes. Offensive or degrading? No. She's asking someone to prom. Okay yes, he happens to make more money than I ever will in three lifetimes and plays professional hockey for the Chicago Blackhawks, but it's still harmless. Bullying her over it is completely unnecessary.

Shaw is a mature enough individual (he's only a year younger than me, so I'm hoping he is) where he can decide whether or not he wants to take Jordan's offer seriously. I'm sure he'll take into account the slight age difference (she's seventeen, he's twenty), his public standing as a professional athlete ("SIGN MY PROM DRESS SHAW!"), and the location (middle of Michigan, Wings territory). He's undoubtedly smart enough, and surrounded by smart enough people, to think about all that jazz before committing to renting a limo and buying a corsage.

Of course, if the Blackhawks progress to round two of the playoffs, his job as a hockey player will trump prom, something that Jordan happily accepts as she has said she'd "rather see them win than him come to prom."

A true hockey fan indeed.




(PS:  I don't blame her for asking Shaw to prom. That boy is CUTE. And probably nicer, cleaner and a better dancer than the guy I went to prom with.)