Brittany Sullivan, of Fredericksburg, Balances Life as a Student and an Ice Girl

NEWARK, DE (11/29/2011)(readMedia)-- Brittany Sullivan's skating ability and fan-friendliness got her a job as a Philadelphia Flyers Ice Girl in September. But it was her pretzel-shaping skills that got her through the first day on the job early in October. Forming dough into the shape of the Flyers logo at the Philly Pretzel Factory was all part of the season kick-off for the NHL team and the 10 young women who support them on the ice and off.

Sullivan, a junior majoring in health behavior science at the University of Delaware, has been skating since she was six years old. She also loves sports, so she saw the opportunity to try out for the team as a perfect fit.

During the one-day audition, the field of applicants was narrowed from about 100 to 20 after an on-ice test and then to 10 following a personal interview. Sullivan, who is also a member of the UD collegiate figure skating team, made the cut and just days later donned the team's black and orange gear.

The Ice Girls perform at all of the Flyers home games, pose for photos with fans and represent the team by making appearances at community events throughout the season. They also clean the ice in the front of the goals three times during each of a hockey game's three periods-an NHL requirement that results in a fine if not done properly.

As a native of Fredericksburg, Va., Sullivan grew up skating at the training facilities of another NHL team, the Washington Capitals, and she was a staunch Capitals fan. So her new affiliation with the Flyers has drawn some disapproval from her hometown friends.

But Sullivan herself has no qualms about the divided loyalty. "This job is a lot of fun," she says, "and it's a great opportunity to make connections and gain experience in the sports world."

Article by Diane Kukich