“It was so fast and it took so much skill; it took a great deal of skill,” she said. “Right away, I was hooked.”

Moreover, the Renegades and RiverDogs were developmental teams. Their rosters were populated primarily by young players who were far from home. Hospitality was happily accepted.

“A lot of them were just starting out … just starting to live the dream,” Pitts said. “It was nice. You could get to know them. You could establish relationships with them. Most of them were good kids with a lot of character. They were appreciative — genuinely appreciative — of the fans. The fact that we were there every night, supporting them and cheering for them, seemed to mean a lot to them.”

Pitts said she has “missed all of those things” since professional hockey departed Richmond after the 2009 season. She said she enjoyed interacting not only with the players but also with other fans and members of the Coliseum’s game day staff.

“The camaraderie was wonderful,” she said. “It was very special. Losing it was … well, it was almost like losing a member of your family.”

Said Gruhl: “Hockey can do that to you. Once it gets into your blood — whether you’re a player, a coach or a fan — it never leaves you.”