Jessie Eldridge's trademark pink scrunchie caught the eye of Boston Fleet fans while she was scoring on the ice, and the symbol, which started as support for her mother's cancer fight, has started to spread through the stands among Fleet fans.
Boston Fleet forward Jessie Eldridge quickly adapted to her new team and city after a late season trade. And off the ice, the fanbase embraced her as well.
Not only has Eldridge made an impression on the ice, but she has also inspired fans throughout the Tsongas Center, who have started sporting pink scrunchies — her signature look while on the ice.
“I think it's been awesome to see how it's kind of taken off,” Eldridge said. “As a goalie, you can customize some things. As a player, it's nice to have a little personality to it.”
Eldridge has worn a pink scrunchie in her hair for years; she explained the reason behind this tradition in an interview in November 2025.
"There’s a story behind that. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, and during her chemotherapy, she was up late hours at night, and actually started making scrunchies. That year she couldn’t come see my games, but a way to keep her with me on the ice was wearing the pink scrunchie, and it’s just become our thing.”
Eldridge joined the Fleet on March 17th. On March 18th, she was on the ice for the team sporting her pink scrunchie.
The Fleet closed out their 2025-26 season on April 25th, and throughout the crowd, fans were sporting matching pink scrunchies.
A fan in section 112 handed them out to others in the area, including Erin, a season ticket holder.
“Two games ago, there was a person who was sitting in my section who had, like, a huge gallon-size Ziploc bag of pink scrunchies,” Erin said. “I think Jessie Eldridge wears her pink scrunchie because her mom had breast cancer.”
Throughout the crowd, fans had the scrunchies in their hair, attached to their sailor hats, and on their wrists, showing support.
“A lot of us have been wearing them the last couple of games,” Erin said.
Eldridge explained the impact of seeing the scrunchies in the crowd.
“The scrunchie means a lot to me and my mom and my family, but to see kind of everyone embracing that, it's been a lot of fun,” Eldridge said.
The Boston Fleet are now heading into the playoffs, where they will take on the Ottawa Charge.
The first game will be on Thursday, April 30th, at the Tsongas Center.