SLIPPERY ROCK — By day, Tara Coyne is a first-grade teacher at Moraine Elementary School.

At night, she puts her career on ice.

Coyne, 27, is part of the 20-person Pittsburgh Penguins Ice Crew that works every home game at the Consol Energy Center.

A 2009 Westminster College graduate, she's in her second year as a teacher in the Slippery Rock Area School District and her fifth year with the Penguins.

“I've been there since they started the Ice Crew program,” Coyne said. “I had heard the Penguins were a first-class organization, I enjoy skating and have a cheerleader background.

“It looked like fun and I wanted to be a part of it.”

Hundreds of applicants show up for the annual auditions. They go through skating drills and interviews and endure various tryout sessions before the final team is selected.

“Skating is something I've only done for recreation,” Coyne said. “Some of these people are former hockey players, figure skaters ... That's not me. But I was able to hold my own.”

The Ice Crew cleans snow off the ice three times each period — usually during TV timeouts — and participates in fan interaction during the games. The crew asks trivia questions and does other fan contests.

Not particularly a hockey fan before joining the Ice Crew, Coyne is a major fan now.

“They keep us pretty busy, though,” she admitted. “There isn't much time to watch the game.”

Coyne has to report to the arena at 5 p.m. — or two hours before game time — and doesn't leave the arena until 10 p.m. She has an apartment right next to the Consol Energy Center.

Once her school day ends, she heads straight to the arena.

“When the game's over, it's nice to be able to walk home and crawl into bed,” Coyne said. “There's some long days, but I've always enjoyed being active and keeping busy. And it's good exercise.”

Besides working the Penguin games, the Ice Crew makes a few charity appearances every month, helping out at various functions that way.

“We meet a lot of good people and it feels good to help out and entertain,” Coyne said.

Her first-graders at Moraine enjoy talking hockey with their teacher, too.

“Oh, yes, they're into it,” Coyne said. “We play knee hockey during recess, set up a net. I have a lot of fun with the kids.”

Being single, Coyne admits she has time to sink into being a member of the Ice Crew. That may change when she decides to trade in her Ice Crew family to start a family of her own.

For now, she loves her lifestyle.

“I'll try to do this as long as I can,” Coyne said. “It's been a great experience, being part of Penguin hockey.

“Most of the crew are in their 20s or 30s, with other careers they're involved in during the day. This is a side job for most of us, but we're proud of who we represent and it's fun putting smiles on people's faces.”