Being an NHL fan in southwestern Ontario for most of us means never seeing the Toronto Maple Leafs live. Even though the Leafs have been dreadful for years, tickets are hard to get and expensive, forcing fans to settle for watching the Sabres in Buffalo or Red Wings in Detroit or nothing at all.
Many of the hockey families on my son's West London midget team got their first taste of the NHL 11 hours down the road in Nashville while we were playing in a tournament at nearby Franklin.
We came away impressed.
The Predators play in downtown Nashville at the Bridgestone arena, steps away from the lively bar strip and great spots such as Tooties, Jack's Barb-b-que and the Wildhorse.
While the game itself (a 3-2, come-from-behind shootout win over the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks) was great, so too was the value added entertainment provided by the Predators. The intermission featured a live country band and greeting and inspiring fans to cheer were the talented Ice Girls. The Ice Girls, needless to say, captured the imagination of our teen hockey players.
You can't swing a cat in southwestern Ontario without finding someone who knows an NHL player. In our case, one of our hockey dads knows Brian Campbell, a defenceman with the Blackhawks, who grew up nearby in Strathroy. Through Campbell, arrangements were made for our players and two parents to visit the dressing room area after the game. Unfortunately, the Blackhawks were a little testy after blowing a 2-0 lead and only Campbell made time for the kids. Patrick Kane, who starred for our hometown London Knights major junior team, ignored the visitors.
Still a great experience, though.
Many of the hockey families on my son's West London midget team got their first taste of the NHL 11 hours down the road in Nashville while we were playing in a tournament at nearby Franklin.
We came away impressed.
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| West London midget hockey players enjoy meeting members of the Ice Girls prior to a Nashville Predators game. |
While the game itself (a 3-2, come-from-behind shootout win over the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks) was great, so too was the value added entertainment provided by the Predators. The intermission featured a live country band and greeting and inspiring fans to cheer were the talented Ice Girls. The Ice Girls, needless to say, captured the imagination of our teen hockey players.
You can't swing a cat in southwestern Ontario without finding someone who knows an NHL player. In our case, one of our hockey dads knows Brian Campbell, a defenceman with the Blackhawks, who grew up nearby in Strathroy. Through Campbell, arrangements were made for our players and two parents to visit the dressing room area after the game. Unfortunately, the Blackhawks were a little testy after blowing a 2-0 lead and only Campbell made time for the kids. Patrick Kane, who starred for our hometown London Knights major junior team, ignored the visitors.
Still a great experience, though.
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