My First NHL Experience

Blackhawk tickets, can you believe that? Heather’s cousin works for an investment firm and his group had three tickets available in their private box, yes, private box. On Wednesday evening we attended the Region 14 reception, ate coconut shrimp, pizza, ate calamari, then walked out, grabbed a cab and drove to the United Center. If you know Chicago at all you know that the Bulls NBA team and the Blackhawks NHL team share this facility.

Frozen in the cold air outside the center is a bronze statue of the great Michael Jordan. You can’t help stopping and standing. Jordan soaring above, for a moment I forgot about the icy cold wind cutting into our faces. The crowd pushed us into entry # four and the excitement started escalating.

The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup last year and it is apparent by the huge crowd that they are expected to do well again. They had won three straight and everyone expected them to be able to hold off the Calgary Flames tonight. This would be my first professional hockey game and only my second professional sporting event ever. I went to see a Seattle Mariners game at Safeco Field once.

Our seats were amazing! They were located just above corner ice in the visitors end. I think that would be considered visitor ice because they were on offence during the first and third period in front of us. But with free tickets, a plush seat, free drinks and hockey less than 30 yards away, who cares which ice you are looking at!
The entire evening was a loud spectacle of flashing lights, music, and the combined noise of 40,000 hockey fans. From the singing of the Star Spangled Banner to the first face off the sound level was incredible.

When the Blackhawks scored their first goal the place erupted. Three long blasts sounded from what sounded like a shift change horn, roared followed by a united singing of a song that everyone joined. You would have to experience it to believe the feeling. I took video with my camera, but it does not do the experience justice.

The Blackhawks won the game 5 to 3 which added to the excitement. It is still hard to think that we lucked into this, or should I say that Heather’s cousin so generously provided us with this experience.