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If you are reading this website, you are probably a fan of hockey players and assumedly you probably understand on some level, that hockey players are awesome!

Some of them, even though they are married and (assumedly) haven’t been in a high school in 10 years will agree to go to a teenage girl’s prom with them if the schedule works out (shout out to The Hockey Writers & Kevin Klein, my forever favorite, for that), some of them will call and chirp people who say terrible things about them on the internet (Jerk Alert Level: telling a former alcoholic he’ll end up back in rehab) and then post said chirping phone call on the internet for all to see  and others will be the greatest goalie to ever play the game, sitting in an airport, bored and reading a French magazine and won’t mind when a terrified girl asks for an autograph and to confess her undying love (shout out forever to Marty Brodeur at EWR).

Most of my interactions with “famous” sports people (I use this term loosely, as my other favorite sport is wrestling and many of my favorite indy wrestlers are people that you, the common reader, would probably have no idea who they are but that’s ok) the last 15 years have usually been spent with the idea in the back of my head that I am possibly providing the gas money or meal money for the wrestlers to allow them to continue to do the things that they love for the next weekend. On more than a few times, I know that it was my donation to their gimmick table (where wrestlers sell anything from shirts to stickers to DVDs to promo pictures) that made sure they got food that night before or after their match. Think of it as making a donation to a favorite charity — except in this case, it’s not a generic charity where you aren’t sure where the money is exactly going, it’s a person with a goal or dream. Pocket Volcano (why did I never think of an awesome wrestling name back when I cared about such things?!) writes about this dilemma far better than I ever could in her blog, The Dangerous Queen.

Wrestling and (indy) wrestlers are great because there is a very loosely defined break between the “them” and “you” because wrestlers tend to understand that without a you, the fan, there is no them, the wrestler (be you giving them your money or cheering them on in their matches or, as is my favorite type of wrestler, the bad guy or the heel, and so booing them and telling them that they are like a vacuum cleaner and suck). This has given me a zillion memories from being allowed to see pictures (and a lot of them!) of a wrestler’s newborn son to getting phone calls iso that I might be sung to (a Fleetwood Mac song for those interested) all because either I was lucky enough to like the wrestlers who were not jerks (as just like in hockey and life, there are always the jerky ones or the ones you know that you shouldn’t tell all your secrets to) or because due to my relative cheerful personality, I tend to only remember the best parts of people.

In hockey, I’ve found that while it is sometimes a lot harder to find out when a hockey player is going to be doing an autograph signing, however, when you do actually find them, they are amazing.  Besides the aforementioned “Kevin Klein says, sure, let’s go to the prom!” very few hockey players ever seem to be annoyed at signings (this does not, of course, count if they are actually crying & bored on the inside).  In fact, the first time I saw Patrik Elias in 2009, as I was leaving the store that he was signing in, the security guard (who was either for the mall or the Devils) thanked me for coming!

In America as a grassroots attempt to take back all the Black Friday madness that happens the day after Thanksgiving at big box stores, that Saturday is known in some places as Small Business Saturday.  As someone who has always hated doing things only on the day that someone far way deemed “the” day to do stuff (i.e. the spirit of a Thanksgiving or Valentine’s can and should technically be any and everyday — you can be thankful any time and you can tell people in your life that you love them any day), I have a (very small) list of small hockey sports & memorabilia stores that could use your help on Saturday and any day of the year.

Much like comic book stores, record shops and other small “mom & pop” stores, I feel that hockey sports stores should have a day dedicated to them as they are a very important part of our community.  Many of the owners live in area that their stores are and some have been handed down from generation to generation.  Others not only sell sports/hockey memorabilia but also sell whatever the town’s colors are so that parents can buy their children hockey gear for their schools or for their teams.  This are the sorts of places that you should support as they are far more personable on many different levels than buying stuff on Ebay or merchandise that is already signed from some of the larger places that sell autographed merchandise.

Some of the stores are having autograph signings soon (or will be having more soon) and you could always google “(place you live) + hockey store” to find one near where you live to help support:

Sports Minded Unlimited [Facebook] of Warren, NJ has Adam Henrique this Sunday, Nov 30th

Buddy’s Sports Corner of Bergen County, New Jersey is going to have the Rangers’ Chris Kreider on Dec. 3rd

AJ’s Sports World of Vaughan, Ontario is going to have Doug Gilmour on Dec. 6th

Fan HQ in the Ridgedale Mall in Minnetonka, MN has Zach Parise & Darcy Kuemper on Dec. 7th

Someone has all Detroit Red Wing Autograph signings [Facebook] in a group and the next upcoming is on Dec. 14th with Gustav Nyquist, Danny Dekeyser & Darren Helm

Main Street Sports of New Jersey is going to have the Devils’ Andy Greene and Michael Ryder on Dec 16th

Main Street Sports of New Jersey is going to have the Devils’ Cory Schneider & Dainius Zubrus on Jan 26th, 2015

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(Lowe warms up prior to the game. Photo courtesy Pink Puck’s Tasha Hudick)

On Thanksgiving Day Eve, the San Jose Sharks hosted division rival Calgary Flames. The Flames have found a way to win so far this season, being one of the league’s surprise teams with 13 wins and 28 points, prior to this matchup. Goaltender Jonas Hiller faced his former team, the Anaheim Ducks, the night before but got the night off against San Jose. The story for the Sharks’ crease was a bit crazier. With Alex Stalock on IR as of November 12, Troy Grosenick was called up from the Worcester Sharks to step in and played two games to give Antti Niemi a rest on the long road trip. Then, Grosenick was injured during Tuesday’s practice and all of a sudden, the Sharks were out of a backup goalie. They signed former San Jose State Spartans alumnus Ryan Lowe to a goaltender professional tryout agreement as Niemi’s backup… just in case.

The Sharks had their work cut out for them facing the top shot-blocking team in the NHL. Regardless of their opponent however, offense and getting past the blockers have been a season-long issue for the club. “We were talking earlier in the year trying to fix the defensive part and now we’re trying to fix the offensive part,” reflected Todd McLellan.

Each team had a power play opportunity in the first period and both came up empty-handed. Also, each team had about the same amount of shots on goal. Thus far it seemed like two very evenly matched opponents. Joe Thornton stood out with 63% in the faceoff circle and Logan Couture led the team with shots (3) during the first. Showing signs of a solid offense in the first period, the most important aspect of offense – scoring – was nonexistent.

Some 4-on-4 action persued in the second period. Six minutes into the second, TJ Brodie and Tommy Wingels each got roughing calls and were sent to their boxes. The Sharks showed more signs of offensive play with a great pass to Patrick Marleau from Thornton – the best scoring chance so far for the team. The heat continued to rise as little scuffs continued throughout, notably with one between Joe Pavelski and Curtis Glencross. Pavelski usually never gets involved in these sorts of scuffles, and perhaps it was an attempt to get his team fired up when they needed to the most.

The Flames got on the board first, though, Jiri Hudler‘s first on the night.

Right before the third period, the Sharks’ color commentator Jamie Baker spoke with Sharks’ associate coach Larry Robinson. He noted that they must keep the structure in the offensive zone and just be patient. The Sharks are getting scoring chances, but something is keeping them from scoring. Perhaps by staying diligent and focused they will be able to net one.

But it wouldn’t happen in this game. The Sharks caught an unlucky break and ended the game on a penalty kill that resulted in an empty net goal by Hudler. This was the first time the Flames have shut out the Sharks on their ice since 2001. At least this one did not go to a shootout, as had their last two home games, that both ended in defeat. The Sharks lost this one, fair and square.

And even though they continue to outshoot their opponents every game, they are still unable to capitalize. It’s easy to get stuck in a negative mindset, but Marleau said it best in a post-game interview: “I think the chances are there. I think it’s, hopefully, like the big build up of a dam and it’s going to break soon and we’ll start getting on a winning streak.”

Next up, the Sharks host the Anaheim Ducks, sure to be a rough and tough game.

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After an outpouring of condolences from the hockey community following the passing of Pat Quinn, the Vancouver Canucks paid tribute to their former coach Tuesday night in Vancouver before the team faced the New Jersey Devils.

Despite the heavy rain on a seasonally dark November night in Vancouver, fans arrived at Rogers Arena early to pay their respects. Fans also had the opportunity to view the ‘Forever a Canuck’ display inside the arena, an area that is fully dedicated to Pat Quinn and displays photos, videos and other memories of Quinn’s time with the Canucks organization. Additionally, the Vancouver-based team unveiled the design of ‘PQ’ decals that players will wear on their helmets for the remainder of the season. The team also pledged to hold a larger ceremony at a future game this season to fully celebrate the life and legacy of their former head coach. The details will be announced at a later date.

Above: Players sported helmets adorned with a PQ decal in honour of Pat Quinn who passed away Sunday in Vancouver after a long battle with illness.

Above: Players sported helmets adorned with a PQ decal in honour of Pat Quinn who passed away Sunday in Vancouver after a long battle with illness.

 

Quinn, who laced up skates for the Canucks prior to his tenure behind the bench, was further honoured by way of a moments silence before the national anthems. After the moments silence, singer Mark Donnelly broke into an unaccompanied version of ‘Danny Boy’ as images of Quinn’s life and career were displayed on the jumbotron.

“I kind of got the frog in my throat on that one,” said Canuck favourite Chris Higgins, pictured above sporting the ‘PQ’ helmet decal. “It was a nice way to make the tribute to him. It hit close to home for me. I remember growing up, driving up to Toronto and Ottawa on these long trips from New York (for minor hockey) and my buddy’s dad would play the bagpipes for nine straight hours. We’d come out all fired up and still get kicked 6-1. Hearing Danny Boy kind of brought me back to that and how much fun I had playing hockey when I was younger.”

“A game against New Jersey on a Tuesday night, I thought after that ceremony, I thought we came out flying and played with a lot of emotion early in the game, mostly because of that,” added Kevin Bieksa, who hails from Quinn’s hometown of Hamilton, ON.

Bieksa assisted Alex Burrows on the first goal of the game, which former teammate and net-minder Cory Schneider was unable to stop.

The Canucks went on to win the game 2-0, arguably one of the finest ways to honour Pat Quinn’s life and legacy.

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Photo Credit: Lauren Lyssy Photography

Less than two years ago, Tyler Seguin was in the shadows of his fellow Boston Bruins teammates. Playing alongside players like Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand can take away the spotlight, from any young guy who’s trying to find his place on a team full of long-time league veterans.

Fast forward to the 2014-2015 season, and Seguin has already got himself to the top of the league with 17 goals for the Dallas Stars. Not only that, but he’s only one point away from being tied with superstars Sidney Crosby and Jakub Voracek. Throughout the three years that Seguin played for the Bruins, he tallied only 56 goals. Throughout the one full year, and quarter-way through the current season, he’s put up 54 goals (39 in 2013-2014 Regular Season). A drastic statistic to show the true star-power that Seguin possesses.

So far, Tyler Seguin has already recorded two hat tricks in the regular season, and one in the pre-season. In 5 out of the 22 games that they have played so far, he has scored multiple goals. In only 8 games, he has gone pointless.

What is the difference between his time with the Bruins and time with the Stars? Well first of all, Seguin is an incredibly talented player. He plays fast, and he plays with skill. His skill needs to be used in the right ways, in order for his execution to be at it’s best. Competing for a spot at center against Bergeron, and others, who had more time playing in the league was a hopeless cause. When he was traded to Dallas, the opportunity to play at center meant that he would be playing in a spot that was more comfortable to the right-handed shooter.

Within his first year with Dallas, the team made an appearance in the playoffs for the first time since they lost to the Detroit Red Wings in the 2008 Western Conference Finals. They ended up loosing to the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference semi-finals, but was a statement to the league that the Stars were not a team to write off.

Having chemistry with his teammates has been one of the biggest causes for the success of the team. From the start of his first season in Dallas, a bond was evident between the new captain Jamie Benn and Seguin. The duo was a force to be reckoned with; playing on the same line and producing goals in a way that only few others can do (think Crosby and Malkin).

Overall, the success for Tyler Seguin has disproved any critics, and shown that it was not just a one-time thing. He’s proven himself to be one of the top offensive players in the league, right now, and the 22 year old is definitely a force to be reckoned with.

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(photo: Dinur Blum)

Sometimes staying home on the big day after Thanksgiving is the only option for some people. Thankfully, that is where some afternoon hockey comes in to fill the void. The Anaheim Ducks are keeping with their yearly tradition by playing at home against the Chicago Blackhawks so that one should not be missed.

After the Ducks’ huge and 10th year running win against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, they are pumped to see if their winning streak will keep going. Tuesday’s game seemed to be in the Ducks’ favor up until the third period when Calgary had one of their notorious last minute comebacks. The Ducks managed to keep them out and their record alive and well. There was a crucial casualty though: Francois Beauchemin. The veteran defenseman was taken out of the third period with an upper body injury which left five defenders left to block out Calgary. Even if he is not able to play during Friday’s game, Anaheim’s defense has shown so far this season that they could hold their own, especially with some of the big boys like Sami Vatanen, Clayton Stoner and Josh Manson. Compared to a few of their last losses, the Ducks have also improved by staying in and past the neutral zone to get in as many scoring chances at possible which has been beneficial to them.

The Blackhawks are going to be just as much of a challenge as Calgary was. On Sunday, Chicago lost drastically to the Vancouver Canucks at 4-1. They will be playing against Anaheim not very long after their last game in Colorado, which would be rough for any of the teams around this time of year. The matchup between the teams is definitely a memorable one though to say the least. Two of the best centers and captains in the league are going head to head to rack up as many points as they can for their teams. Right winger Patrick Kane has the most goals scored right now and just like everyone knows, he is a hard player to keep from getting to the net. Captain Jonathan Toews is just behind Kane with nine goals and assists while fellow right winger Marian Hossa takes the cake with 12 assists overall.The thing they have that Anaheim also has is their ability to keep the pressure on the opposing team and push them back. In their last games’ Chicago averaged between about 27-30 shots on goal and Anaheim had 34 against Calgary. It really is not too much of a difference so their puck possession will be tough, even for their top scorers.

The Anaheim Ducks are currently second overall in the league just barely trailing the Montreal Canadiens. Anaheim is only two wins behind 1st place so there is no doubt that the game between both teams on Friday will be a fight to the finish because every game loss is another one having to earn back to keep their spot.

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(photo: Jack Lima Photography)

Nothing short of a brick wall has been in net for the Stockton Thunder, Shane Owen has been named this week’s CCM ECHL Goaltender of the Week. Save after spectacular save, Owen has kept his team alive for a win, even when the defense in front of him comes up short. He can take physical play in front of the crease, for him, it’s just a part of the game. He’s stood tall for the team and made the saves when he’s had to. He currently leads the ECHL with 375 saves, a testament to how many shots he’s turned aside.

“Obviously he’s been great,” Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Rich Kromm said. “He had two great outings for us this past week and certainly is helping us as we turn things around. Shane has been really good when we have been under siege and definitely deserves this honor.”

Owen credits much of his string of successes to the improved defensive core working in front of him. It has been a focus during practice. “We’ve been working hard in practice on the defensive zone and the forwards coming back and picking up the man lead. It’s helping out in making those first stops and everyone is clearing the puck from the front of the net so it’s making my job a lot easier.”

Owen, 23, had two wins over the Condors last week and recorded a 1.50 goals-against-average and a .956 save-percentage in two appearances for the Thunder.

The Shanty Bay, Ontario native stopped 29 shots during Thursday’s morning game in Bakersfield to help his team to the 3-2 win and topped that performance on Sunday with a 36 save, 4-1 victory over the Condors at Stockton Arena.

The Thunder netminder has appeared in 12 games for the Thunder this season, recording a 5-6-0 record. Owen has appeared in 72 career ECHL games with the Thunder, Utah Grizzlies, Alaska Aces, Florida Everblades and South Carolina Stingrays and has posted a 26-28-10 record with two shutouts. Last season, Owen played for the CHL Missouri Mavericks, where he led the league with 35 wins. He was named to both the All-CHL Team and the All-Rookie team for the 2013-14 season and was named the Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week four times and the Warrior CHL Goaltender of the Month for December 2013.

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(photo credit: Standout Imagery)

The Ontario Reign defeated the Colorado Eagles 4-3 after a long fight to the finish and a good effort for a comeback by Colorado. This is just the first meeting between both teams this season and they have two more games against each other to see if Ontario can keep their winning streak going.

After beating Idaho 2-1 in the third game last Saturday, the Reign proved how much they have going for them since the season has started. Ontario’s Tyler Spurgeon‘s return to the lineup has benefited the team in every way possible. He got credit for the power play goal on Thursday and his presence finally being there just helps out them out even more. Defenseman Alex Roach has also been on fire for the last six games. He recorded a career high of three assists on Thursday and is up +3. During Saturday’s game, the Reign dominated during the power plays with two goals on three chances. The first game against Colorado looked to be in Ontario’s favor because their penalty kill percentage was considerably higher than Colorado’s at 93.8 to 80.7.

A slow first period was finally broken with a goal by Ontario defenseman Ralfs Freibergs. He received a pass from fellow defender Nolan Julseth-White that went right between the legs of Eagles goalie Doug Carr at 13:26. Ontario raised their goal count by two when Judd Blackwater was brought down behind the Colorado net but he passed the puck over to Matt Register who blazed the puck past Carr at 15:44. Spurgeon got the secondary assist for that one to add on to his total so far. The Eagles started waking up late into the game and scored. Eagles’ Brock Nixon shot and beat Ontario’s goaltender Jussi Olkinuora at 19:16. The Reign had an early lead over the Eagles going into the second at 2-1.

With a five-on-three man advantage during the second period, the Reign started out with the perfect chance to get some more goals in past Carr. The on fire Spurgeon passed the could have been goal over to Register who slapshotted it but was denied. Ontario defenseman Jeff May swooped in on the rebound and slapped the puck in at 3:21. Colorado fired back with their second goal of the night at 4:00 by defenseman Curtis Gedig and an assist by Trent Daavettila. The Eagles tied the game at 3-3 by Nixon at 10:22 but it did not last for long as Register came in for his second goal of the night at 14:14. The Eagles were trailing by one at 4-3 at the end of the second period.

The third period was the last chance for the Eagles to even try to tie the game and make it go into overtime. The period started out with the puck loose at the Reign’s net and a perfect chance to score but was quickly slapped out of the way. The Eagles started putting on the pressure but Ontario kept strong all the way through and blocked them out. Gedig came around the left with a challenge for a goal but was immediately stopped. Even after more shots fired and a scrum, Olkinuora proved to be too much for them as he managed to keep the score 4-3 for the entire period. Ontario ended the night with six shots on goal and Colorado with nine. Olkinuora took the victory of the night with 27 saves while Carr took the loss with 27.

The Reign is looking to stay on their throne on Friday against the Eagles for their second game out of three.

 

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(photo: Dinur Blum)

The Anaheim Ducks defeated the Calgary Flames at home 3-2 on Tuesday. This game was important to both teams as Calgary wanted to break their 10-year Anaheim drought and of course the Ducks wanted their record to stay alive. The Flames fought hard to the end but Anaheim is still on their throne for another year.

Just last week, Anaheim faced the Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome and lost in a shootout. There was no doubt that the loss was still in the back of all of their minds even though they just won the last two games, including Sunday’s against the Coyotes. Calgary was itching to win because they have not won a game in Anaheim since 2004. With 18 straight home wins under their belts, Anaheim was not planning on losing their record 10 years later. It was also the first time former Ducks star goalie Jonas Hiller was back in Anaheim this season and he has been nothing less than beneficial for the Flames. The Ducks had to work hard enough on Tuesday to prove how much they deserve to keep leading the Western Conference.

The first period started off with a bang for the Ducks as they got the motivation back to win their third consecutive game. The Ducks were able to stay in front of Calgary’s net very early into the game and already had 4 scoring chances at just a few minutes into the period. Up and coming left winger so far this season Matt Beleskey scored his 10th goal of the year at 4:37. Beleskey had a chance to make his goal total come to 11 but he just missed the shot when the puck hit the post. Calgary started stepping up their game with about 11 minutes left in the period, including a fight between Anaheim’s Ryan Kesler and Flame’s defenseman Kris Russell, but the Ducks managed to keep them out of their net. Anaheim ended the first leading at 1-0.

The Ducks kicked things into gear during the second period. Calgary was already threatening to tie things up during their power plays. Anaheim’s improvement of getting the puck out and past the neutral zone showed in the points they were able to rack up. At just 5:04, Anaheim’s Corey Perry got the puck past Hiller thanks to his two assists, Beleskey and veteran defender, Francois Beauchemin. With just 15.8 seconds left in the period, Ducks right winger Kyle Palmieri turned the score into 3-0 with a backhander. Calgary was left in the dust trailing behind Anaheim but because they are known for being a third period comeback team, they were not out of the running yet.

Anaheim was only one period off from shutting Calgary out and winning at home for the 19th time. The Flames started the third period out carefully, just keeping the puck within reach of one another. If they had lost possession, who knew what the Ducks would have been capable of at the momentum they were going. Center Nate Thompson had a good chance to sneak the puck in just minutes into the third but Hiller would not allow it to slip past him. Things quickly turned onto the defensive side with a couple of slashing calls and some “nice” conversations between both teams. The Ducks lost Beauchemin in the period with an upper body injury so they managed to play with five defenders left. Flames’ TJ Brodie slapshotted the game around into 3-1 at 11:02. With just 7:21 left, the Ducks had to regain the drive they had to make sure the pressure that Calgary was putting on did not affect them. An almost goal by Flames’ left winger Johnny Gaudreau turned the game 3-2 with a little over three minutes left but after the refs analyzed it, the score turned back to 3-1 because the new call was that Gaudreau kicked it in. Even after a last minute goal by Calgary’s Jiri Hudler, the Ducks came out on top. They ended in regulation 3-2.

The Anaheim Ducks managed to keep their tradition alive even though Calgary was flying throughout the third period. Both teams do not meet again at Anaheim’s Honda Center until Jan. 21 to see if the Ducks can turn it into another win and an 11-year record.

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Tuesday evening, November 25, the season ticket holders for both the Boston Bruins and the Boston Celtics thought they had been invited to a special event at the brand new Reebok powered Pro Shop at North Station at which they could shop and save on items with their favorite team logos on them. However, both teams had a little surprise for them—some of the players had been signed to one-night contracts to serve as “ProShop employees.”

Jeff Green

Jeff Green

The Bruins players included Patrice Bergeron, Torey Krug, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand and Reilly Smith who were joined by Celtic players Jeff Green, Kelly Olynyk and Tyler Zeller. Also along for the fun were both teams’ mascots—Blades and Lucky—and some of the Boston Bruins Ice Girls and the Boston Celtics Dancers.

As the event got under way, Celtics power forward Green was quite happy to serve as door greeter. In fact he had his Ultimate Fan Hands on and was having a great time poking the fans who at first didn’t realize it was really him.

“Yah, I was hiding underneath the hat,” Green joked while talking with The Pink Puck. “I think this is just a great opportunity for fans to see us outside of the court and the ice.”

Each of the players had a job to do. Some worked the checkouts while others worked as personal shoppers and still others helped out with specific items, such as selecting the perfect cap from the wall of caps—the array is quite something. Those in search of a cap could turn to Bergeron, who took his job quite seriously. He asked questions, made recommendations, found the right sizes, and even assured shoppers that if they didn’t like his suggestion that his feelings would not be hurt.

Patrice Bergeron and Ellen

Patrice Bergeron and Ellen

Ellen, a season ticket holder for the past eight years, was helped by Bergeron in her search for a cap that he thought might be best for her. Watching him interact with her as he pointed out different caps and made a couple of selections for her, it was clear that he was enjoying interacting with the fans and could perhaps be a connoisseur of baseball style caps. Flat brim? Breathable mesh? Snap back? He knew them and walked the fans along the wall making serious suggestions.

After making her choice, The Pink Puck got an opportunity to chat with Ellen about the event and the surprise of having the players there.

“It was a really huge surprise. When we saw Jeff Green right there, I didn’t even recognize him. I went right past him and thought ‘Oh, it’s a tall guy.’ And then I saw [Lucic] and then I saw a couple other of the Bruins players,” she told The Pink Puck. “It was awesome. It’s a great surprise for us to actually get to interact with them this way.”

Bergeron was so good at helping people with their cap selections that The Pink Puck and Ellen suggested that he might have a new career if the hockey thing didn’t work out for him. He laughed. And when Krug was told how good Bergeron was with the caps, he wasn’t surprised.

“Bergeron is good at everything.” Krug grinned.

And Krug was having a good time as a personal shopper. Sarah from NESN ended up with a nice collection of items after getting helped by him. But he was helpful to everyone he met.

“You get to talk a little bit [to the fans],” he told The Pink Puck. “I mean, it’s all fun.”

Lucky and Jeff Green

Lucky and Jeff Green

Celtics forward Green agreed.

“[The fans] get to see the fun side of us. See us joking around with each other,” he said. “I think this is a great opportunity for us as well, all the players, to just have fun.”

It was fun watching Green and Olynyk figure out what a foam puck head was and Olynyk was intrigued by the foam Bruins mascot bear head that is popular with many of the kids who attend games. The Celtics mascot, Lucky, was quite good at spinning the basketball on his finger, and he passed it off to Green, who was still wearing his ultimate fan hand.

Green shared the feelings he experienced when the younger fans realized it truly was him standing in front of them.

“It’s humbling. You don’t really think that people admire you that much.” he said. “But it’s a great chance to see you and talk to you, see you, like I said, off the court. For a couple of minutes you’re friends, and just talk.”

Brad Marchand

Brad Marchand

Krug was pleased that the fans were having a good time, though he was sorry that he didn’t get the opportunity to see Marchand in the Boston Bruins adult onesie. He was sure that he would get the chance to see photos though.

Overall it was a relaxed, fun-filled evening that introduced the fans to the impressive new ProShop while also giving them a moment to see some of their favorite players just having a good time being with them. And the players exhibited some hidden skills. In addition to those already mentioned, word is that Lucic folds clothes like a professional, while Olynyk and Zeller worked those check out registers like they were hardwired to them.

Don’t forget, the savings aren’t done yet. After all, Black Friday is just a couple of days away, and in addition to some amazing discounts and free parking, there will be doubleheader ticket giveaways every half hour from 7:00 to 11:00 am. The Boston Celtics will be taking on the Chicago Bulls in a Green Friday matinee at 1:00pm and then the Boston Bruins will be hosting the Winnipeg Jets in a game at 7:00pm. You could shop and then enjoy two great games for a Black, Green, and Black and Gold Friday.

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