When Girls Love Hockey

All about meeting Scott Niedermayer at CHOC

 

I support Children's Hospital of Orange County.  

As a native of Orange County and a mom of two, I'm a little ashamed to admit I didn't know much about Orange County's only Children's Hospital. It was actually my devotion to the Anaheim Ducks that lead me to CHOC's doors.  Well, that and my friend Pam De Jong, who is CHOC's Marketing Manager. 

After I made this video at CHOC Night at The Ducks Game last season...

...Pam asked me to come in and tour CHOC, check out the Ducks' wing and learn more about what CHOC does in our community. Honestly, I didn't know why CHOC would even need to raise money.  I thought hospitals received their funds from insurance companies.  I know, not so bright on my part, but after admitting that on my blog I realized it was a common misconception when comment after comment said,"I didn't know that either." 

So Pam and I arranged another tour, this time with some of OC biggest bloggers-- you know, to get the word out about CHOC.  Last week as the tour was just getting underway, through CHOC's doors walked newly retired Anaheim Duck, future-hall-of-famer, and big-time CHOC supporter--Scott Niedermayer.  

Pam knows (like anyone who has ever met me) I love the Ducks and knew I would want to meet him.  During the introduction of the tour I hear "Suz!" and I see Pam wildly gesturing for me to come on.  I pulled my friend Jenelyn, another girl who loves hockey (and baseball), out of the crowd and we walked over to meet Nieds. (That's what we call him on Twitter--Nieds.) 

According to Pam--totally unverified by anyone else--I curtseyed several times as I spoke to Scotty (we call him that, too).  I can neither confirm or deny the curtsey part, but can say my streak of becoming a bumbling idiot when I meet a Duck continues (read the story of when I met Ryan Getzlaf and his girlfriend here).  

I did manage to say "thank you" for the years of great hockey.  I told him I understood his decision to retire in order to spend more time with his family and then darted out questions that could be classified as "stalker-ish" if one didn't know me. Personal stuff about his kids and his plans  for his family. All very "What about Bob?"  I was chatting...uncontrollably.  He was very gracious and obviously used to watching relatively normal people fall apart when meeting him.

My friend Jenelyn didn't fare much better. 

 

Though she didn't chatter, she got more quiet and shaky--which can I just say is a much less embarrassing default.  She and I have our Ducks fanship to thank for our friendship. We met because of our mutual respect for J.S. Giguere and we are now solid friends. 

Hockey does that to girls.

Anyways, getting back to embarrassing her.  Here is the iPhone picture she took of me and Scotty.  

 

 She couldn't hold the phone still.  

I started this blog for girls who love hockey--we really love it.  We aren't in love with the players. We admire them.  We respect them and their families for the sacrifices they make to play the game we love. In this photo you can see the kinetic energy and passion of two girls like that, the one in the photo and the one taking it.  (Me and Jenelyn in case you're not paying attention.) 

Thank you Scott Neidermayer for playing the game of hockey. We will miss you. 

****

Read my post about CHOC Hospital at OC Family here. 

Penguins for dinner

 (Larry and me at Morton's for our anniversary dinner.)

As soon as I became a hockey fan, hockey stories seemed to follow me everywhere. Really, I have the best luck.  I almost ran over Matt Beleskey in a cross walk once.  I ran into Ryan Getzlaf at The Lazy Dog Cafe and then the time I sat next to Ilya Bryzgalov's family at a Ducks game. This tale is further proof of my hockey luck. 

My husband, Larry, and I were celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary at Morton's last November when in walked four men.  

They were hockey players.

Don't ask me how I knew they were hockey players. I just did. Like some girls know how to fold a fitted sheet or the correct way to peel a pineapple (apparently, it's to be done with a knife not a peeler), I just knew they were hockey players.  

They had hockey hair. 

After settling down at the table next to us I heard their accents and, again,  there was that hair, so I was just sure. I  lean over to my husband and said, "They're hockey players." Then I gestured with my chin over to their table.  He glanced over his glass of wine half interested.  "How do you know?" he started. "Never mind," he wisely said after thinking about the manic logic that would follow that question. 

As we ordered our dinner the waiter noticed the Ducks logo on my phone and said, "Those are four Pittsburgh Penguins sitting at that table." At that, just like a teeter-totter,  Larry sunk down in his chair a little and I perked right up in mine.  Just like that the night suddenly became about hockey. 

The Ducks were playing the Penguins the next night and they were there for steak and potatoes...and to talk about the Ducks.  I'm not saying I'm proud of myself, I'm saying I have no self control when it comes to hockey; I had to eavesdrop.  I had to.

Here's what I heard:

"Oh, man.  I think Jiggy should retire. He's had his time," said the first Penguin who was quickly rebutted by another. 

"He has..." and that's as far as he got.  

"You'll get your turn," continued the first Penguin in a thick accent.  "He was a great goalie. He should leave it that way."  

"Can I talk now?"  asked the second Penguin.  The first one nodded. "Just wait,  he'll recover and be back..." 

Then I was asked by my patient husband if I wanted more wine.  I waved my hand at him and nodded quickly. "They're talking about Jiggy!" I said in an excited whisper and then told him what I heard.  There was something so wrong about listening in on their conversation, yet,  I couldn't stop myself for doing it (and now telling you about it).  

After that, I listened in now and then, but they mostly talked about stupid 'ol golf. When I got up to leave I wanted to say something to them. But, what should I say?  It was our anniversary after all.  I was trying my very best to not make the night about hockey. 

Uh, yeah. Pronger was traded, like last summer

 

I was at the roller skating rink, because I'm a girl who also loves roller skating, and there was this boy, about 10-years-old, wearing a bright orange Chris Pronger t-shirt. One of the old Wild Winger shirts.  In a super friendly way I sit down next to the boy and this is how it goes:

Me: (Head nod) You a big Ducks fan?

Boy: Pfft, Yeah.  (With a "What's it to you?" attitude.)

Me: So, did you cry like a little baby when they traded Pronger? (Because this is how I talk to 10-year-old boys with attitude.) 

Boy: They traded Pronger?

Me: Uh, yeah, like last summer.

Boy: That sucks.

...aaaaand that part he got right. 

 

'My' bartenders at The Honda Center

 

 I'm not sure what this says about me, hopefully it says "I'm loyal" and "I'm a people person" and not "I'm a lush," but I miss my bartenders at The Honda Center. This is Stephen and Blake.  Every game I order (at least) one drink from them.

Stephen and I have this thing we do. I put on my tiara attitude and launch into a very complicated order for a lemon drop martini, which they don't now, nor probably will ever, serve at the Honda Center. 

 Me: (Big, dumb smile) I'll have a lemon drop martini; shake it four times longer than usual, please. 

 Stephen: (Nothing) 

Me: Pour it in a big cup with an extra twisty lemon peel... 

Blake: (Eye roll)

Stephen: (Nothing) 

Me: I like an enormous amount of sugar on the rim, please. Like it's just falling off all over. (Big exaggerated imitation of sugar hopelessly falling off the rim.) 

Stephen: (Pause) Security!!! 

Man, that never gets old. 

The guys in line behind me waiting to order their beer don't think it's as funny as we do.

Teemu Selanne and hockey

 

This is Teemu Selanne and even if you don't know who he is, there's a lesson to be learned from this Finnish Olympian that even the non-hockey fan should appreciate and take to heart.  Selanne is famously unselfish, known just as much for his graciousness as he is for his speed and skill on the ice.  In every  interview after he scored his 600th goal, a big deal in the hockey universe, he was always recognizing the value of  the people around him; his teammates, his family, everyone who has helped him reach the uppermost peak of hockey greatness.  

Teemu Selanne symbolizes for me the kind of person, whether in business, friendship or sport, who strives for significance and excellence and finds it because they are his focus.  

His career hasn't been without its valleys. He has overcome points when it looked like he was done due to injury and slump.  This season alone he broke his hand...and his jaw and still came back to finish off the year. Like anyone really worth admiring it's his triumph over adversity that makes his success important (because not all success is important). 

Simply put, he's the kind of athlete that is a joy to watch play. He so obviously loves what he does. Enjoys the sport. Values his teammates. Appreciates his success.  I aspire to be like him in that way, to love what I do so much it brings joy to other people.  

I get grief sometimes for loving sports, especially hockey, but what some people don't see are the underpinnings of sacrifice and splendor that give the game a purpose and place in my life.  Thanks Teemu for being a part of that for me. 

******

Other things  I've written about my Ducks:

Corey Perry fights robots, here

Why I love hockey, here.

How not to act when meeting Ryan Getzlaf, here

CHOC Night at The Ducks Game

The Anaheim Ducks hockey organization and fans come together to support one of Orange County's most precious resources: Children's Hospital of Orange County.  For the last four years these two mix together for a  fun charity event, one night in the regular hockey season.  

When this year's CHOC night was over, almost  $50,000 was raised by selling CHOCO Bears and through text donations. The evening also provided an opportunity for CHOC patients and their families  to have some fun by riding the Zamboni, participating in the national anthem on the ice and also meeting some of the Ducks players.

 

 

Casey Strale is a CHOC patients who is being treated for a rare form of cancer.  He was invited into the Ducks locker room to meet some of the players and walked away with two signed sticks.  The moment was made even more touching given two of the players, Saku Koivu and Jason Blake, are both cancer survivors themselves.   

I keep telling you, hockey players are the best.  If you would have seen how thoughtful they were to Casey, his friends, and his family, you would no doubt have to agree with me.  

You can still get in on the CHOC Night action by donating $5 by texting CHOC at 9099 or there are still some of those adorable CHOCO Bears available at www.choc.org. 

Best Shot Monday: Anaheim Ducks

 

The theme for Tracey Clark's  Best Shot Monday this week is "I **heart** These Faces" and I easily chose this one of Anaheim Ducks players, Teemu Selanne, Jason Blake, Saku Koivu and a boy who is receiving treatment for cancer at CHOC Hospital.  

I took the photo last night while I was doing a story on CHOC night at the Ducks game.  I **hearted** the faces of some of my favorite hockey players a little more after watching how friggin' awesome they were to the boy and his family. Given both Saku Koivu and Jason Blake are cancer survivors, the smiles and encouraging words were even more ***heart***felt.  

So, for the second time in Best Shot Monday, I'm submitting a hockey photo (see my photo and post of Giguere, here). Sometimes it's hard to be a girl that loves hockey, but I think Tracey understands me. 

Opening of San Manuel Premium Level

Click anywhere on the picture below for the lowdown on the new premium level and also a blow-by-blow on how we blew our lead against the Kings.

Wild Winger's Knott's Berry Farm Day

My kids are, naturally, big Ducks fans and members of The Wild Winger's Kids Club.

The last event of the year is a meet-the-player deal at Knott's Berry Farm.  The kids were beside themselves to get some of the Ducks to sign their jerseys and hats. 

(Kyle Chipchura signing Ben's hat.)

   

(Matt Beleskey Signing Ben's shirt.)

   

 (Kyle Chipchura signing Emily's Jersey.)

First Flight at The Honda Center

Click anywhere on the photo below to see the slideshow and find out what Ryan Getzaf said when asked to describe a puck...