hockey at the ravine

Last night I was a part of NHL History -- the first ever outdoor NHL game in Southern California, the "Stadium Series: Los Angeles" at Dodger Stadium, between the Los Angeles Kings and the Sucky Ducks of Anaheim.

I spent a lot of money on those tickets -- about $100 per goal against the Kings -- to be a part of that history, and this is what I learned: 

• The Kings currently can't score a goal inside or outside.
• I really hate the Ducks (except for Teemu Selanne... because I interviewed him once -- on skates -- and he was really nice).
• My brother is a "big game" Kings jinx. Evidence: Game 4 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals, Home Game 1/Stanley Cup Banner Raising Ceremony of 2012-13 season... this game. But I love him anyway, and he's very entertaining. Read next point. 
• Wayne Gretzky's daughter is marrying my brother's favorite pro golfer... and "that is one lucky dude." I tell my brother that Paulina Gretzky used to be a goofy little kid with coke-bottle glasses and I have photographic proof of this somewhere from a Kings event in the early '90s. He has zero interest in me digging up those photos. 
• The people running Dodger Stadium concessions obviously know nothing about hockey fans, because they ran out of beer on tap by the end of the first period and I couldn't find vodka anywhere!
• I still hate going to Dodger Stadium.
• Taylor Lautner (the wolf in Twilight) apparently thinks he's really famous and needs five security guards to escort him to his front row (ie: not good for hockey in a baseball stadium) seats. He's also a selfie taker. (Can you tell I was really bored in the third period? Le sigh.) 

Here are some pics for posterity:

The beach volleyball court in left field. Sorry Planning Committee, but this was really lame. 

The Kings walk from the dugout to the ice for warm-ups.

All my favorite Kings in one shot, skating laps during warm-ups.

Kopi chillin' at the bench.

The Great One, smiling at what he made possible. 

KISS performing in right field. There was a bad delay on the big screen that made it appear these
legends were lip-synching. They'd never do that, right?

LA Sports Broadcasting Legends Vin Scully and Bob Miller get the festivities started! 

The teams entered from center field, as the USC Trojan Marching Band played.

All players were on the ice for the National Anthem, sung by Jordin Sparks.

Gretzky dropped the ceremonial puck for Captains Dustin Brown and that Duck dude.

Taylor Lautner taking selfies from his bad seats.

Fireworks going off at the end of the debacle... I mean game. And yes, like any true Dodger fans, we were already in the parking lot by that point, as there was nothing to cheer about at the end of the game.