NHL: A night at hockey
The beers were as cold as the ice down below, but the hockey was hotter than hell
Ice Hockey is a sport which doesn’t get the coverage it perhaps deserves in the UK. The interest is there, with a good night out for all the family, and what’s promising is that sides across the country have at least a hardy fan base.
During a trip to Washington DC, USA’s capital, I got the chance to take in an NHL match at the spacious Capital One Arena. Washington Capitals hosted the Las Vegas Knights in a match which saw both teams in great form.
As a big sports fan and someone who enjoys travelling, I’d never before combined the two. I spotted relatively cheap tickets on Ticketmaster and, with an evening in DC free, snapped them up. The countdown was on and after a tour of the famous old city, it was time to visit the arena.
Located in Chinatown, the arena seats over 20,000 and is very conveniently placed on top of the Chinatown Metro stop. The station and the surrounding streets were a flurry of good vibes and the red and white colours of the Capitals. This trend continued through the turnstiles, with singing and dancing filling the concourse.
A large amount of the good vibes were perhaps fuelled on alcohol, with a wide range of beers and other drinks. At our seats, the view was something special. Looking down on the arena, the players from both sides took to the ice to get warmed up. The pre-match entertainment in NHL is a mix of promoting sponsors, charities and looking ahead to the match.
Watching American sports, and particularly ice hockey, on TV is one thing, but being there in person adds a whole new element to the experience. Pint can in hand, the music and light show kicked up a notch as the players prepared for the off. A browsing retention of ‘Star Spangled Banner’, the USA’s history-laden national anthem and one of many around the world better than that of the UK, lit up the night.
There were plenty of empty seats before face-off, but the majority of these were filled by the time the match was in full swing. Americans are outwardly proud of the service personnel who has served their country, and anyone who has been able to support those in need over the years.
Several Capitals matches are dedicated to a certain cause or charity, and on this night it was one which helped to find a home for abandoned dogs. As well as drawing attention to the name of the charity, fans in the crowd were treated to a glimpse of many adorable dogs available to adopt. Washington Capitals players came to the venue with several of these dogs.
After all the fun and hype in the build up, it was time for action. Ice Hockey is a thrilling, end-to-end sport which ties in many skills and abilities. The NHL has produced some of the greatest players on earth, and even this small glimpse into the league was exciting enough.
The Capitals faced stiff opposition in the Golden Knights, and the post match stats showed a result which didn’t reflect the match. The Capitals won 3–0 but had to soak up a lot of pressure from the Golden Knights. Capitals keeper Charlie Lindgren kept his side in the match with some superb saves, and he was deservedly named as man of the match afterwards.
The thousands of fans spilled back onto the streets of DC having watched another fine installation of NHL. This famous old city is the home town of many top rated sports teams, and enjoying what is a brilliant sport in a nation which is crazy for it added to what was a memorable occasion.
