What A Night

As you guys probably know by now, I went to the 2011 NHL All Star Game last night with a friend of mine from school. Let me just that it was AWESOME! We both had a lot of fun and there was so much to see and do before and during the game. Before the game, there was a party out on the lawn of the RBC Center that included food (at a price), games, live music, and much more. 

My friend and I played a puck shooting game, cornhole, and a puck control game. We also signed up for a drawing to try and win an All Star jersey signed by Eric Staal. We haven't heard back from that yet, so we either didn't win or they haven't had the drawing. By the time we played all the games, it was time to head inside. Before we went to our seats, we go into a mass of people in the Eye Store and bought some ASG souvenirs. Then we headed to our seats to enjoy the game!

Our seats were great! They were lower level, kind of cornered, but you could see every minute of the action. The festivities started off with a bang (and a surprise). A group of kids skated onto the ice and did a narration piece set like they were going to start a pickup game. There were a couple team captians who were picking the players by choosing hockey sticks at random. One by one, they picked; but then when one kid picked up a hockey stick and a man said "Hey, that's my stick." It was Rod Brind'Amour, former Hurricanes captain. Then the other kid picked up a stick and the same thing happened. This time, it was Ron Francis, former Canes player and now assistant coach. That was an amazing!

The game itself was good. Team Staal (who really had a home ice advantage) lost the game to Team Lidstrom 11-10, but it really didn't matter. It was just amazing to see that group of players playing together in one place! I will never forget this event for the rest of my life! I know I have thanked them multiple times on Twitter, but thanks once again to WRAL for picking me to win the tix to the game!

P.S. On a little different note, I showed my "fight back" side in the parking lot after the game. Here's what I mean...we were waiting to get out from our parking space and into the line of traffic to get out. Then, this SUV stops and the driver acts like they are going to let us out. However, the driver kept pointing at another SUV one or two spaces away from us (who was also trying to get out).

We looked at her all confused and she rolled down her window and I rolled down mine (this is where it gets good). She said to me in a really hateful tone, "I was trying to let that car (the other SUV) out." Then I said, "Ok but you don't have to be so hateful." She gave me a look like "Oooo boy you've said it now" and rolled up her window. We ended up pulling out anyway and, to make her even more angry, we let another car in front of us in the line of traffic. I mean, what's the difference in letting us out and that other SUV? That was so strange but funny!