Third Annual
Skate With the Hurricanes
Charity Promotion
Photos Page

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Most photos that I'm in were taken by my sister, who finally got to go this year. Yay! If I'm not in them at all, there's a pretty good chance that I was on the other side of the lens for those few. And if both Julie and I are in it, well, I guess someone else took the picture. :)

Highlights of the afternoon?

• Getting there early and being one of the first few people in line this year (not to mention that they let us wait inside this year, unlike last year, when by the time I got in the door I was a human popsicle);

• Not missing Archie Irbe skating on the ice, it was close, but we got there just before the buzzer went off signifying the "changing of the guard" and managed to get in a few quick photos;

• Being told by Paul Ranheim that I actually skated pretty good for someone who only skates once a year;

• The great photo op to start off the day by finding Sean "Look Ma, no black eyes this year!" Hill and Martin Gelinas scheduled first on the agenda to do the Polaroids. (See the Polaroid from 1998 below for the "black eyes" reference. Sean had just recently gone face first into the boards that year, and was still all banged up when the photo was taken...)

• Oh, and the fact that the whole event was held at the Entertainment and Sports Arena (ESA) this year instead of at the IcePlex. I LOVED the IcePlex, but it was too crowded there to hold something of this magnitude. And this way we got to skate on NHL ice, which was kinda neat. :)

Lowlights of the afternoon?

• Getting there early, being one of the first people in line, only to have them change then entrance doors at the last minute, letting the people who got there MINUTES before in before the people who stood there for over a $#!!@$! hour (thanks a lot, guys! just how many years IS it going to take for you to get organized?).

• And while on the ice, getting this response from Paul Coffey after asking politely if he would stand for a photo - "I'll be out here for 40 minutes, can we do this later?" Fine. Needless to say, I opted to NOT go back and ask him a second time. I had better things to do with my time then to hound someone for a photo who obviously didn't care to be on the ice in the first place. On the bright side, how many people can actually say they were snubbed by a future Hall of Famer. :) But in my mental ranking of favorite players, let's just say he's bottom feeding right about now.

But all in all, once again I'd say a good time was had by all. And yet again, I can't WAIT until next year.

So.... what are we waiting for, let's bring on the photos! I'm listing these in the order that we happened across them during the afternoon...

First we have "The Players":

(L) My all time favorite player, Arturs Irbe, and
(R) Paul Ranheim who fast became a highlight of the afternoon,
after he complimented me on skating so well for someone who only skates once a year. :)
Thanks, Paul, you were too kind.

(L) Jeff O'Neill, who seemed a little reserved, but that's okay, at least he was out there and willing.
Unlike some people who shall remain nameless, like Paul Coffey. Oops. Did =I= say that? :)
(R) Eric Fichaud, our backup goalie. Nice as could be.

(L) Mascot Stormy the IceHog and at (R) Andrei Kovalenko.
Funny, he seems bigger when he plays. Maybe he slouched for this photo? :)

(L) Bates Battaglia (this is one of my favorite pictures. Jules, you done good on this one! :) )
(R) David Tanabe, another one who seemed a little reserved, but this WAS his first year
doing one of these, can you blame him?

(L) Sean Hill (this is my other favorite photo, every time I look at it, I just go "Awwww." :) )
(R) Tommy Westlund, yet another really nice guy to talk with.



(L) Martin Gelinas (my sister's favorite, and with good reason, he's just TOO nice!)
(R) Sami Kapanen, the Hurricane's contribution to the All-Star Game in Toronto this year.
He seemed a little reserved last year, but definitely was much friendlier this year.

And last but not least, Robert Kron. This was a good way to end up, with a genuinely nice guy,
and one I haven't had the chance to photograph the previous two years.

Oh, and mustn't forget my impression of Paul Coffey;
He left me as cold as the snowman I built in my back yard yesterday,
after he responded to my polite request for a photo with
"I'll be out here for 40 minutes, let's do it later."
Right. Like I'd want to waste any more of his time, or mine...

Then we have the "Miscellaneous Photos" Section:

Just a shot of yours truly, in Ye Olde Sin Bin at the ESA. :)

How's that song go? "I wanna drive a Zamboni... yes I do..." :)
That's me on the left, and my sister and me on the right...

A Zamboni's Eye-View of the ESA.
That's Martin Gelinas there, next to the kids on the right.

A shot of the ESA at the end of the afternoon, heading back out to the
concourse. And I don't want to hear any more complaints from NC State about
there not being enough Wolfpack banners hanging up there, okay? I'd say that
there are plenty, wouldn't you? :)

My Polaroid Collection:

These are the photos that are included with the price of admission.
(players and backgrounds may vary. :) )

(L) Skate with the Players (SWP) 2000, with Sean Hill, me, and Martin Gelinas
(R) SWP 1999, Archie Irbe and Me


SWP 1998, with Kent Manderville, me, Jeff Brown (remember him?) and Sean Hill.

And now for something completely different...

No, not really... Same afternoon, just from a different perspective...
For my sister's take on the afternoon (and to see the photos that I shot of HER), just click HERE.

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