NHL Alumni games: Canada take win in opening game as players enjoy Scottish visit
The pace may have been more sedate than in their heyday, but there was no doubting the enjoyment, and competitive spirit, as the NHL Alumni donned their skates for the first of three games at Murrayfield Ice Rink.
“It’s still Canada versus USA” said one after the Canucks took the honours in the first game on an 8-5 scoreline. They go again on Saturday in front of a near full house - and on Sunday to wrap a week-long stay in the Scottish capital.
Golf in St Andrews is also on the cards for many of the players as they make the most of their visit - one which has certainly captured the attention of many hockey fans here.
Billed as the biggest ever NHL alumni games staged in the UK, they are playing for the Scotland Ice Hockey Cup, and having a blast.
Garet Hunt, team captain at Fife Flyers, lined up with old friend and Stanley Cup winner, Milan Lucic, and beamed as he said: “I got five assists - five!”
He hailed the opening game as “a lot of fun” and was thrilled at the turnout.
“It was a great exhibition and a great way to show people hockey. These events can help grow the sport - they are a great way for families who maybe can’t make it to Fife, Dundee or Glasgow to come along and see some top, top players.” “We saw some great goals tonight from guys with 50-60 NHL goals. They are playing for fun, but they also have a lot of experience which shows.” Hunt also underlined why so many exNHLers made the journey across.
“For many, this is their first time in Scotland and they are all talking about how great it is - they are loving it. This is just as much an experience for the players as it is for the fans.”
For supporters who follow the NHL, it was a rare chance to see, and meet, players they have followed from afar. The rosters were headed by Stanley Cup winners Lucic and Mike Knuble, who both logged over 1000 NHL games, Bobby Ryan, 800-plus games with Ottowa Senators, and Mathieu Perreault, 700-plus games, largely with Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals.
There were also some familiar faces who have iced in the UK - guest players included Hunt, plus Spencer Naas and Keano Yamomoto from Dundee Stars.
Tim Wallace, former head coach at Nottingham Panthers and Milton Keynes Lightning, was also part of Team USA alumni after logging over 100 NHL games with Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes.
He pulled on his skates for the first time in two seasons, and had a blast.
“It was great fun,” he said. “The passing is still there from these guys, and the game got the rust off the skates. The intensity will pick up - that was a good pace of a game for guys of different ages. We’re hockey players, we’re competitive in whatever we do - that’s how these guys made it in the sport.
Wednesday’s game was also the alumni’s first time on ice - “warm up was our practice!” - but the game is ingrained in each player.
“The hands are still there,” said Wallace, “the legs may need a bit of work!”
For Wallace, it was also chance to lace up with some old team-mates, including some he hadn’t seen in 20 years, and help put on a show for the fans who enjoyed a meet and greet post-game.
The replica tops worn rinkside ranged from NHL teams to Aberdeen Lynx, with a good number of Fife Flyers donning their strips as everyone grabbed the opportunity to extend their hockey season into late April.
“The sport here is growing in a lot of different ways, “ said Wallace.. “The hockey is getting better, we have two good leagues in the EIHL and NIHL, and the fans are incredible.”
> The NHL Alumni series continues on Saturday with game two which faces off at Murrayfield at 6:30pm, with the third match on Sunday at 5:30pm. Ticket details here