What They Saw and Said About the Dodger Stadium Hockey Game

What an amazing evening!

But, don't just ask me.  Check out some links below featuring some photos that others have shared, and commentary about Saturday nights Stadium Series hockey game at Dodger Stadium.

Photos:

• Jon Rosen at the LA Kings Insider (the Kings official blog) has a whole bunch of great photos from the game.  Go here.
• The Dodgers photographer, Jon SooHoo, shares his pics, here.
• Kings centerman Anze Kopitar shares some pics from the Dodger Stadium game here.
• Redditor Shadax has an album filled with pics from the game on imgur. 
• Redditor WoozleWuzzle has some awesome panoramic photos up on imgur, as well.
• Gann Matsuda at Frozen Royalty has a bunch of photos up.
• Panini America has a handful of pics up at their blog. 
• Dodgers Penguin shared some of his pics here. 
• Crowned Royal has up a handful of photos.
• Jen Neale at Puck Daddy roamed around Dodger Stadium for some jersey fouls.
• Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA shared a bunch of his pics, here.
• Here are my pics from the game.
• A redditor named OutofStep13 shared a photo of Ned Colletti at the game.  See it below.

Commentary:

• Apparently, the @Dodgers twitter account ruffled some feathers on Saturday, via Mark Townsend at Big League Stew. 
• Jason Drantch at Feelin' Kinda Blue writes, "NHL Stadium Series at Dodger Stadium a Rock 'n Rollin' success". 

From the moment, my dad, my uncle and I stepped out of the car, we could tell that this game was going to be like nothing we had ever experienced before. Orange and black jerseys were everywhere, the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings rivalry in the air, with little to no Dodger Blue to be found.

• Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com, "Fans pack into Dodger Stadium for outdoor ice hockey".

"But it's nice to come to the park," the Dodgers general manager (Ned Colletti) and passionate hockey fan said, "and not care who wins."

• Jimmy Bramlett at the LAist has written his last post for that online journal, and it's all about the Stadium Series game, "Well that was something".  Check it out here.  My best wishes to you, sir.  I've enjoyed reading your stuff.
• Phil Hecken at UniWatch writes, "Boys of Winter".  It's his review of the Stadium Series game at Dodger Stadium.  Overall, he was very impressed with it.
• Via Gann Matsuda at Frozen Royalty, "NHL Hits Grand Slam Home Run At Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium".

All one had to do to understand this was to sit down in breathtaking, iconic Dodger Stadium, look slowly around at the packed house, and realize that over 54,000 people had come to see an outdoor NHL game in Los Angeles—many wearing T-shirts and shorts—even though, as reported earlier, tickets were drastically overpriced, not to mention tacking on exorbitant parking fees as high as $50.00.

• Via Jill Painter at the LA Daily News, "Hockey a huge hit at Dodger Stadium".
• Eric Duhatschek at the Globe and Mail writes, "Ice conditions and atmosphere the big winners as Ducks down Kings outdoors".
• nickc79 at Jewels from the Crown writes provides, "Grades and Anaylsis" of the game.
• Greg Wyshynski at Puck Daddy, "Ducks dominate at Dodger Stadium, shut out Kings in NHL outdoor game".

Videos:

A Kings fan just put up a video on youtube of his game experience.

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Stadium Bound has a video up of him leaving the stadium, via the right field section.  He shows some of the renovation work being done there.

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Below is a video of the pregame ceremony with Vin Scully and Bob Miller.

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Watch the Wayne Gretzky Puck Drop, below.

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Since this is a Dodger blog watch Tommy Lasorda and Brian Wilson pontificate about the event.  Tommy shows up at about the 0:46 second mark, and Wilson shows up at about the 1:05 mark.

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Here is Jordan Sparks with the Natinal Anthem.

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Blog Kiosk: 1/27/2014 - Dodgers Links - Community Caravan, Michael Young and Kershaw's Cy Young

KISS!  If you haven't seen it yet.  Here are Jon SooHoo's photos from the Stadium Series.  BTW, you can see my pics here.

• The Dodgers Community Caravan starts today.  Ron Cey, Kenny Landreaux, Matt Luke and Dennis Powell who will visit Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). Clear Channel Radio will be broadcasting live as part of a radiothon fundraiser benefitting CHLA. The radiothon will be co-hosted by Dodger alumnus Eric Karros. Dodger alumni will also take photos and sign autographs for patients and their families in support on this event.  See a Dodgers press release here.
• Christina DeNicola at MLB.com writes, "Dodgers' Rodriguez seeking redemption in 2014".

"Trying to stay strong through the whole year," Rodriguez said. "Last year, I thought I prepared well enough, but at the end I might have gotten a little tired and I didn't pitch as well as I wanted to. I felt like I had to work a little harder just to get to that point where I can last a whole season."

• Via Dylan Hernandez on twitter, Mighael Young still deciding what to do.  He also follows up with a story at the LA Times, "Michael Young deciding between retiring and returning to Dodgers".

Michael Young still undecided if he will play this year or retire. Young said that if he plays, it's "a safe bet" it will be for #Dodgers.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) January 27, 2014

• Via Ron Cervenka at Think Blue LA, "Clayton Kershaw – Baseball’s anti-rockstar".
• Matt Snyder at CBS Sports puts together a, "All-Time Single-Season Team: Los Angeles/Brooklyn Dodgers".
• Nick Diunte at Baseball Happenings tells us that former Brooklyn Dodger Charlie Osgood recently passed away.  RIP, Charlie.  Nick has an extended story about Osgood, here.

Charlie Osgood, pitcher of one game for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1944, passed away on January 23, 2014 in Tewksbury, Mass. He was 87.

Osgood made his debut at the tender age of 17 when baseball was rapidly losing players to the World War II draft.

• Via Craig Minami at True Blue LA, "Dodger prospects chat with Jason Parks of Baseball Prospectus".
• Jon Rosen at LA Kings Insider shares some photos from the Kings minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs game featuring them wearing a vintage Kings "Burger King" uniforms.
• Clayton Kershaw received the Cy Young Award on Saturday.  Watch Sandy Koufax introducing the Dodger ace below.

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Here are My Pics from Last Nights Stadium Series Hockey Game at Dodger Stadium

I won't bother going into much detail about how poorly the Kings played.  Suffice to say, it was uninspired.  My only regret, is that we never really got to hear the hometown Kings crowd roar.  If they only scored once, I'd be a much happier camper.

Now, on to my photos from Dodger Stadium.  Click any pic to embiggen.

These next few photos are from the pregame festivities in the parking lot.

I saw this guy just hanging around.  Is this guy trying out to be the Kings mascot.  Thankfully, we already have one.

Some Kings Ice Girls.

This might have been the coolest thing at the pregame festival.  I saw it too late, and didn't want to wait in line for it since I was heading my way to my seat.

Just a beautiful sight.  Notice the construction.  They are far from finishing the upgrades.

I am now in my seat.  I'm up in the Top Deck, and the views are absolutely incredible.  I was worried I'd be too far away to see anything. 

Nope, far from it.

My view was just fine.  I kept telling my season ticket buddy that we aren't that far from where our  Kings seats are.  We even might be a little closer.  He told me I was crazy.

Here, the tykes are on the floor hockey field for warm-ups. 

Then, the big kids go out for their pregame warm-ups.

Soon afterwards, KISS comes out to both entertain and amuse the crowd.  So much smoke!

The USC Marching Band serenades the players as they walk to the ice.

The National Anthem.

Game on!

Here's a pic of the second period puck drop.

And, it's over. The Kings lose 3 to 0.  Strangely, I am both disappointed and pleasantly surprised.

What a great evening; as conflicting as it was.

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Sunday Dodgers Videos: Newcombe, Hershiser and Scully's Introduction at the Stadium Series Hockey Game

Here are this Sunday's Didgers' videos.

Don Newcombe calls into Monday's Hot Stove to discuss playing with Jackie Robinson and his relationship with Martin Luther King Jr.

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Newest broadcaster Orel Hershiser talks about his excitement with joining the Dodgers' broadcast booth and his expectations for the team in 2014.

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Check out this great video put together by a Dodger fan featuring the 213 Dodger season.

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Watch Vin Scully introduce the Stadium Series, which took place at Dodger Stadium yesterday.

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What an Amazing Event!

I just got home from tonight's hockey game at Dodger Stadium, and I'm still in awe.  Sure, the Kings played like dogs; especially during the first 10 minutes, but I can't help think I'll remember the spectacle for the rest of my life.  It was really one of those kinds of events.

I've got a bunch of pics that I'll put up tomorrow, so stay tuned.  In the meantime, check out the above pic tweeted out by the @LAKings this evening of Hall of Famers Vin Scully and Bob Miller.  It's a classic.  And so is the below photo tweeted out by the @NHL.  Wow, is all I can say.

Is there even a word to describe this aerial shot of #StadiumSeries LA? pic.twitter.com/oTSQOkplHI
— NHL (@NHL) January 26, 2014

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Stadium Series Hockey Game is Tonight and I Just Can't Wait

I've been awaiting this day since it was first announced back in May of last year.

Tonight is the Stadium Series hockey game at Dodger Stadium, and I can't wait to see my Kings take it to the Ducks.

I'll be leaving shortly with my tickets in hand and my jersey draped over my shoulder.  I will be prepared to scream and cheer, but most of all, I am ready to take in the day.  This is a momentous moment for hockey fans in the Southland, and the aura and majesty of the event is sure to take everyone's breath away. 

The other night they tested out the ice for the first time, and reports indicate that it was just fine.  Check out my previous story related to that media/celebrity pick-up game, here.  The teams also practiced at Dodger Stadium for the first time yesterday.  Check out Jon Rosen's story about that at the LA Kings Insider, here.  Gann Matsuda at Frozen Royalty has even more.

As for the game, I'm hoping for a battle with hard checking, tight scrums along the boards and plenty of fisticuffs on the ice.  You see, the Kings are at a crossroads in their season, and they know they need to come out fighting in order to win.  They got beat on Thursday at the Ponda, 2 to 1, and I don't think the Kings liked it one bit.  Heck, I know the Kings fans in attendance didn't like it.  So, I would expect the Kings to try to assert themselves right away. 

In fact, don't be surprised if a couple of fights break out.  Watch for Kyle Clifford or Jordan Nolan of the Kings to square off against Ducks roughians Pat Maroon or Tim Jackman on the ice.  This pairing is a growing rivalry, and you certainly get the impression that they don't like each other.  I know opposing fans hate each other - like with some icy cold passion.

What do I predict?

I won't go there, but I will say that it will be an exciting close game.

To wet your whistle before the drop of the opening puck, check out this video featuring Vin Scully ushering in this special day.  Oh... And I'll put up photos as soon as I can. 

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Pic above via @LAKings on twitter:

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