Saturday morning skate
On Saturday, the Los Angeles Kings had a morning skate to prepare for Frozen Fury Ten later that night against the Colorado Avalanche. Close to a hundred bleary-eyed Kings fans made the trek to the Grand Garden Arena at the MGM Grand to watch their team warm up. Some were still in their pajamas.
Matt: So, you have to tell me about why you're wearing pajamas here...
Mary Marenoff: Because they said it was going to be cold, and all I brought were skirts.
Matt: So that's the warmest thing you have?
Mary: Yes, what I'm in, and I have my blanket.
Matt: Oh well, you have a blanket. That works out then...
Mary: Seat's cold, though...
The enthusiasm of the fans is mostly the reason why the Frozen Fury game has lasted since 1997.
Derek Armstrong: It's great, you know... There's a great tempo to the game, and you get fans from Colorado and L.A. Some fans turn it into a holiday; they come in Thursday or Friday. And they really enjoy the atmosphere. They come to have a good time, which is what this game is all about.
Matt: Does it improve the morale when you travel to a place like Vegas?
Armstrong: Yeah, it's always great. During some of the exhibitions, the people know it's preseason, so the atmosphere's not quite there. But there's always a great atmosphere, and it's a fun game to play in.
Matt: So, this is your first Frozen Fury. What have you done since you guys have gotten to Vegas?
Jack Johnson: Well, I'm too young to gamble, so I've been walking around, checking out some of the hotels. I went to the Palms, the Wynn, and hanging around the MGM. There's plenty to do here.
Matt: You probably have heard from some of the older fans, are you anxious to get out there and play in front of Kings and Avs fans in Vegas?
Johnson: Yeah, it should be fun. It's cool to see all the Kings fans who have come out to watch us play. I'm excited to go out there and play a game in that atmosphere.
Kings broadcaster Bob Miller sums up why the Frozen Fury has become a staple on the preseason schedule.
Bob Miller: I think the best experience of this Frozen Fury now that the fans from these two teams have a chance to come out and have a good time and see their teams before the season starts. It's always fun for all of us to come out, and we're treated real well. And I think the same holds true for the Colorado fans.
For the Long Beach Press-Telegram, I’m Matt Murray.
Matt: So, you have to tell me about why you're wearing pajamas here...
Mary Marenoff: Because they said it was going to be cold, and all I brought were skirts.
Matt: So that's the warmest thing you have?
Mary: Yes, what I'm in, and I have my blanket.
Matt: Oh well, you have a blanket. That works out then...
Mary: Seat's cold, though...
The enthusiasm of the fans is mostly the reason why the Frozen Fury game has lasted since 1997.
Derek Armstrong: It's great, you know... There's a great tempo to the game, and you get fans from Colorado and L.A. Some fans turn it into a holiday; they come in Thursday or Friday. And they really enjoy the atmosphere. They come to have a good time, which is what this game is all about.
Matt: Does it improve the morale when you travel to a place like Vegas?
Armstrong: Yeah, it's always great. During some of the exhibitions, the people know it's preseason, so the atmosphere's not quite there. But there's always a great atmosphere, and it's a fun game to play in.
Matt: So, this is your first Frozen Fury. What have you done since you guys have gotten to Vegas?
Jack Johnson: Well, I'm too young to gamble, so I've been walking around, checking out some of the hotels. I went to the Palms, the Wynn, and hanging around the MGM. There's plenty to do here.
Matt: You probably have heard from some of the older fans, are you anxious to get out there and play in front of Kings and Avs fans in Vegas?
Johnson: Yeah, it should be fun. It's cool to see all the Kings fans who have come out to watch us play. I'm excited to go out there and play a game in that atmosphere.
Kings broadcaster Bob Miller sums up why the Frozen Fury has become a staple on the preseason schedule.
Bob Miller: I think the best experience of this Frozen Fury now that the fans from these two teams have a chance to come out and have a good time and see their teams before the season starts. It's always fun for all of us to come out, and we're treated real well. And I think the same holds true for the Colorado fans.
For the Long Beach Press-Telegram, I’m Matt Murray.
Matt:
Thanks for the coverage and interviews. Don't know how you were able to swing getting 3 interviews in the two and half minutes of viedo.
Nice balance with the veteran Armstrong, then the highly touted Rookie Armstrong and to end it with Hall of Fame Announcer, Bob Miller.
This kind of coverage brings me back to the Forum days and Prime Ticket when the Kings had great coverage. Keep it up.
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Matt, this was great! I didn't get to go to Frozen Fury because my wife and I are expecting our newest member to our family but you brought it to me with this video! Keep up the great reporting! I can't wait for the next post!
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