| | Well, It's time for the biggest NHL All-Star Game ever. No. 50 is right where it should be: Toronto. I'll be checking in all weekend with a few of the highlights of my experience in Toronto. It all starts Friday night when some major names from hockey history get together. If you can't be there, I'll do my best to give you a glimpse.
A who's who of old timers
Seeing the older players. There's an alumni meal Friday night, and that will be a blast to see old friends and players I grew up watching at the All-Star Game. There aren't many guys that I haven't met, though. I played with Bobby Hull, against Gordie Howe. The hockey world is a small world, but it will be fun to be together and laugh and joke.
Don't miss practice
Seeing all the players practice and warm up. It's the best 40 in the world, and watching them walk through the drills with such speed. Everyone can shoot and skate and score. Even the defensemen are great passers. Watching practice can be better than the game. Don't doubt that even the greatest players will be very excited to be playing with some o the greats; for the young guys, it's a big deal to play with Ray Bourque and Steve Yzerman. It'll be interesting to see how a guy likeScott Gomez carries himself.
The real Hockeytown
The city of Toronto. I played there, and there is such a great history of hockey there. The city, Maple Leaf Gardens, the Air Canada Centre. I love it so much because it's a hockey city. It's going to be a lot of fun being in a place where hockey is No. 1. Most places ESPN covers hockey, it isn't the most important sport, and I get sick of that sometimes. So, this will be a treat for me.
Sunday's special
The game itself. It's not a perfect game, but seeing all the players, something special always happens. Something so great that you just shake your head and know you may not see something like that again.
Barry Melrose is a hockey analyst for ESPN. | |
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