On December 19, 2002, my grandma..Nana..took me to my first hockey game. Los Angeles Kings against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. I was 8 years old. I was so excited, I couldn’t wait to get to Staples Center. I was sporting my brand new Kings home jersey that she had just recently bought for me. It’s too small now…but still one of my prized possessions.
Watching the game that night, I fell in love with not just the Kings, but with hockey. I had more fun at that game than I had ever had at a Laker or Dodger game [but I still love going to those games too]. After that, going to Kings games with my Nana became a regular thing. My last game was in April 2006. Again, against the Mighty Ducks.
After that…There wasn’t much hockey for me anymore. We couldn’t really afford tickets much, and Nana started getting bad anxiety/claustrophobia..plus knee problems. For the next few years I’d watch hockey games in my room and tried keeping up with my team. But I eventually just stopped. Nobody I knew liked hockey, so I never really brought it up. It was something that was a part of my life that nobody knew about because I felt like it was just gone. Yeah, I’d get excited if I heard we won a game or two, but after a while I didn’t see a point in keeping track.
Then two years ago, I met someone..who was a hockey fan. On September 25, 2011, he took me to my first hockey game in 5 years. It was a preseason game; Los Angeles Kings against, now, the Anaheim Ducks. We lost. But it didn’t matter. At that game, I had rediscovered my love for the Los Angeles Kings, and this amazing sport.
My first year back at Staples Center, in those purple seats, screaming at the top of my lungs…and we’re Stanley Cup Champions.
I love hockey. I love the Kings. I’m grateful for my Nana for introducing it to me. And I’m grateful for my boyfriend for bringing it back to me.
GO KINGS GO!!!!
