Watching the NHL Game at Navy Stadium

Capt MJ

Formerly Known As Attila The Hunnette
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Right now at 8 EST... Great set-up - aircraft carrier background to the ice rink for Maple Leafs v Caps. Midn Lael Sommer did a beautifully sung version of the anthem, mids in bridge coats lined the field, joint color guard from DC color guard looked good, Navy men’s and women’s hockey teams are out there, lots of spotlight of USNA and the Navy. And an afterburner-on Hornet flyover.

DH said tix started at $250; it looks sold out. Nice bit of cash flow for Navy Athletics.
 
Very cool aerial view of the field. Annapolis is crawling with Toronto fans. And I'm visiting my plebe - while he does homework. :(
 
May I suggest a visit to Annapolis Ice Cream on Main St.? Excellent après-homework treat.
 
Bummer - he gave up sweets for lent. He did get an awesome iced caramel macchiato from Zu Coffee though. I, however, went to Kilwins without him :)
 
Thanks for posting this Capt MJ! I had no idea this was taking place.

I'm pretty sure that the NHL is keeping most of the money, though there is most likely a sharing agreement with the NAAA.
 
Caught an early flight to BWI, met up with Plebe son who signed up to participate in the pregame ceremony in exchange for a free ticket, took Plebe son and his buddies out to dinner, bought a $60 ticket in front of Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium..a combination of my lifelong love of the NHL and Navy Football...what could be better! A little cold and windy but perfect outdoor hockey weather for someone who learned to skate on a frozen lake.:)
 
The flag flies O'er the land of the free (as in over), not For.
The most common mistake in singing the National Anthem, was NOT replicated by a USNA Midshipman!
Bravo Zulu, Lael Sommer!
 
The flag flies O'er the land of the free (as in over), not For.
The most common mistake in singing the National Anthem, was NOT replicated by a USNA Midshipman!
Bravo Zulu, Lael Sommer!

And - no extra stuff - she did not “make the song her own.” Sung with the right tempo and as written.
 
And - no extra stuff - she did not “make the song her own.” Sung with the right tempo and as written.

MIDN Sommer went to my DS’s high school here in Hawaii. She brought some local pride to the islands and I thought she did an outstanding job!!! As a side note, Lael’s brother is currently a plebe and both parents are alumni of USNA. One very strong Navy family! My P2B was happy to see her perform so well on such a big stage.
 
My Youngster was at the game and participated in March On, etc. He called before the puck dropped almost delirious with excitement and relief. Excitement because he'd just gotten his cover signed by 5 members of the gold medal winning US Women's Hockey team (attached). Relief because when he was approached by a USMC Lt Col who asked him what was on his cover, the Marine replied that he was a grad of USNA '81, and he had gotten his cover signed by the 1980 Lake Placid team.

Just another day in Annapolis.
 

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My Youngster was at the game and participated in March On, etc. He called before the puck dropped almost delirious with excitement and relief. Excitement because he'd just gotten his cover signed by 5 members of the gold medal winning US Women's Hockey team (attached). Relief because when he was approached by a USMC Lt Col who asked him what was on his cover, the Marine replied that he was a grad of USNA '81, and he had gotten his cover signed by the 1980 Lake Placid team.

Just another day in Annapolis.

Ok, retrieve that detachable cover, give him the money for a new one, get it framed shadow-box style while you can download a fresh team photo with gold medals to put in it, makes a great present and keepsake for his I Love Me collection down the road. Even if you get to keep it until he’s ready for “stuff,” what fun.

My DH, a member of the Glee Club back in the day, got to sing at the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City and be an escort. His mom got the cover he had gotten signed by his Miss Home State along with a publicity still she had signed, all framed up nicely. We still have it. It’s next to a stack of his flight logs, his tail hook from his 1000th carrier landing and other fun stuff.
 
And, who would have thought in 1981 there would be, one day, a women’s Olympic hockey team AND a gold medal one?!
 
My Youngster was at the game and participated in March On, etc. He called before the puck dropped almost delirious with excitement and relief. Excitement because he'd just gotten his cover signed by 5 members of the gold medal winning US Women's Hockey team (attached). Relief because when he was approached by a USMC Lt Col who asked him what was on his cover, the Marine replied that he was a grad of USNA '81, and he had gotten his cover signed by the 1980 Lake Placid team.

Just another day in Annapolis.

Ok, retrieve that detachable cover, give him the money for a new one, get it framed shadow-box style while you can download a fresh team photo with gold medals to put in it, makes a great present and keepsake for his I Love Me collection down the road. Even if you get to keep it until he’s ready for “stuff,” what fun.

My DH, a member of the Glee Club back in the day, got to sing at the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City and be an escort. His mom got the cover he had gotten signed by his Miss Home State along with a publicity still she had signed, all framed up nicely. We still have it. It’s next to a stack of his flight logs, his tail hook from his 1000th carrier landing and other fun stuff.

Oh, he's bringing it home for Spring Break to make sure it's safe. Funny thing: I work in the sports industry, so he's gotten to do a bunch of fun / cool stuff related to my work (Super Bowls, etc.) I have NEVER heard him so excited about doing something/meeting people sports related.
 
As an Ensign, I got voluntold to be the duty driver for 4 NFL players on a USO tour of military bases. They were signing autographs and handing their Super Bowl rings around at sailor meet-ups. The Sailors were having a great time, showing these very nice guys the station helos, P-3s, the tugboats, the SeaBee heavy machinery, the drug dogs, their subs. Four of the largest human beings I have ever seen, watching them squeeze down a sub ladder - hilarious. I took them tapa-hopping in Puerto de Santa Maria near Naval Station Rota Spain with a bunch of my JO friends (mix of USNA, ROTC, OCS). Beat any story told by my civilian HS friends the next time I went to CONUS on leave.
 
My daughter and I were fortunate enough to attend this game and watch my Plebe participate in the March On.... what an unbelievable experience. DS and his friends got pictures with the Gold medal winning men's curling team and the Women's Hockey Team. We met up with them at the Fan fest and they were so excited to be there. Hockey fans are the best, so patriotic and respectful the whole stadium sang both the National Anthem and the Canadian Anthem.
 
Both Daughters worked out at camps with women's Gold and Silver Medal players (one at Lake Placid twice and one at the Olympic Development at U Vermont). My wife wore our old signed USA Jersey to school for both games this year. Her kids loved it. I still remember "OH CANADA" and was proud to sing it and show respect at tournaments. I once told Marv Flemming that the ring was stuck. His answer was that the ring comes back or your arm comes off.
 
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Not to leave my son out. I told him that not many can say that they have done what he did and I have pictures of him in the penalty box at Herb Brooks Rink at Lake Placid with his name announced over the loud speaker. Hey it was only two minutes. Bad call by the Reff.
 
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Capt MJ, you stink. Really wanted to be there but didn’t find out until after my work schedule came out.
 
Capt MJ, you stink. Really wanted to be there but didn’t find out until after my work schedule came out.

So sorry - should have posted in advance. Lots of local stories on the stadium set-up. I had no idea, though, how much USNA/Navy/mids were going to be featured - anthem, flyover - plus all the Olympians.
 
So sorry - should have posted in advance. Lots of local stories on the stadium set-up. I had no idea, though, how much USNA/Navy/mids were going to be featured - anthem, flyover - plus all the Olympians.
I’m kidding. My brothers should have told me.
 
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