Monday night, Blue Jackets fans watched their team beat the Florida Panthers at Nationwide Arena thanks to goals from forwards Matt Calvert and Boone Jenner. Tuesday, fans got to celebrate the win in person with Calvert, Jenner and forward Corey Tropp at the Jackets celebrity bartending event.
The Blue Jackets Foundation organizes three celebrity bartending events each season in conjunction with Columbus Distributing. A long-time partner of the Jackets, Columbus Distributing created the bartending events as a way to support the charitable efforts of the team.
"We've been working with the team since they began," said Kim Carmine, marketing director for Columbus Distributing. "We came up with the idea for these events because we wanted something fun, that the (players) would love and that would help raise money for a good cause."
As part of each bartending event, there are raffles for Jackets tickets, key chains, hats, and T-shirts. The players' jerseys are auctioned off along with signed hockey sticks and banners, and those proceeds, along with the money that comes from the players' bartending efforts, go directly to the foundation.
According to the foundation, Tuesday's event raised over $2,700.
Dennis Kelley II, of Blacklick, said it was the ability to help the foundation that was the main reason he came out to the bartending event, and that the opportunity for a different way to connect with the players was an added benefit.
"My favorite part of the event is knowing where the money goes," Kelley said. "And I love the interaction. It's not about the autographs for me, it's more important just shaking a player's hand and saying 'good job out there.'"
Calvert was participating in his second celebrity bartending event. Armed with some tips from his wife who used to bartend, Calvert was also looking forward to getting to know fans in a different forum.
"These events are a lot more casual," Calvert said. "You're not just sitting at a table signing autographs you actually get to interact with fans, there's some cool (raffles), and you get to serve some drinks - it's always a good time."
Calvert wasn't the only one who came prepared to show some drink-serving skill. Jackets forward Corey Tropp says he bartended a bit while in college at Michigan State University.
Upon hearing that part of the event involved a competition among the players for who could collect the most tips, Tropp said he was ready for the challenge against Calvert and Jenner.
"I'm here with two guys who scored goals last night," Tropp said. "But we'll see what we can do."
Tropp's prediction would serve him well.
A continuous line of fans waited to order beers and get autographs and pictures from all three players. Throughout the evening, the players' ranking in the fundraising competition was announced -- often to cheers from the crowd and encouragement from the players.
While Jenner took an early lead, he ultimately fell to Tropp who won bragging rights for most drinks sold and tips accumulated.
"I'm happy to cheer for whoever wins the night," Kelley said. "But Jenner is definitely my favorite player, I always hope my guy wins."
For Kelley, who proudly wore a T-shirt reading "Boone's Goons" in honor of Jenner, it was the moments spent receiving a smile from the shirt's namesake, and having Calvert saying he loved the shirt that meant the most.
"This is the fourth time I've been able to meet Boone," Kelley said. "(Jenner) is fearless on the ice, but he's so nice in person. He has a big smile for everyone and he's so down-to-earth."
Overall, everyone deemed the night a success, including the players.
"It's good seeing the fans' support especially mid-winter when it's getting cold outside," Calvert said. "We had a good turnout tonight, it was a lot of fun."
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