Since the Kings have called STAPLES Center home, each year come February they go on what we often refer to as "The Grammy Trip." Given our home ice was occupied for many weeks to hand out various awards, I found it only fitting that we have a little award ceremony of our own.
It takes courage to take the ice in front of 18,000 fans. With less than a minute and a half to complete ice patterns and shovel up all of the snow, our primary concentration lies on the task at hand as we glide our skates across the choppy ice. Although we pride ourselves on being decent skaters, no matter how skilled you are there is always a percentage that is left in the hands of Lady Luck. Let's take a moment to honor some of our unlucky moments…when Ms. Luck must have stepped out for a moment to pay a visit to the concession stand.
Ice Cream Award
Vanessa, while working her first-ever game last season, crossed paths with a fellow teammate, who didn't see her skates and accidentally "scooped" her right up off her feet with the shovel. Unfortunately in her case, most people saw this particular wipeout and a painful reaction was heard from the crowd. Gracefully, she stood back up and gave a playful bow.
Hot dog Award
With no surprise, this hilarious award is dedicated to none other than Carrlyn. She was embarrassingly involved in a T-shirt toss gone awry. Her aim was slightly off as she attempted to throw a shirt and instead of landing in the hands of a cheering fan, the t-shirt strayed away and hit a gentleman who was carrying a tray full of food as he walked up the stairs.
(Maybe a new bullet point should be added to the T-shirt toss handbook – throw to fans with empty hands only. Beware of falling shirts.)
Cold-Crossed Buns Award
Red light, green light, lights out. This award goes to Gabby, whose incident happened pre-game while helping rehearse our red light, green light intermission on-ice game. The results were some very chilly, bruised….um, cheeks. Overly confident in her ability to peel off the starting line track-style, she took off at full speed and quickly discovered UGG boots on ice apparently have far less traction than running shoes on the pavement...
Animalistic Impression Award
Alexis, who now is better known as the "Gazelle," received this nickname after taking a tumble at a toy drive appearance. Somehow she managed to trip over her own two feet (admittedly, this has happened to the best of us), however her particular trip and fall landed her right into a tower of toys waiting to be distributed to the kids…therefore knocking everything over. A woman's voice was heard jokingly shouting out amongst the laughing bystanders, "way to go Gazelle."
(I might suggest she stay away from Bailey the lion)
Disassemble Award
Taylor had trouble keeping parts of her uniform on while taking a hilarious fall at a Legends Night game this year honoring Kings Alum, Daryl Evans. While taking a stop, her skate hit a rut and sent her flying. While she fell, both of her hands flew up and her expression appeared to be saying "ta-da" as she fell to the ice. In doing so, the suspenders that we were wearing (in honor of Daryl) that specific night popped off and sailed across the ice.
Fluffy Feet Award
It is a positive attribute to want to keep your skates in mint condition, however Tiffany took it to a whole new level when she accidentally took the ice with her skate guards STILL ON. She struggled for a few moments slipping and sliding while attempting to stand back up, not realizing what the issue was. Luckily the attentive teammate behind her quickly noticed the problem and snatched the guards off. If they ever do a Bambi on ice production I think they've found their lead character...
Frozen Farmer Award
Becky got a taste of what it's like to "plow" right into one of those big burly players out on the ice. The opposing team's goalie was doing figure-8 patterns in front of his net and wasn't paying much attention to our snow-shoveling patterns. Needless to say, one wrong turn in the same direction sent them both crashing into one another. I'm sure you can picture which one of these two involved in the collision was flung across the ice.
Congratulations, ladies. And, remember: "To fall is not to fail; it means you climbed up high."
Go KINGS...
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