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LOS
ANGELES -- More than a quarter
of a million hockey fans came to downtown Los Angeles to experience
the first-ever L.A. Kings Stanley Cup victory parade in the team’s
45-year history. The free event took place on Thursday, June 14
at Noon. Some fans staked out their prime viewing spots as early
as 7 a.m. – five hours before the parade even began.
“I’m
completely excited for them, I thought they did a fantastic job,”
said Paul Kingsley from Woodland Hills, Calif. “Sixteen
and four, that’s incredible – the second best record
in the Stanley Cup playoffs next to Edmonton. I’m very excited.
I’ve seen the Stanley Cup about five or six times. I went
to Toronto to see the Hall of Fame. I’m very superstitious.
A couple of years ago, I stopped going to a bunch of Kings games
so they wouldn’t lose anymore. For a non-season ticket holder,
it was hard to get Kings rally tickets.”
The city
best known for Hollywood got a new nickname, Hockeywood, as players
road aboard red double-decker sightseeing buses. Rick Sadowski
coined the term in his 1993 hardcover book by the same name.
“It
was quite the experience, I’ve been a long-time season ticket
holder,” said Gary Erickson, also from Woodland Hills, Calif.
“For them to come through the playoffs the way they and
set the records they did and play with the intensity they did
is a great day for L.A. We’ve been waiting a long time for
this. Go Kings! Including the playoffs, I went to about 35 to
40 games. I have seen the cup and rubbed on the cup before. Two
of three years ago, they toured it throughout some of the iceoplexes
in the valley and I went and saw it there. It was easy to get
Kings rally tickets; I’m a season ticket holder. Right-click,
enter the code and you’re in.“
The victory
parade started at Figueroa and Fifth streets and headed southeast
to the STAPLES Center where it ended.
“The
Kings are absolutely amazing and this run has been crazy,”
said Riley Shoshani, a fan from Santa Monica, Calif. “Who
would have known that we would’ve kicked out the top three
seeds in the league. I thought it was just absolutely crazy. I’m
proud of a Kings; I’m a Kings fan. Go Kings! I went to all
of the games this season. I went to my first playoffs game, which
was against the St. Louis Blues. The atmosphere was crazy; I had
such a good time. It was so difficult to get the Kings rally tickets.
As soon as we found out the tickets sold out, it was absolutely
ridiculous. They all sold out within presale, crazy.”
Nearly
every television and radio station in the Los Angeles market covered
the victory parade. Fox Sports West and KTLA both aired live coverage
from start to finish.
“In
the middle of the season, I said to my grandpa that we were going
to win the Cup and we did,” said Jacob Nodd, a young fan
from Northridge, Calif. “I only went to one game. For all
of us, it was hard to get tickets to the Kings rally. His dad
got tickets and there was an extra one so he brought me. My mom
and dad couldn’t go and then his dad gave us three more
tickets so we brought my grandpa in.”
The Kings
players, coaches and staff stopped in front of the STAPLES Center
at 12:30 for a hero shot. Confetti was blown into the air and
then Kings Captain Dustin Brown lifted the Stanley Cup into the
air.
“It
feels awesome, it was so exciting that I was able to come to some
of the games,” said Casey Madsen of Santa Clarita, Calif.
“This was my first time seeing the Stanley Cup. I want to
say I went to one game per series through the playoffs and a couple
during the regular season. It was pretty easy to get tickets for
the Kings rally. I just went online and got the tickets.”
For most
fans, it was their first time ever seeing the Cup, the NHL’s
top trophy.
“I
am completely surprised and I’m surprised that they could
adjust to a new coach that well,” said Danny Mizin of Calabasas,
Calif. “They just completely swept the Stanley Cup. I’m
completely shocked. I went to a couple games throughout the season.
I actually went to games four and six of the Stanley Cup finals
and it was insane. I loved the atmosphere and it was amazing.
My dad said something about Kings rally tickets going on limited
sale at 10 o’clock. We actually got back from some kind
of party at 10:05 and they were all sold out.”
Those
who have seen the Stanley Cup before had to travel to other cities.
For L.A. fans, those days are over.
“I
thought it was fantastic, they just swept by all of their opponents,”
said Brittany Golob of Northridge, Calif. “The hardest part
was game four and game five. In game six, they just closed it
out, it was amazing. This was my first time seeing the Stanley
Cup. I’m so excited about it too. I think I went to two
games this season. I usually go to two or three per season. I
was out of the country and I came back for two games. We got tickets
to the rally; I’m in the fan club. It was more difficult
than I thought it would be to get the tickets. I had to keep refreshing
my Ticketmaster page. I had a presale code so it was great.”
The
party continued inside the STAPLES Center with the Kings victory
rally
After
the parade ended, Kings players, coaches and staff headed inside
the STAPLES Center. They took a break and then ate lunch. Fans
entered the venue at 1:00 p.m. and the Kings victory rally began
at 2:30 p.m.
"This
is amazing, our players will never forget this day," said
Luc Robitaille, president of Kings business operations. "You
guys brought us the Stanley Cup. Thanks a lot you guys. You players
for the last two and a half months have been amazing. You win
this championship as a team. You don't win this as individuals.
Thank you guys for teaching us all a great lesson about sports.
Sometimes, an individual can win a game, but a team wins championships.
I got an e-mail last night and I thought it was the proper time
to read it. It says, 'Dear Luc: I cannot thank the Kings enough
to have been part of this dream run. This is a closing chapter
for me in my life for me and Carroll. Now I can go to my grave
with my head up. Yours Truly, Marcel Dionne.'"
Tickets
for the victory rally were completely free and were available
online at Ticketmaster.com. Kings season ticket holders received
a special code to download their free tickets beginning at 10
a.m. on the day before. Tickets were available to the general
public starting at 6 p.m.
"Thank
you, I want to congratulate our great fans in Los Angeles Kings
history," said head coach Darryl Sutter. "I want to
congratulate the players. I told them this is the most unbelievable
feeling I've had in the last few days when we had that 5-1 lead
with three or four minutes left the other day. Just to see the
look on their faces is something I'll remember for the rest of
my life. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. It's
an incredible day. Everybody enjoy it and stay out of trouble."
All of
the victory rally tickets were reserved in less than an hour.
Many of the tickets ended up for sale on eBay for as much as $2,400
making it difficult for regular people to attend the rally.
"I
just want to say thanks to everybody, this is awesome," said
Matt Greene, Kings defenseman and assistant captain. "There's
one person I want to point out, though. He is the Kings No. 1
fan of all time, Kent. It's amazing. This is unbelievable how
crazy and awesome this is."
In the
Western Conference Quarterfinals, the Kings beat the Vancouver
Canucks in four games to one. In the fifth game, the Kings beat
the Canucks by a score of two to one in overtime.
"I
just hope all of you are enjoying this as much as all of us are,"
said Anze Kopitar, Kings center and assistant captain. "It's
been quite a journey for me. I mean I've been here for six years.
It was smooth sailing, but I think the last couple of months,
we made it pretty special. To win it all, especially on this ice,
you guys definitely deserved that. We'd like to thank you for
all of your support. It's too much fun not to win it again. Let's
go get it."
During
the Western Conference Semifinals, the Kings swept the St. Louis
Blues in four games. The Kings won the fourth game of the series
by a score of three to zero.
"It's
pretty unbelievable, it's hard to describe what myself and everybody
on this ice is feeling right now," said Dustin Brown, Kings
captain and right wing. "It's a pretty special moment. There
wasn't this many the last time I talked to everybody. Now, I don't
see a team. I see a bunch of champions so that's pretty cool.
Probably the most important thing here is you guys. You've been
a big support, it's been unbelievable. You guys have waited a
long, long time for this day. As players, we had a chant: 'We
Want The Cup.' You guys can join me in the new chant, 'We Got
The Cup.'"
In the
Western Conference Finals, the Kings beat the Phoenix Coyotes
in four games to one. In the fifth game, the Kings beat the Coyotes
by a score of four to three in overtime.
"Thank
you so much," said Kings Goalie Jonathan Quick, who won the
Conn Smythe Trophy as NHL's most valuable player during the playoffs.
"For me, personally, I've been here for four years. Even
four years ago, we were getting beaten by Detroit 8-2. The support
we had back then and now we're beating Detroit and we're beating
New Jersey. To see this 18,000 here, you guys have been unbelievable.
I can't thank you enough. It's awesome man. Thank you to every
one of you from the bottom of my heart. We love you guys."
During
the Stanley Cup Finals, the Kings beat the New Jersey Devils in
four games to two. The Kings won the sixth game of the series
by a score of six to one, with one their goals on an empty Devils
net.
For
more information about the Los Angeles Kings, visit their official
website at kings.nhl.com.
Related
Story: L.A.
Kings to celebrate Stanley Cup Championship with Parade and Rally
on Thursday
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Fans watching the victory parade from the NOKIA Plaza.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Four
Kings players road aboard Starline double-decker tour buses.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
KTLA-TV
Ch. 5 aired live coverage of the parade from start to finish.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO
/ ©AMERICAJR.com
The
Kings Ice Crew dance team also participated in the victory parade.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
The party continued inside the STAPLES Center with the Kings victory
rally.
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