The All Star Weekend Is A Winner

by Bob Wage on Jan 31, 2011 4:00 PM EST in 2011 NHL All Star Weekend

RALEIGH NC - JANUARY 29: Cam Ward #30 of the Carolina Hurricanes and Team Staal arrives at the NHL All-Star red carpet part of 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend on January 29 2011 in Raleigh North Carolina. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

What a weekend! I started out with high hopes of what I was going to try to accomplish this weekend and I ended up being overwhelmed. Sure, I had some technical problems at times and I wasn't feeling well on Saturday, but the bottom line is, I was just overwhelmed.

Let me preface this article by saying that I have never been a lover of All Star games, in any sport. It's hard to get jazzed up about a meaningless game where the players are just going through the motions.

Also, when I first heard about the concept of the All Star Draft, I had negative feelings about it. Surely, this was just going to be another predictable, scripted gimmick for the league to promote Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, right?

I couldn't have been more wrong.

What a brilliant idea by Brendan Shanahan and let's give the NHL brass, like Gary Bettman, some credit for being open minded and for allowing Shanahan the freedom to try something new.

When was the last time there was this much buzz before an All Star Game? Never. For instance, everyone out there was doing mock drafts. (Even Henry and Jordan Staal did one!)

While there could always be a couple of tweaks for improvement, (like allowing more attendees), the draft added an element that no other All Star Game has ever had before.

The media liked it, the players enjoyed it, and the fans loved it. Soon, the All Star Draft will be an annual event that every hockey fan will be looking forward to.

When is the last time a multitude of sportswriters left the same event in total agreement? Again, never. Even "Negative Nancy's" like Damien Cox had positive things to say about the weekend. Cox went so far to say that the success of this weekend might have saved the future of the All Star Game.

It seems ridiculous, but there was actually some previous talk out there of just canceling the event because of lack of interest. But not anymore. Raleigh, North Carolina put an end to that crazy talk.

There was tremendous attendance for the Fan Fair downtown and interest for the other events was off the charts.

But let's start at the beginning.

A couple of months ago, a few NHL execs came down here to start organizing volunteers for the event. One lady from the NHL said that she had been doing this for 10 years, and never saw as much response. While they needed 1,000 volunteers, between 1,200 to 1,400 showed up and for the first time in her career, people had to be turned away.

This same lady said that she had told a co-worker previously, "there is no way we will get 1,000 volunteers down there."

From that moment on, hockey fans in the area did nothing but impress her, and she was not alone.

Everyone had their favorite parts of the weekend, including the players. Claude Giroux mostly enjoyed the skills competition. Mike Green really liked the red carpet. Most of the players said that they enjoyed hanging out with the other players in a more relaxing environment. (Yep, they had multiple parties after each event.)

Some things I thought I would never see:

More local interest in hockey than an NC State/Carolina basketball game
A Canadian player throw a dig at Toronto for "not being a hockey market"
Pierre McGuire say that this was the best All Star event he had ever attended
See a young hockey player in Raleigh, (Jeff Skinner) instantaneously turn into a rockstar
Alex Ovechkin and Zdeno Chara get sincere, rousing cheers on the RBC ice
The All Star Weekend proceeding so successfully without barely a mention of the name, Sidney Crosby

There were too many highlights to even start to list.

The NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes organization, the City of Raleigh, the volunteers, and all the fans deserve a ton of credit for a tremendous and unforgetable weekend. Everyone contributed to the success.

If it's handled properly, the All Star Game is so much more than just a meaningless game. It's an event. It's a party. It's a celebration of a sport and glorification of it's players, past and present. And it's fun.

To those who still say that an All Star Game is a waste.... you were not in Raleigh this weekend.

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Comments

My 5-year old would say seeing STORMY score his first all-star goal.

by neaux on Jan 31, 2011 4:06 PM EST reply actions

All Star Activities.. Best of the Best

My sons and grandsons and I did the entire weekend…what a BLAST!..After the game last night I asked my youngest grandson (7)..what he liked best..he said…“When the Hurricane Guardian saved the other guardians and the RBC center!”..(between 2nd and 3rd periods).. ;-)

by gump61 on Jan 31, 2011 4:32 PM EST reply actions

I agree with you about the 6 things that you thought you’d never see …

The little jab that Staal gave to Toronto was epic. As I’ve said before, I have a ton of more respect for him after this weekend. There was a side to him that showed his pride for playing for this organization that he hasn’t mentioned.

I was FLOORED hearing Pierre speaking so well of Raleigh and the Caniacs. There are a few things that he’s said about the team and the area that I haven’t liked before.

Jeff Skinner turning into a rockstar isn’t something I was as surprised about, at least from a fans perspective. We all know how huge is he around here, but it was just elevated to a different atmosphere this weekend.

The fact that Chara and Ovechkin were cheered as much as they were I think shows how smart Canes fans are. Chara is one of the best defensemen at his position, and Ovechkin is one of the best (if not the best) players in the league. Sure, we, as fans, hate the teams they play for. We do, however, appreciate their skills, athleticism, and their ability. Granted, it helped a little that they played for Team Staal. :)

I don’t think I heard one mention of that Cindy chick …

"I don't hit people who I know don't fight. I have zero interest in people who don't fight." - Tim Gleason

twitter.com/caniac176

by caniac617 on Jan 31, 2011 4:45 PM EST reply actions

As I’ve said before, I have a ton of more respect for him after this weekend. There was a side to him that showed his pride for playing for this organization that he hasn’t mentioned.

And you gave me a hard time for saying this on Twitter! Pot meet kettle.

"What Carolina really has going for them is Brandon Sutter. When that kid first showed up, he looked like a skinny little thing that wouldn’t last two weeks. But he’s turned into a real star."

by caniacgirl on Jan 31, 2011 5:30 PM EST up reply actions

I didn’t say that I didn’t respect him before (ah hem…) but I just said that I have a ton of more respect for him after this weekend. Kettle meet pot? Wait, that sounds wrong …

"I don't hit people who I know don't fight. I have zero interest in people who don't fight." - Tim Gleason

twitter.com/caniac176

by caniac617 on Jan 31, 2011 5:47 PM EST up reply actions

Thank You Bob

I know from past experience in going to 2 ASG’s in my lifetime From seeing what videos were shown on news 14 as in a news spot as well as the 10:00 pm sports report The NHL by having the Draft and the quality of players in the skills compition was one of the best things i have seen since Gretzkey’s first all star game…in my 21 years of living here in North Carolina Raleigh like the state has grown, matured and evolved to where that adding Professional Hockey to the market has been a win win situation all the way around…Peter karmanos,Jr. did the smart thing in putting together a team not only the players but the front office & PR folks that have presented the Canes in a positive light even when the team didn’t play well…The quality of players that have played here who did willingly go out and embrace the triangle area as their own can’t be but the best advertising for the triangle that money could never buy…Put all of that together with the people who live work and play in the triangle area The Community and the team even in bad times all come out winners !! And while this fan takes no real credence to many pudents of the NHL…but to be batting 1000 to get ALL of them to agree on anything again show and proves the move from Hartford was the thing to do…And whilecall here can bask in the after glow of this sucess…we do so with a hugh does of Skinner’s humility…as many fans & Canes staff remember when the road wasn’t so smooth or the skies so sunny…And THAT is the key to this market…as Fans we love and appreciate a good and great effort by the teams we support…and look how we fans are repaid ?? My having to turnm away volunteers…And Raleigh did it with style,class and humility…Ottawa…we set the new standard…lets see if you can come close ? And fans of the Caniac nation hope and pray you can & do!!

The moment you write off the Hurricanes,
they make you look bad !!

by CaniacSteve on Jan 31, 2011 4:51 PM EST reply actions

The best part of all this feedback?

More ammunition in the fans corner. The NHL will actually think twice now of ever letting this team move – regardless of ownership. They have seen firsthand what true sports fans are all about.

Enjoyed the weekend. Now back to business.

by WStout on Jan 31, 2011 5:33 PM EST reply actions

A good start at getting back to business = trade Pitkanen

;-)

"There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats; For I am armed so strong in honesty That they pass by me as the idle wind"

by Capt. Stinky on Jan 31, 2011 6:04 PM EST up reply actions

I support this plan of action.

Don't trust me. I have psychological issues.

by C-Leaguer on Feb 1, 2011 12:22 PM EST up reply actions

What a great weekend! I love reading & hearing all the positive things about our city and our franchise. To me, Eric seemed like the mayor and just handled everything extremely well. His personality came through a little more and the hockey world got to see what a special captain we have. Cam’s comments about how special this place is to him and how he hopes others now see the same thing really touched me. And Skinner being thrust into the spotlight and managing it so well; this kid is special. I also think it was quite positive that the players had such a good time and had so many good things to say about Raleigh.

I hope we capitalize on this momentum and sell some more tickets. This type of media attention might also be beneficial for PK and his search for a partial owner.

Thank you Canes for hosting his unbelievable event and thank you players & fellow Caniacs for making the event unforgettable!

The All-STAAL game is going to be CAMtastic!

by PackPride17 on Jan 31, 2011 6:48 PM EST via mobile reply actions

players got along

i thought there would be more tension among the players for some reason and they seemed to really love just getting to hang out with each other with no tension at all. most of them seemed to really enjoy just joking around and not having to pretend to hate each other. that was nice for kids to see. really well done event with no mishaps at all. it doesn’t surprise me though. hopefully, this will make pk jr. happy although i know he is still looking for an investor.

by emmarose on Jan 31, 2011 9:49 PM EST reply actions

I think Burnside from ESPN said it best that maybe it is the media that has it all wrong…

it is a game for FUN and i think the fact that more was made of the surrounding events it what really captured what the ASG is all about. Time to celebrate the sport, get to know the players on another (more personal level), seeing the players interact as humans and friends (because really in the end that is what they are) and getting to appreciate the individual talents and personalities of players you may not normally get to appreciate.

I feel like Skinner, my face muscles hurt from smiling – from Friday to Sunday the events and the atmosphere were GREAT!! I am proud to live in Raleigh and be a Caniac – once in a lifetime!!

RAKASTAN SUOMEN!!

by danicanes on Feb 1, 2011 11:03 AM EST reply actions