Hockey is back.

Its been a very long 4 months but my favorite sport is back.  This was a special year since my boys won the Stanley Cup.  The fans have been waiting to celebrate and raise our banner.  On January 19th, we got to do just that.

Staples Center was all decked out in Stanley Cup gear.  Reminded me so much of last June. 

 My friend and I.  We've been friends since freshman year in High School.  Kings fans a lot longer.  So glad we've stuck together all these years and were able to celebrate together.

 View from the seats of warm ups.

The new banner placement.  They used to be plastered against the wall with the Lakers (ugh) stuff but the staff brought them to the rafters this year.  Like any good hockey arena, the banners and retired jerseys hang from the rafters.  Leave the stupid basketball stuff on the walls.  ;)

 Bob and Jim are back!  Missed them.  Got stuck with NBC during the playoffs last year.

 The ring ceremony.  Each player was called out one by one to get his ring.

 After a slight delay from NBC (gag...sigh) the show went on.

 Then they lined the players up along the boards all around the ice.  The Stanley Cup was brought down once more and passed from player to player around the ice.  It was an awesome moment.

 And then the banner was brought out.  They had a family from Sandy Hook Elementary that lost their daughter bring it out.  Not a dry eye in the place.

 The players skated it to the other end where it was hoisted to the rafters.  Now, our seats were perfect seeing as how the other banners were literally over our heads.  We thought we would be in prime position for the raising until they took it to the other end.  After the game, they moved the banner to its final home which is......you guessed it.  The spot right over our seats.  Grrrr.  Oh well.  I snagged this photo from Yahoo Sports because it was the best one of the day.

I love this view of them all looking up at the banner.

 Anthem time = game time.  Pia Toscano sings the anthem.  Shes a former American Idol finalist who likes to embellish a bit.  We were all restless at this point and just wanted to see the puck drop.

 Pre game video and a crowd full of light sticks.

 I don't know why but the green lasers always make me think 'pew! pew!  pew!' like a laser gun.

 Bailey - our mascot - was all over the crowd that afternoon and even though we lost, the atmosphere was still special.

Afterwards, I headed to a friends house to crop.  My group of friends hadn't been together in forever it seems and we started planning the crop in November.  Then hockey came back and wouldn't you know it, the opener was scheduled for the same day as the crop.  So I rushed all over to get to the game and the crop.  I was exhausted and the picture of my jello shots is the only picture I took at the crop.  Sad. 

And I am still cleaning out my room.  I have so much I'm getting rid of.  If you're interested, I have it all listed with prices on Flickr.  Email me at ohmy17(at)yahoo.com to purchase anything.