Have you ever had any close encounters with an NHL player/coach?

Question

im only asking this because i just met claude julien in stop and shop right next to my house in woburn (10 miles outside of boston)....he was buying cereal

Answer 1

Oh my goodness yes. The Red Wings all tend to live in an upscale area of town, and if you hang out there, you'll meet some. Manny Legace, Brendan Shanahan (in his driveway), Brent Gilchrist pushing a stroller, Cujo, McCarty, Draper, Maltby, Anders Eriksson, Chris Osgood. I think that's it. I haven't gone trolling for a while, though. The Swedes and Russians live in a part of town without a "walking" downtown, so it's harder to meet them.

And Cujo has the most beautiful blue eyes I ever saw!

Answer 2

What kind of cereal did he buy? Hah.

I've met quite a few...I did work experience with Hockey Night in Canada, so I got to meet the Canucks and Wild that night, and now I see Brent Burns often as we became good friends! I used to be really into junior hockey, so I got to know a few guys  well...the only ones who've really made names for themselves that I ever hung out with were Dion Phaneuf and Ryan Getzlaf.

Answer 3

no, I wish

Answer 4

I met Gary Roberts at a rest stop outside of Buffalo after the Winter Classic.  This was right after he broke his leg so he was traveling with his family instead of with the team.

Answer 5

That's great.....what kind of cereal was it??? Fruit loops? I went to a goalie camp in the 90's coached by Vladislav Tretiak of the Russian red army team. Also Tim Kerr hockey camp(hardest shot I ever faced). Jim Dowd Played high School hockey in my County I had skated with him at open ice 2nd hardest shot I've faced, and his older Brother was my high school Goalie coach my Senior year in 1993.

Answer 6

I haven't really met any players personally, but I have encountered a few.  Last year the draft was in Columbus, and a number of Jackets players were around.   I watched Pascal LeClaire play some people in NHL 07 and gave him a hard time when he gave up goals.  Saw him again the next day and got his autograph, along with Dan Fritsche and Manny Malhotra.  I ran into a number of people who were likely GMs and scouts, but none that I recognized.

Answer 7

A few, yeah.

Kimmy, he "recognized" you, eh? Was it a good meeting at least? lol

Answer 8

Many times. I seem to be lucky that way. Ran into John Vanbiesbrouck at a Wendy's one day. He recognized me too and said don't tell coach. LOL

Answer 9

i was at my friends bachelor party in 97 and his brother was friends with Francois Leroux and  i was at the strip club with a third of the penguins team that year.

Answer 10

most of the players from the sharx.

Answer 11

Yes, I had the honour of meeting Wayne Gretzky, he was unbelievably gracious and classy.

I also met Dave Andreychuk just after his rookie year. I didn't think much of him, he seemed put out that I recognized him but perhaps it was because he was young and not used to it. I was 14 at the time so it kind of stuck with me that he was a bit dismissive.

Answer 12

I played summer hockey with and against Matt Cooke when I was a kid.....played against Joe Thornton, Sergei Samsonov and Oleg Kvasha. My brother played all his minor hockey with Mike Fisher and he played summer hockey with John Erskine.

My Dad and cousin both played in the OHL....my father playing with Bobby Orr and Wayne Cashman among others. My cousin grew up with, and played with and against Greg Gilbert, who coaches the Toronto Marlies now, and who won 3 Stanley Cups. Met all of these players.

Some NHL players I've seen just out and about at bars etc. include Jarome Iginla, Marc Savard, Eric Lindros, Cory Stillman and Mike Ricci. The first NHLer I ever met was Herb Raglan.

Oh, and I accidentally ran into Bob Goodenow with my hockey bag on the way into a hockey arena.

Answer 13

I had the opportunity to meet Ray Emery and got him to sign my goalie stick. I also had the opportunity to meet Walter Gretzky and got him to sign me goalie stick also.

Answer 14

well i grew up on the same street as sidney crosby but we moved when i was like 12 so it wasnt a big deal.

but my dads a manager and my moms an entertainment lawyer so ive met lucic, lemiux, JARED staal, jordan staal, thomas, kobasew, hossa, malkin, richards, and some others that i cant think of

my brothers actually played hockey on the same team as crosby back in the day

ohhh and i actually ran into jordan staal at a resturant and i was the only person who knew who he was lol. andd i had run into lucic when i was in boston on my senior trip he was buying flowers haha.

Answer 15

Yep. I e mailed Ted Nolan last year when they were playing Buffalo during the playoffs and he emailed me back and we did this for a couple hours.  Finally he told me to come down to the restaurant he and the team was at so we could meet since I told him I had met him once before.  Any way I couldn't since my truck was in the shop.  Then he asked me for my phone number and said he would call in the morning.  I thought this was someone bs me so I went a head and gave him my cell number.  The next morning around nine my cell phone rang and it was him. I almost peed my pants.  He really wanted me to come downtown  but once again I had a previous engagement so I couldn't.  He sounded disappointed.  

Every so often I get strange calls on my cell and I swear its him.

Answer 16

I met Bill Clement once on an airplane and had a brief conversation with him.  It was during the playoffs - Caps vs Pens.

I met Paul Healey (ex-Phantoms and Leafs) with Brian Wesenberg outside my bank branch.  Healey drove a Mustang Convertible at that point.

Answer 17

I've met all the Ducks from season 2003 'til last season.. umm yeah I've seen and even gotten smiles from players outside the rink. I saw Carney at the mall w/his 3 boys...I actually heard them first. His kids were being loud. He was Xmas shopping. I saw  Rusty aka Ruslan Salei..he was sitting at the table next to mine at National Sports Bar w/a couple of friends. We kept exchanging smiles once I pulled a massive homer and said 'Ducks rule! ' yeah back in the days when we actually sucked!  lol I have more but I'm tired of typing.