Caged Heat18
09-28-2006, 12:20 AM
Celebs turn out for Game On
By John McGourty | NHL.com | Sept. 27, 2006
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NEW YORK -- The stars of television and movies were part of Wednesday's gala NHL/FHM Game On Party, presented by COLD-fX, on Manhattan's West Side. Actors, actresses, VJs and ring announcers were just part of the crowd that rubbed elbows with NHL players and invited guests.
The ubiquitous Matt Pinfield, the opinionated VJ who seems to be everywhere on the TV and radio dial and now on satellite radio, got a big hand as he approached the red carpet. Pinfield mixed easily with fans who got a close-hand look at his outgoing personality and ready opinions. Pinfield proved to be a real hockey fan who recalled New Jersey Devils' names and games from the past.
"I've always loved hockey from the time I was a kid," Pinfield said. "To me, it's the most exciting sport. Hockey and baseball are my favorite sports. The NHL is incredible. It's got more action than any other sport. There's never a dull moment.
"Growing up in New Jersey, I've seen some great Devils games over the years, big games, and some great Rangers games here in the city. I love it very much. I'm pumped about this season. I really hope the Devils can win it this year."
Related Links:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NHL/FHM Game On Gallery
Exclusive video from NHL/FHM Game On Party
NHL players set for prime time
NHL.com's '06-07 Season Preview
Pinfield grew up in East Brunswick, where a double rink was built a few years ago. At least 20 rinks have been added in New Jersey since the Devils moved to the state in 1982.
"There wasn't the hockey availability in New Jersey when I was growing up that there is now and I really missed out on that. I wished I had that. I've got friends who grew up in Buffalo, Rochester and Canada and for them hockey was a way of life."
Pinfield was asked if he thought the way the Devils spurred enrollment in amateur hockey in New Jersey would be repeated in the southern markets where the NHL has expanded over the past decade.
"The Devils ignited an incredible interest in hockey and the young people love it," he said. "I have so many friends who play nights and weekends and their kids are enrolled in hockey programs and taking lessons. I see it happening like that everywhere."
Thorsten Kaye, who plays casino owner Zachery Slater on All My Children, is an athlete and has been a Detroit Red Wings fan for over 25 years. An English decathlete, he came to the United States on a college athletic scholarship, but his career was cut short by a motorcycle accident. That didn't stop him from becoming a rugby player. After the accident, he switched his major from physical education to fine arts.
"I lived in Detroit for a long time so I'm a Red Wings fan," Kaye said. "Only, when I lived there they weren't that good, back in the mid-1980s. I saw Steve Yzerman back then and kept seeing him every time I went back. Now, I'm going to see him as vice president of the Red Wings. Great player, great career."
Kaye's hockey background can't match that of his cast mate, Cameron Mathison, who was born in Dino Ciccarelli's hometown of Sarnia, Ontario, and grew up in Dominic Moore's hometown of Thornhill, Ontario, a Toronto suburb. Mathison earned a degree in civil engineering from McGill University in Montreal, where Red Wings coach Mike Babcock once captained the team.
"I was a Canadiens fan in the days of Ken Dryden, Steve Shutt and Guy Lafleur," said Mathison, who plays Kaye's romantic rival on All My Children. "We had TV dinners and we'd sit and watch the games. Four straight championships, I thought that was the way it always was. When you start like that, it's all downhill afterwards."
Mathison laughed heartily when he was asked what he'd say to a Boston Bruins fan who lived through that era. The Canadiens eliminated the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1977 and 1978 and in the 1979 semifinals.
"Now, we're down on our luck together," he joked. "But now, we can go have a beer together. But the Canadiens are in good hands with Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau. Things are looking good and I'm excited for this season."
The fans saved their biggest applause for Lilian Garcia, the WWE announcer who has developed a sideline of singing the national anthem at sports events. She made her first anthem appearance at an AHL Springfield Falcons game. Check out Garcia's visit to our troops in Iraq on the WWE website. Garcia posed for hundreds of pictures with GIs and she's got a genuine smile in every one of them. No wonder she's a star.
"I sang the anthem at the Springfield game and then I started watching the game of hockey," Garcia said. "When I first moved to New York City, it was 13 years ago when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup. I was watching the games and I could hear people screaming because I don't live that far from Madison Square Garden. I thought that was great."
Garcia said she would love to sing the national anthem at an NHL game and was told that the proper NHL authorities will be so informed.
Marcy Rylan of The Guiding Light isn't very big, but she developed an inner toughness growing up in a family with five brothers. To hear her talk, she's got a soft spot for guys with broken noses and extensive dental work.
"I grew up in Central Pennsylvania and my father and five brothers are all into sports, hockey, football, everything," Ryland said. "Hockey is exciting and the guys ... they're hot, they're tough and they're sweating! I love to go to games. They're great."
Rylan was joined by cast member Mandy Bruno, who plays a detective on the show.
"My brother Chris played hockey in Phoenix when he was little," Bruno said. "His favorite player was Wayne Gretzky. We went to a game when he was probably four and I was seven. He wanted Wayne's autograph, but Wayne was way over there so I pulled away from my parents and ducked down. I crawled through people's legs until I was right behind Wayne Gretzky. I started calling out to him and Wayne turned around and signed my brother's hat. I was my brother's hero for years."
Credit nhl.com
Yeah it is not really the biggest of wrestling news, but I love hockey, and it is about Lilian Garcia. Theirs also a picture of her on the front page.
By John McGourty | NHL.com | Sept. 27, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW YORK -- The stars of television and movies were part of Wednesday's gala NHL/FHM Game On Party, presented by COLD-fX, on Manhattan's West Side. Actors, actresses, VJs and ring announcers were just part of the crowd that rubbed elbows with NHL players and invited guests.
The ubiquitous Matt Pinfield, the opinionated VJ who seems to be everywhere on the TV and radio dial and now on satellite radio, got a big hand as he approached the red carpet. Pinfield mixed easily with fans who got a close-hand look at his outgoing personality and ready opinions. Pinfield proved to be a real hockey fan who recalled New Jersey Devils' names and games from the past.
"I've always loved hockey from the time I was a kid," Pinfield said. "To me, it's the most exciting sport. Hockey and baseball are my favorite sports. The NHL is incredible. It's got more action than any other sport. There's never a dull moment.
"Growing up in New Jersey, I've seen some great Devils games over the years, big games, and some great Rangers games here in the city. I love it very much. I'm pumped about this season. I really hope the Devils can win it this year."
Related Links:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NHL/FHM Game On Gallery
Exclusive video from NHL/FHM Game On Party
NHL players set for prime time
NHL.com's '06-07 Season Preview
Pinfield grew up in East Brunswick, where a double rink was built a few years ago. At least 20 rinks have been added in New Jersey since the Devils moved to the state in 1982.
"There wasn't the hockey availability in New Jersey when I was growing up that there is now and I really missed out on that. I wished I had that. I've got friends who grew up in Buffalo, Rochester and Canada and for them hockey was a way of life."
Pinfield was asked if he thought the way the Devils spurred enrollment in amateur hockey in New Jersey would be repeated in the southern markets where the NHL has expanded over the past decade.
"The Devils ignited an incredible interest in hockey and the young people love it," he said. "I have so many friends who play nights and weekends and their kids are enrolled in hockey programs and taking lessons. I see it happening like that everywhere."
Thorsten Kaye, who plays casino owner Zachery Slater on All My Children, is an athlete and has been a Detroit Red Wings fan for over 25 years. An English decathlete, he came to the United States on a college athletic scholarship, but his career was cut short by a motorcycle accident. That didn't stop him from becoming a rugby player. After the accident, he switched his major from physical education to fine arts.
"I lived in Detroit for a long time so I'm a Red Wings fan," Kaye said. "Only, when I lived there they weren't that good, back in the mid-1980s. I saw Steve Yzerman back then and kept seeing him every time I went back. Now, I'm going to see him as vice president of the Red Wings. Great player, great career."
Kaye's hockey background can't match that of his cast mate, Cameron Mathison, who was born in Dino Ciccarelli's hometown of Sarnia, Ontario, and grew up in Dominic Moore's hometown of Thornhill, Ontario, a Toronto suburb. Mathison earned a degree in civil engineering from McGill University in Montreal, where Red Wings coach Mike Babcock once captained the team.
"I was a Canadiens fan in the days of Ken Dryden, Steve Shutt and Guy Lafleur," said Mathison, who plays Kaye's romantic rival on All My Children. "We had TV dinners and we'd sit and watch the games. Four straight championships, I thought that was the way it always was. When you start like that, it's all downhill afterwards."
Mathison laughed heartily when he was asked what he'd say to a Boston Bruins fan who lived through that era. The Canadiens eliminated the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1977 and 1978 and in the 1979 semifinals.
"Now, we're down on our luck together," he joked. "But now, we can go have a beer together. But the Canadiens are in good hands with Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau. Things are looking good and I'm excited for this season."
The fans saved their biggest applause for Lilian Garcia, the WWE announcer who has developed a sideline of singing the national anthem at sports events. She made her first anthem appearance at an AHL Springfield Falcons game. Check out Garcia's visit to our troops in Iraq on the WWE website. Garcia posed for hundreds of pictures with GIs and she's got a genuine smile in every one of them. No wonder she's a star.
"I sang the anthem at the Springfield game and then I started watching the game of hockey," Garcia said. "When I first moved to New York City, it was 13 years ago when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup. I was watching the games and I could hear people screaming because I don't live that far from Madison Square Garden. I thought that was great."
Garcia said she would love to sing the national anthem at an NHL game and was told that the proper NHL authorities will be so informed.
Marcy Rylan of The Guiding Light isn't very big, but she developed an inner toughness growing up in a family with five brothers. To hear her talk, she's got a soft spot for guys with broken noses and extensive dental work.
"I grew up in Central Pennsylvania and my father and five brothers are all into sports, hockey, football, everything," Ryland said. "Hockey is exciting and the guys ... they're hot, they're tough and they're sweating! I love to go to games. They're great."
Rylan was joined by cast member Mandy Bruno, who plays a detective on the show.
"My brother Chris played hockey in Phoenix when he was little," Bruno said. "His favorite player was Wayne Gretzky. We went to a game when he was probably four and I was seven. He wanted Wayne's autograph, but Wayne was way over there so I pulled away from my parents and ducked down. I crawled through people's legs until I was right behind Wayne Gretzky. I started calling out to him and Wayne turned around and signed my brother's hat. I was my brother's hero for years."
Credit nhl.com
Yeah it is not really the biggest of wrestling news, but I love hockey, and it is about Lilian Garcia. Theirs also a picture of her on the front page.