Go Kings Go!!!

I didn't discover hockey until I was about 13, and I didn't go to my first game until I was close to 20, but I was bound and determined to get Sebastian to his first Kings game this season (at the ripe ole age of 19 months).  He'd already met Bailey and sat next to the Stanley Cup so it was time to trek to downtown LA to actually experience a game.  Thank goodness I bought the tickets before we did our taxes, otherwise we wouldn't have gone, but that's a depressing story that I'd rather file away and forget about.

I couldn't let Seb go to the game without any Kings gear, but he outgrew the two onesies he had a long time ago so this was the perfect excuse to try my hand at freezer paper stenciling.  I  wanted to be super ambitious and do something on the back reading, "My first Kings game," but in the end, opted to go simple since it was my first attempt.  I actually think it turned out pretty good, not bad for a $3 shirt!

Sebastian's first NHL game was on Saturday, March 23, the LA Kings versus the Vancouver Canucks.  We got there about 15 minutes before the opening face off and I was on a mission to get to Team LA and get Seb a jersey.  I was just as determined to get him a jersey as I was to get him to a game this season and I was SOO disappointed when the smallest size I could find in Team LA was a kids small/medium - way too huge for my Little Man.  :(  I had almost given up when I remembered there's a kiosk on the 300 level!  Just my luck, there was no line, AND there was clearly a toddler sized jersey hanging on the wall.  I bought the last 2-4T jersey and I had to buy the one on display, but we got it!  Mission accomplished.  And now it should fit Seb for the next 3 seasons, so in an odd way, I feel justified in my purchase/quest.

Sebastian did amazing during the first period (some McDonald's french fries may have played a role).  He loved the light show before the game and sat nicely in our laps and just took everything in.  He was even wiggle free during the national anthems.  I purposely purchased aisle seats and the the guy on the other side of us looked like he came on his own, so it was as if we had 3 seats, which was a nice little bonus.

I was slightly disappointed that our seats were at the banner end of the rink and I couldn't get a clear shot of the championship banner, but that was the compromise to sit at the end where the Kings shoot twice.

The banner's up there somewhere...

During the first period we noticed Sebastian was watching the game on the jumbo-tron and not paying any attention to the action on the ice, which makes sense because we watch it on TV at home, so it was like there was a big giant TV to stare at.  I still have no clue if he ever noticed there was action on the ice.

After the first period we walked the halls and had a snack.  Most Kings home games start at 7:30 PM and Seb goes to bed between 8 and 8:30, so I wasn't too surprised when he was pretty much done with the game after the first period, even though this was an afternoon start.  His attention span was shot and he normally only watches the first period of the games with us at home.  For the remainder of the game we alternated between walking the hallways and standing in the tunnel at the entrance of our section.  At least it kept things interesting.  We made friends with our usher and Seb met two of the Ice Crew girls (he was very fascinated with their uniforms, figures).  He also flirted with a woman sitting in an aisle seat near our section's entrance.

Never noticed how many electrical outlets line
the hallways at Staples...until I walked them with Seb.

As for the game itself, well the Kings don't typically play too well when it's an early afternoon game, and this one was no different.  They had a few good chances in the first, with no success, and while we were entertaining Seb during the remainder of the game, I can only really recall one more really decent scoring opportunity in the third.  In the end, my Kings did NOT score a goal for Sebastian so there was no goal horn or I Love LA to be experienced.  Final score was 1 - nothing, Vancouver.

Now I'm looking forward to comparing this experience to future ones in the coming years.  Sebastian's even good to go for the next few years with his little jersey.  Maybe next year Seb will sit through 2 periods???  I'm certainly hoping my little guy will grow up loving hockey as much as I do.  Go Kings Go!  Oh, and I've decided that since his birthday is 8-14-11, his favorite Kings are Doughty, Williams, and Kopitar.  :)