First round as an NHL Draft Guide
Last night was pretty easy as an NHL Draft Guide. Our main job is to escort the draftee through a series of interview and photo checkpoints. With all of the picks Friday night being high profile, this process took a long time (about 2 hours) but there were plenty of team PR people and NHL reps leading the way.
Our other job is to escort the draftee’s family to the Founder’ Club so they can meet up with their son after he is done and have family photos taken. I drew two of these assignments: Alex Plante (pick #15, Edmonton) and Max Pacioretty (pick #22, Montreal). I enjoyed both of these assignments because you can visit with the family and share in some of their excitement. Alex’s family seemed quite surprised he went in the first round. Max is headed to the University of Michigan, so I look forward to watching him play when he visits BGSU.
Another benefit of being a volunteer is that you get good seats, in the first few rows, sitting in the same section as many draftees and their families, and being able to watch the team executives eat potato chips and drink bottled water. It is not really that exciting, but at least you are close to the near-action.
Today, Saturday, will be different. No time for Gretzky / Yzerman / Snepsts and other hero-spotting. The picks will come a lot faster and the media attention will not be as high. Instead of escorting 30 picks for 2 hours each, it will be hundreds of draftees on whirlwind tours. Should actually be more fun.
Finally, I made it to the blogger meet-up at the Bud Light Arena Pub and met Drew, Michael, Acid Queen and others. That was fun, even though I am not really an NHL blogger like they are.
Oh yea, I almost-literally ran into an old friend, Jerry York. I was escorting Alex Plante’s family, so I was talking to them instead of watching where I was going. Jerry comes around a corner, walking very fast because he is late to something. I managed to avert a collision, say hello and shake his hand, but I am not sure he even recognized me, it was so fast. So far that has been the best college hockey connection I have made this weekend.