NHL Awards and After Party at Carlu

Ok...so this is a "trip report", or it can even be a complete brag post - so if you dislike people boasting, you can stop reading now, otherwise, read on. A word of warning though, this will be a long read.

June 12, 2008 - Elgin Theatre is the location of the NHL Awards Show. Initially I was given a ticket to attend the show as an audience, but seeing where the seat is located, I decided to attend the show as a seat filler. Turned out to be an excellent decision as I literally rubbed shoulders with who's who of hockey. The evening began with the arrival to Elgin Theatre, a crowd was slowly forming around the red carpet anticipating the arrivals of their hockey heroes. As I walk by, I was approached not only once, but twice, with a intrigued by-stander whether or not I was anyone of importance - I assured them I was not worth their time. Upon signing in, an hour passed waiting in foyer of the mezzanine level as there were approximately 100 or so seat fillers that needed to be processed. The evening seemed like the high school prom all over again - everyone very well dressed, guys in suits, girls in dresses, and you have your one or two guys that are under dressed and stuck out like a sore thumb.

6:30 rolls around, and the fire alarm goes off. The crowd was assured that the fire department will be on scene and simply ignore it, although it is very difficult to ignore a constant loud irritating noise, but we try out best with the anticipation of being in an exclusive evening with our hockey heroes. People were divided, with a group whom were given a ticket to seats with obstructed view to depart from the waiting area first. What and how they organized the remaining seat fillers, I have no idea, as I was led down along with 3 others to the theatre to fill the seats of 3 stars whom will be making an entrance with the cup to begin the show. While I made my descend from the mezzanine level to the orchestra level, players/coaches/executives/politicians/tv personalties etc. have filled the lobby of the Elgin Theatre, among the crowd I was able to pick out Zdeno Chara before being ushered into the theatre - not hard to pick out someone that stands 6'9". Anyways, the three seats that needed to be filled were - Pavel Datsyuk's, Dominik Hasek's, and Henrik Zetterberg. Being the gentlemen that I am, I offered the first two seats to the ladies whom filled Pavel's and Dominik's. To my surprise, Henrik's seat was a front row seat - what a reward for me gentlemen gesture! I ended up being seated beside Henrik's girlfriend - Swedish Model and TV host - Emma Andersson, as well as the lady from the Diabetes association whom assigned the seating named Jaynelle. Stumpin' Tom Connors kicked off the show with "The Hockey Game" to a standing ovation, with the Red Wings and the Stanley Cup making its way into the theatre. While I was seated in my seat prior to the beginning of the show, I was like a kid in a candystore. Eyes open-wide and just taking in the scene. The endless number of players walking by, shaking hands with each other, it was hard to keep track of who's where and who's who. My front row seat lasted for about the first half an hour of the show, when Henrik returned and sadly I must give up the seat back to the original holder. In my despair, I was shown a seat that was in an better location - front row, towards the middle, alongside commission Gary Bettman and the Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. I was not seated there for long, as Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe, soon came down to take his seat as he is the recipient of the first NHL Life time Achievement Award.

Following the second commercial break, while I was hanging out at the side, I was instructed to take the seat of either Henrik Zetterberg, or Pavel Datsyuk, if they were to win the Selke Award as the best defensive forward. While secretly cheering for Henrik, I was not disappointed either when Pavel Datsyuk was given the award, thus allowing me to sit in his seat for awhile (as the other nominee - John Madden - was seated on the other side of the theatre, therefore would have had his seat filled by someone stationed on the opposite side for convenience). This was a seat I would return to 2 other times in the evening, the second time after receiving his Lady Byng, and the last when he was pulled away for interviews. As the evening went on and awards were getting handed out, it appeared as I was assigned to be Datysuk's personal seat filler as I was jumping between his seat, and the box seats. Finally, as the event drew towards the end, and the last two awards were given out, I took my third seat assignment - whomever wins the Vezina Award, I will be filling his seat. With Martin Brodeur winning it once again, I promptly took his seat, directly behind Evgeni Malkin, and it was almost opposite of the seat I am now very familiar with, Pavel Datsyuk's. As the camera zooms into the Hart trophy nominees, with Ovechkin winning the Most Valuable Player award which was already a foregone conclusion, it wrapped up a tremendous evening at the Elgin Theatre, but not the last of my adventure. As the cameras went off-air, the theatre became a zoo. Many kids were in attendance, and they were already running around during the commercial breaks for the autograph, and the trend continued after the show. Being around the same area the entire night, I made eye contact with several of the Red Wings and proceeded to have a chat/handshake and a word of congratulations with their head coach Mike Babcock, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Dominic Hasek, as well as a few guys around the area - Jason Blake and Evgeni Malkin. Not quick to leave the theatre, I eventually got my first picture of the night (and only picture) with Jarome Iginla. Also introduced myself to various TV personalties to the likes of Bob McKenzie, Pierre McGuire, Darren Dreger, Gord Miller, Scott Morrison and James Duthie.

Following the Awards ceremony, I managed to get a ticket to the after party at Carlu. As I make my way out of the theatre to get on the shuttle bus, I was approchaed by those waiting outside the theatre for an autograph, again I assure them I am a nobody. Getting on the bus behind me was Guy Carbonneau, and his first words were "Man I'm thirsty! This bus needs some drinks!", and we were off to Carlu for a night of open bar. Fans were already lined up at the entrance seeking a picture/autograph of their favourite players, and again I was asked, and responded with a "I'm not important" and proceeded into the building. Carlu was a gorgeous venue - multiple rooms and the acoustic inside the concert hall was spectacular. The architecture was stunning and the displayes were magnificent. Oh yeah, and theres also all the players/execs etc who were in attendance. The open bar and food was a delight to my stomach, and the room was a delight to the eyes.

All in all, it was an evening to be remembered. Hopefully I will be able to do this again next year.

Brag x2 - this is just going to be a brag list of the celebrities in attendance whom I spoke with over the course of the eveing.

Jason Blake, Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Mike Babcock, Scotty Bowman, Dominik Hasek, Gary Bettman, Bill Daly, Darren Dregr, Bob McKenzie, Pierre McGuire, Scott Morrison, Jarome Iginla, Evgeni Malkin, Martin Brodeur, Craig Simpson, Cassie Campbell

Interesting points of the evening - this is more the various things I noticed/heard while at the awards or at the after party that was funny, awkward, or just worth mentioning in general.

1. Ron MacLean's jokes during the awards. There were a few that had a bit of an awkward moment before some clapping
2. Ron MacLean bringing up the Brian Burke and the Toronto Maple Leafs issue during the awards
3. Ron MacLean's "phone" started ringing with "The Hockey Theme" (aka Hockey Night in Canada theme) as his ringtone
4. The speeches of Pavel Datysuk
5. The figiting of the players' feet on stage behind the podium after receiving their awards

I did manage to take a couple of pictures in the theatre, so I will get that up tonight or something.