Thursday, February 7

Vallely On... Hockey

By Mike Vallely
EXPN.com

The National Hockey League All Star Celebrity Challenge

On Wednesday night, January 30th, I had the honor and pleasure of playing and participating in The National Hockey League All Star Celebrity Challenge at The Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. It was a charity hockey game to raise money for The Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. Being an ice hockey fan for as far back as I can remember it was a dream come true to be on the same sheet of ice as legends like Phil Esposito, Dave Taylor, Rod Gilbert, Jari Kurri, Pat LaFontane, Ron Dugay and Bernie Nicholls. I started ice skating a little to late in my life to ever consider ice hockey as a career but even as an adult I've dreamed of being a professional hockey player and playing in an NHL game... This was probably as close as I will ever get and it ranks as one of the most memorable nights of my life.

Topps Card: Mike V. Center Ice at The Los Angeles Convention Center.

I arrived at The Staples Center at 4:00 PM that evening and was escorted to The Bad Boys' (my team for the night, captained by movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer) locker room which is also The Los Angeles Kings' locker room. My All Star jersey with my name sewn across the back was hanging there waiting for me and it was then that I met most of my teammates for the night, from Cuba Gooding Jr. to Chris Jerhico to Alex Trebek. I got dressed in my hockey apparel and then I was shuttled over to The Los Angeles Convention Center where they had put down some ice for us to skate on with some local youngsters and to meet and greet some fans. I had a lot of fun participating in the short clinic with the kids even though most of them were better players than me. From there we were shuttled back to The Staples Center for the actual game.

Coach Mike: Mike V. talking with some youngsters at The Los Angles Convention Center.

We didn't sell the place out but we had a good and lively crowd of 12,000 or so who let us know that they were having as much fun as us by cheering through out the game. After player introductions we took to the ice and the game started. Our opponents, David E. Kelley and his team Kelley's Heroes who included Tim Robbins, Mel Bridgeman, Dino Cicarelli and Chad Smith of The Red Hot Chilli Peppers were just as fired up as us and all of that positive energy stole the show throughout All Star Weekend. Honestly, if I was sitting in the stands I would have enjoyed the game just the same but being on the ice and actually playing in it took it to another level.

Early in the game my line-mate, Phil Esposito was awarded a penalty shot against goaltender Chad Smith. I saw that Espo was winded and seeing that it was a charity game I offered to take the shot for him and he was all for it. Espo skated out to center ice with me and together we sized up Smith, Espo told me I should go stick side on him. I started skating down towards Smith a little shaky and nervous when I heard Espo call out "You gotta' go faster." I tried speeding up but by then I was on top of Smith, I made a fast stick handle and tried a weak back hand shot on him that he simply poke checked away. It was weird, I was bummed and stoked at the same time. I'd missed the penalty shot but there I was, center ice at The Staples Center talking shop with Phil Esposito, it was great.

Fan Signing: Mike V. signing an autograph for Alex Trebek's son at the Staples Center after the game.

Because the teams were so stacked with celebrities and NHL alumni ice time was at a premium. I was the most adamant player on my team about getting out there and playing and winning and so some of the NHLer's like Nicholls and Duguay actually let me take shifts for them, and in the 3rd period of the game that ice time payed off for me. I scored a goal that was set up by a sweet pass by The Los Angeles King's General Manager, and one time Los Angeles Kings player, Dave Taylor who's jersey #18 is hanging from the rafters at Staples Center. I put the puck past NHL goaltender Pete Peters and the red light came on, I couldn't believe it, I'd scored. Dave Taylor was one of my favorite King players for a long time and to be celebrating a goal in the corner with him was surreal.

Vallely and Salley: Mike V. being interviewed by John Salley for The Best Damn Sports Show in the hallway at The Staples Center.

There was a part of me that wished the game would never end but it did. I stuck around for a bit and signed some autographs for some fans and I hung out and chit chatted for awhile with some of the guys in the locker room. I packed my bag and said my good-byes slowly... I just tried to take it all in and I did and I will hold it close to me for the rest of my life. On the way out of the building I met up with my wife and daughters as well as with my brother and father who had flown out from the east coast to see the game. As we were walking to our car we ran across Gordie Howe and Phil Esposito and my dad and I had our photo snapped with them which was very cool. I had so much fun that night and it's great to know that it was all for a good cause. The NHL is a top notch organization who's charity work is commendable. They treated me well throughout the All Star weekend and I hope to continue to work with them and get more goals for charity in the future.