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First-ever hockey game included<br>Flying Elvi, howling and foam claw

Growing up in football country, hockey was one of those sports you only watched every four years.

The 1980 Winter Olympics was a memorable event when the United States downed the Soviet Union and went on to win the Gold Medal. But as far as professional hockey went, it was not high on the list.

At the age of 36, I went to my first hockey game last weekend. I recruited three Grand Canyon friends who all know hockey well and off we went to America West Arena.

It's difficult to imagine that my first hockey game would be in the middle of the desert with a team called the Coyotes. I actually lived in North Dakota for two years and worked at a newspaper that was right across the street from a hockey arena. Still, I couldn't seem to find the time to sample the sport.

The Coyotes were playing the Buffalo Sabres Saturday night and both teams had struggled at times this season. On this night, Buffalo had the upper hand, or stick, with an exceptional performance by its goalie and won, 3-1.

A couple who lives a few doors down from me, Ken and Nancy Hunter, went to the game. Nancy is a bigtime Buffalo fan and let all the Coyotes fans in Section 106 know who she wanted to win.

Heading into the game, it appeared that Phoenix would have a good chance because Nancy's teams were on some sort of losing streak when she was in the stands. Still, moments into the game, Buffalo held a 1-0 lead.

Ken spent a few minutes trying to explain the rules to me and I nodded my head as if I understood what he was talking about. The other person in our group, Ken Olsen, explained some of the easier aspects of the game to me, such as how to howl.

Now Ken Olsen seems to be one of those guys who would have fun about anywhere. He obviously enjoys the game of hockey, but was just as content to sit back and watch the "World Famous Flying Elvi."

Olsen was hoping they would come flying down into the arena in some fashion. But they rode on the Zamboni, gave away prizes and ran a few contests during TV timeouts such as donut eating and musical chairs.

For those of you not familiar with the World Famous Flying Elvi, they're a group of Elvis Presley impersonators who go skydiving. They appeared in a movie a few years back called "Honeymoon in Vegas."

On the way into the arena, we each got a Coyotes' Elvis T-shirt. I went back to the car to get my jacket (hockey arenas can be chilly) and I got a second T-shirt on re-entry.

Phoenix tied the game at 1-1 on a power play and things we're looking up. But the Sabres regained the lead and that would be enough. They scored in the final minute on an empty netter.

Leaving my son behind at the Canyon, I told him I'd bring him back a present if he was good for his sitter. So in between periods, I forked over $7 for a foam Coyotes claw. I should have given him the free T-shirt.

I was a little disappointed to not see any fights. There was a cheap shot by a Buffalo player that sent a Coyote head first into the boards. He actually didn't move for about 30 seconds and it appeared he was unconscious.

In the end, it was definitely a fun time. Watching hockey in person is a lot different than trying to follow it on television. I might try to make at least one annual trip to catch the Coyotes.

As for the World Famous Flying Elvi, now I'm a true fan.

(Brad Fuqua is editor of the Grand Canyon News).


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