Rockin my Red Wings gear at the Denver Pepsi Center

[Behind Enemy Lines in CO 11]

So my hockey team had the opportunity to play at the Pepsi Center in Denver following the Ava-Dallas game on Sunday night. Both teams had to sell a total of 100 tickets (various prices from $27 - 95) to qualify, and we had about 15 minutes after the end of the game to get dressed and out on the ice. Most of us bought multiple tickets to bring family members along with us and they were able to come down to the seats just behind the benches and watch us play.

Here is a picture of me just before the game started. My team's name is Red Army, and we wear New Jersey uniforms. I could not resist the opportunity to wear my Red Wings gear, so here I am (along with the help of eBay) with my Red Wings helmet, gloves, pants, socks and stick (Franzen pants, Kronwall gloves and stick). The workers at the Pepsi Center had a big grin on their faces when I skated out onto the ice!

I was amazed at how small the players benches are - no wonder the NHL guys are always leaning forward as it is very cramped and very little leg room. You do sit up higher though as compared to my local rink. Also, we all commented at how easy it was to hear all the little sounds, especially when we were trying to communicate with each other.

Definitely something I will not forget. By the way, we won 5-0.

[hooon 1,089]

Sounds like a lot of fun, nice win! I'd love to skate on the big time ice.

[Rivalred 630]

Awesome experience for sure!

[Vladifan 680]

Thanks for putting this on here. And congrats on the win! And that would be very cool to be on the ice. But in my case I would definitely be ON the ice. All of me. Just as well that I look at pics of other peeps who actually know how to not only stay upright but move!

[Guest DatsyukianDeke13]

That's awesome. I like your jerseys by the way lol. Oh and how much did all that stuff cost you?

[Behind Enemy Lines in CO 11]

That's awesome. I like your jerseys by the way lol. Oh and how much did all that stuff cost you?

Thanks for the comment about our Red Army jerseys - when the team decided on the name I was pushing to use the Wings jerseys however being here in Colorado the other players quickly nixed that idea. So they decided on the New Jersey Devils pattern. I forgot who came up with the logo design but they did a good job. I play defense and wear number #16 in honor of Vladdy.

The Red Wings worn Franzen pants (Tackla bottom half only) I bought on ebay last summer for $80. The Kronwall gloves (new never worn) I got on ebay for $100, and the Kronwall stick (I have 3 of them) cost from $110 - 130 on ebay depending on when I bought them and how much bidding there was on the stick. The helmet is a standard red Bauer 9500 helmet; I purchased the Red Wings helmet stickers on ebay and applied to each side, along with the numbers on the back.

There are a few ebay sellers who always have Red Wings gear up for sale - some stuff is a good deal and some items, particularly jerseys, sell for alot of money.

[Behind Enemy Lines in CO 11]

Here is another pic of me on the bench. We used the Avs team bench for the game.

[hooon 1,089]

Thanks for the comment about our Red Army jerseys - when the team decided on the name I was pushing to use the Wings jerseys however being here in Colorado the other players quickly nixed that idea. So they decided on the New Jersey Devils pattern. I forgot who came up with the logo design but they did a good job. I play defense and wear number #16 in honor of Vladdy.

The Red Wings worn Franzen pants (Tackla bottom half only) I bought on ebay last summer for $80. The Kronwall gloves (new never worn) I got on ebay for $100, and the Kronwall stick (I have 3 of them) cost from $110 - 130 on ebay depending on when I bought them and how much bidding there was on the stick. The helmet is a standard red Bauer 9500 helmet; I purchased the Red Wings helmet stickers on ebay and applied to each side, along with the numbers on the back.

There are a few ebay sellers who always have Red Wings gear up for sale - some stuff is a good deal and some items, particularly jerseys, sell for alot of money.

That's pretty cool to have all that authentic gear! My rollerblades and plastic streethockey stick don't really compare.

[BeeRYCE 2]

Nice... I remember playing in a tournament at the Joe when I was like 15, it was awesome, even though my team got spanked.

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

Awesome OP. I remember when I was about 15, my team made it to the final round of a local tournament. The finals were played at none other than Joe Louis Arena. We even got to use their locker room. It was probably the single best experience of my life haha.

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

Nice... I remember playing in a tournament at the Joe when I was like 15, it was awesome, even though my team got spanked.

Wow, didn't see this when I posted about my tournament at the joe when i was 15. And we spanked the team we played lol. How old are you? hahaha jk

[Behind Enemy Lines in CO 11]

One thing I forgot to mention about this whole concept of adult league teams playing at the Pepsi Center after Avs games is that it is all supposedly designed to sell more Avs tickets. We had about 15-20 different dates that we could have chosen to play on, and finally settled on last Sunday just because it was in the middle of January. Sucks that the Stars decided not to show up and the Avs blew them out.

My seats were up in the top rows and the end of the rink, so I had a good view of the entire stadium. There were MANY EMPTY SEATS. One of the employees said it was because it was a Sunday night, and with the NFL playoffs on at the same time I might have some sympathies toward that argument. However, it is well known here in Denver that the Avs are significantly under-drawing in attendance despite having a winning team (notice I did not say a good team). Also the fact that the NBA Denver Nuggets resurgence plays into this as well; Nuggets tickets are the hot commodity in town right now.

Still, give the Avs credit in a creative marketing idea to get people to come to a game.

Does anyone know of other NHL teams that are doing anything similar?

[brett 1,029]

awesome. I actually played at madison square garden right before one of the rangers game when i was a pee wee haha def a great experience. game went by way too fast though.

[Rick Zombos Ghost 82]

completely unrelated.... in my NHL 10 'be a pro' career. Lidstrom gets traded to the AVS and retires their captain. Maybe itll happen in real life!

[BeeRYCE 2]

Wow, didn't see this when I posted about my tournament at the joe when i was 15. And we spanked the team we played lol. How old are you? hahaha jk

Born in 1988... 21, 22 this year. Windsor Jr. Spitfires, Midget AAA. You?

[Guest Crymson]

So my hockey team had the opportunity to play at the Pepsi Center in Denver following the Ava-Dallas game on Sunday night. Both teams had to sell a total of 100 tickets (various prices from $27 - 95) to qualify, and we had about 15 minutes after the end of the game to get dressed and out on the ice. Most of us bought multiple tickets to bring family members along with us and they were able to come down to the seats just behind the benches and watch us play.

Here is a picture of me just before the game started. My team's name is Red Army, and we wear New Jersey uniforms. I could not resist the opportunity to wear my Red Wings gear, so here I am (along with the help of eBay) with my Red Wings helmet, gloves, pants, socks and stick (Franzen pants, Kronwall gloves and stick). The workers at the Pepsi Center had a big grin on their faces when I skated out onto the ice!

I was amazed at how small the players benches are - no wonder the NHL guys are always leaning forward as it is very cramped and very little leg room. You do sit up higher though as compared to my local rink. Also, we all commented at how easy it was to hear all the little sounds, especially when we were trying to communicate with each other.

Definitely something I will not forget. By the way, we won 5-0.

I was there for the 8-2 blowout. Anyway, cool that you got to play there. I live in Denver.