“It is just the atmosphere: the children; the smiles on everybody’s faces; just everybody involved, young and old alike,” she marvelled, “just seeing so many people out around and a nice community event.”
Costello could have been in the stands at Credit Union Place Monday night enjoying the electrified atmosphere of Kraft Hockeyville’s NHL exhibition game with the rest of her family, but she chose to give the tickets away.
“I donated them to the IWK.”
A young girl who spent the summer in the Maritime’s children’s hospital is going in her place.
“I get to watch the game at home; I won’t miss anything,” said Costello, who was hoping to catch a glimpse of her family members in the stands.
What about missing the atmosphere of the big game?
“But that little girl, the smile on her face yesterday was enough,” said Costello, who was one of the first to arrive for Monday’s presentation of the Stanley Cup to Hockeyville in O’Leary.
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There were plenty of smiles in the CUP as the doors swung open for the 7 p.m. game and the crowd spilled through. Kraft Heinz, the National Hockey League and the NHL’s Players Association were delivering the centrepiece of O’Leary’s Hockeyville win. The big $100,000 cheque would come later.
“Everyone is saying the same thing: It’s awesome,” Suzanne Getson gushed as she viewed group photos taken with the cup.
During the pre-game ceremonies, O’Leary Hockeyville committee member Jo-anne Wallace was invited to centre ice to officially accept the Kraft Hockeyville trophy and receive a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd. She was also presented with a souvenir jersey by Kraft Heinz marketing director Joanna McIlroy.
Fellow committee member Della Sweet dropped the ceremonial first puck, and O’Leary area residents Meaghan Blanchard and Cory Gallant performed the American and Canadian national anthems.
Ron MacLean and Don Cherry invited Knutsford youth Jameson Sweet, who is battling cancer, to join them for an on-ice segment of Coach’s Corner. Cherry and Sweet were dressed in identical P.E.I. potato suits.
“O’Leary took the lead early and nobody could catch up. Do you know why?” MacLean asked Cherry about the national Kraft Hockeyville voting process.
True to script, Cherry asked why.
“Because Ketchup loves potatoes.” The pro-O’Leary crowd chuckled along.
MacLean also reviewed some O’Leary hockey facts, like Doug MacLean playing in the rink and Eric Lindros, launching his first NHL training camp there.
Back in O’Leary, Howie Borrow, the keeper of the cup, was enjoying his visit.
“I just like the feel of these smaller places, a small hometown feel where everybody is really happy to see the cup. They treat you well. It’s more of a family atmosphere.
Down at the game, which New Jersey dominated, winning 8-1, the pro-Ottawa crowd didn’t have a lot to cheer about, but they cheered anyway, just happy to be part of the NHL experience.
