By Julie Buehler
It’s funny to see one toothless grin. But a row of sizeable men smiling for a picture as their dentists collectively cringe? It’s unforgettable. As was the experience for 35 kids, ages 8-15, which participated in the Los Angeles Kings’ first-ever “Hockey In The Desert” Camp, Aug 14-16.
When the 2011-2012 Los Angeles Kings entered the Stanley Cup tournament in the NHL, they were seeded dead last among Western Conference teams.
Then, all they did was rattle off 4 straight 7-game series wins, losing only 2 games in the first three series as they made their way through the top 3 seeds in the NHL’s Western Conference.
The dominance of their championship run as improbable as it was impressive and it captured the nation’s attention. Captured L.A.’s attention. In a city built on plastic smiles, the iron jaw of the Los Angeles Kings was clinched until the Stanley Cup belonged to them.
So when a contingent of Kings alumni, coaches, and front office staff visited Desert Ice Castle in Cathedral City, local hockey enthusiasts and sports fans alike were ecstatic to catch a peek at the legends of the game.
Kids that participated were treated to on ice instruction, agility training, strength and conditioning drills, plenty of laughter and fun and chance to learn from the world’s best. They also scored a camp jersey and tickets to upcoming regular season Kings games in the lower bowl. (We ALL know hockey is even more fun to watch LIVE.)
It was the first of such a camp, and according to the Kings brass in attendance, it won’t be the last.
Steve Lee, vice president of the Desert Blaze Hockey Club began contacting the Kings a few years ago. His initial overtures were met with optimism, but logistics had to be worked out. As those logistics were being nailed down, the Kings were becoming world champions. Meanwhile, Lee and his staff have maintained their steady drumbeat to create a local hockey presence for fans from all over the world.
And so it stands. The Kings came, they saw, they concurred the imagination of 35 kids in way only heroes of sport can and revived a sport build on cold in the heat of the summer.
If you need a cool place to hang out, check out Desert Ice Castle on Perez Road in Cathedral City. The website is www.deserticecastle.com
Julie Buehler hosts the Coachella Valley’s most popular sports talk radio show, “Buehler’s Day Off” every day from 1-4 on 1010 KXPS, the valley’s all sports station. She’s an avid gym rat, slightly sarcastic and more likely to recite Steve Young’s career passing stats than American Idol winners. Tune in M-F 1-4 pst at www.team1010.com or watch the show on Ustream.
