NHL All Star Weekend-Game Time

NHL All Star Weekend-Sat

Oh those glasses.....

Lauren went to school on Monday and one of her friends said she was in the paper! Well, it had to be from Saturday night....but I hadn't had a chance to get a Sunday paper yet. I wanted to make sure, in fact, she was in there! I got on newobserver.com and went to the NHL coverage and found these pics....

Those glasses sure made it easy to pick them out! They had too much fun! Glad I found some pics from the 'other ' side! Now that they're famous..... Lauren said that Chris will now need to request an autograph through her FB account! ha ha

They were definately in to getting the guys to come over and autograph their jerseys....

So after this, I definately went and bought 4 papers....good for scrapbooking our awesome weekend!

Raleigh Wide Open-NHL All-Star Fan Fair

Continuing the All-Star Weekend Saturday morning. I really wanted to ask Chris to spend the weekend with us. I think with me taking the weekend off and all that we had planned, maybe this would be a good weekend to 'flirt'or 'spill' a little? But then time went by and I never did make that call. Wonder why. We picked up Murph and then headed downtown! We wanted to get there so we would have enough time to get through downtown as well as Fan Fair before heading to the RBC Center for the Red Carpet Arrivals. It was cool enough to wear a sweatshirt. Downtown looked totally awesome. NHL Hockey everywhere, banners, street signs, huge picture displays were everywhere you looked! You could definately tell what was going on this weekend in the heart of Raleigh.

Fan Fair in side the Convention Center wasn't open until 1000, so we hung out downtown and tried to take in all the beautiful pictures! Lauren even asked about Chris (like she does regularly). Im sure we could have come up with some good pics. Walking in by the entrance of the Marriott was totally awesome! Huge banners that Allison was trying to figure out how we could get Cam Ward's down so she could hang it up in her bedroom.

I don't think Raleigh was disappointing anyone in the NHL. It took Raleigh a few years to get the All-Star Game, even though we should have gotten it years ago. So Raleigh wanted to make sure it was an awesome weekend for everyone!

Now, seeing Allison beside it, you can actually see how big it is. We hadn't even made it anywhere yet, and we were blown away.

As we walked down Fayetteville Street (blocked off once again), the pictures, posters and everywhere we looked was engulfed in hockey! It was so cool! Of course, Allison found her man again!

And of course, the typical picture!

I was actually trying to figure out how to get this down by myself! Hummmmmm

Lauren and her 1st purchase of the weekend! Pretty cool bags with purchases. We found out later that not everyone knew where to get the bags. ha ha ha... Little did we know how famous those glasses on her head would be.....

I got a closer picture of this, but thought this one gave you more perspective about how BIG it really was. Anyone happening to fly by would definately know what Raleigh was doing January 28-30.

After we rounded through everything, we headed over to the Convention Center. We thought by getting there 15 minutes early that would be enough...WRONG. We walked in and just to get in line was a wait. But they had obviously started letting people in early, and the line kept moving. We had gotten our tickets in advance so we didn't have to wait in line.

Lets go......

They were letting people in with groups of about 50 at a time. We walked through this hallway of huge cartoon-like superhero hockey players. Something called the Guardian Project. We found out later what that was. Pretty cool. Lights, music, and everything hockey.

Lauren didn't hesitate in getting her picture taken here 1st. She looks like she could put a good hit on someone, doesn't she?

We headed over to the Locker Room. They had about 8 lockers set up with all the gear. From helmets, pad, stick, pants....everything.

Lauren put on Sidney Crosby's gear. Had to get a picture and text it to Brianna & Parker! I sure wish they were able to come. They would have had a blast! But then Lauren dipped herself in Clorox. ha ha

Then it was my turn.....Alex Ovechkin, here I come! Can I just walk out with the jersey Mr. Locker room man? Uh, no!

Next up was Allisons turn. Joe Thornton! It didn't taker her long to get the gear on.

Lauren was jumping in Vincent Lecavalier's gear!

There were huge curtains of players through NHL history. Lauren is standing to give you perspective to show how BIG they actually were! If we did get one of these, Im not sure where it would fit!

One area was set up like an equipment room. They had video clips that would show you completing a slap shot in slow motion. Pretty neat. Everything inside was free. So all the interactive things they had were totally free.

Allison & Lauren got a puck/picture display of each of their players. Lauren got to see a picture of Jeff Skinner without all the helmet action on.

Before heading over to the Stanley Cup, I ran into some lovely EMS girls, protecting the streets on bike patrol!

Yep, the girls said they were having fun! Too much to do and we were running out of time!

Standing in line for the Stanley Cup....never too long of a line. We probably should have done this when we first walked in, but there was so much to do, we were trying to complete a circle to make sure we didn't miss anything!

Obviously Allison had to find something to keep her entertained. Texting of course!

Allison knows what picture opportunity awaits when the Stanley Cup is involved. We've touched the Cup numerous times, and each time is just as awesome as the 1st.

After we got this picture taken, we saw the Cup Keeper, Phil! I asked for a picture! What an amazing job. To travel everywhere with the Stanley Cup.

Walking back through the maze exiting the Stanley Cup were hand impressions of several of the All-Stars. Some of them have some pretty large hands!

Before we left, this huge NHL logo was turning, we had to be quick! But perfect picture opportunity.

Walking out they had this huge inflatable set up with the lanes of ice set up that you could intertube for free! Kids were lined up!

What a great way to start a Saturday! Next stop...Which Wich for tailgait food and then off to the RBC Center!

2011 NHL All-Star Weekend Kickoff-Fantasy Draft & 3 Doors Down

New format for the All-Star game! Team Staal vs. Team Lindstrom! Each Captain will pick their team. Pretty cool, hence the reason why we don't have Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference!

Team Staal got the 1st pick! Probably because its his town! Who knows....but who does he pick 1st?

Cam Ward, of course! Gotta have a goalie! One of the most important players on the team. Not to mention Allison's favorite!

Those two are looking pretty good up there! Two Carolina Hurricanes leading the way....

One after another they alternated......

Team Staal picked up 18-year old Jeff Skinner from the Carolina Hurricanes, of course! Not too shabby for being 18 years old!

Daniel Sedin and Alex Ovechkin...Go Team Staal!

Round by Round they went until there was a lonely one....Phil Kessel- RW of the Toronto Maple Leafs.....

He made it up there to put on the Team Lindstrom jersey!

After the NHL Fantasy Draft, 3 Doors Down gave a free outdoor concert across the street at the Ampitheater. What a great start to a weekend!

Always ready for the Red Carpet-NHL style!

All-Star Weekend continues to the RBC Center. We had stopped by Which Wich for food before heading over to meet the Red Carpet arrivals prior to the Skills Competition. The Mascots came out about 30 minutes before the players and coaches arrived. They all focused on Lauren's superstar sunglasses! One mascot even took them and walked around with them for 5 minutes. There were people all around the barriers but we found a spot. It was PERFECT! And before you knew it, here they came: One player, of course, not missed by the French girls was Sidney Crosby, but early down the carpet was one of my favorites-Alex Ovechkin from the Washington Capitals. He makes me melt! I know someone else who makes me melt, and he lives right down the street. I thought about calling him to hang out with us, but I ended up talking myself out of it...AGAIN! I wasn't so sure we were going to actually get any autographs, but once the players started coming down the Red Carpet, I knew they were in for a day! One right after the other they came through and the girls got almost every single one. Once in a lifetime picture of Allison, no tongue and a 'true' smile! Allison & Lauren were too excited.

We missed Laurens favorite-Carolina Hurricanes Jeff Skinner-18 years old! Right before he got to Lauren, they pulled him away to do a television interview and when he came back he skipped us. So I guess we will track him down at the RecZone to get that autograph!

As they came through, several players even made comments about Lauren's glasses! I don't even know what they say, but they sure were the 'attraction'. The television camera was focused on her for 'ever' (at least it seems).

There is nothing like some nice-looking guys dressed in totally awesome suits! Wow!

No, you are not seeing double! Daniel and Henrik Sedin, both play for the Vancouver Canucks. Kind of weird huh? Not really, the Staal brothers are a part of the All-Star weekend but they aren't twins. However, there are 4 Staal brothers that have played in the NHL. And we are lucky to have Eric as our Captain!

Kris Letang-Defenseman for Pittsburgh! Too sexy! Kind of got that Rivers look, huh? Back in the older days!

I think this is Anze Kopitar-Center for the LA Kings! Looking mights European, don't you think? Hes 23 years old and from Slovenia! European, indeed!

Ever wonder what that 'real' Stanley Cup ring looks like? How big it is? Coach Joel Quenneville of the Chicago Blackhawks pulled his out of his pocket and handed it to a fan for a minute. He then put it on his finger as he continued to autograph Allisons jersey. Its HUGE!

And of course, Coach Peter Laviolette! I said 'Good to have you back in Raleigh Coach'. He replied, "its good to be back'. Our Coach that took us to a Stanley Cup! Wow!~

After all is said and done.....not too bad! The girls ended up with more autographs than any of us could have imagined. Our weekend just kept getting better!

This is worthy of framing material! Couldn't wait to see what is in store next! Bring on the Skills Competition~!