oral history of 1991 nhl outdoor game in las vegas - home battery pack

Twenty-
For five years, Caesar's Palace has been part of two milestones: the first NHL game was held in Las Vegas and the first outdoor game in NHL history.
The historic match was played behind Caesar's Palace, where Neptune's pool is currently, Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings against the New York Rangers.
Played on September 27, 1991.
This game is not only memorable because it was the first NHL game in Las Vegas.
This is also the start of the league's outdoor NHL competition, which has been exposed on national television to make the competition even more memorable.
That night's match was a long-time broadcast team of Los Angeles Kings, composed of Bob Miller and Jim Fox.
Miller, 78, retired after spending 43 years in the King's radio booth in March 2, 2017.
Even though his legacy is planted in the southern city of Califonia, he has also helped bring NHL hockey into the city for the first time, striking in the history of hockey in Las Vegas.
Miller and several other people involved in all aspects of the game recently shared their memories with us.
The following quote is: Legendary King Radio, who retired in March 2017.
Long-time King player and Miller partner at the radio booth.
The players of the Los Angeles Kings team, as well as the team's current business operations president.
King's goalkeeper and current NHL analyst at Rogers Sports Network.
That night, the current Las Vegas resident played for the New York Rangers.
Former president and chief operating officer of Caesar world sports.
One thing I wanted to do when I joined Caesar in 1988 was to do an outdoor hockey game.
In Caesar, our motto is: 'We can do everything.
It's not "if" you can build it but when I go to the company they think it's a good idea if we can make it.
Obviously, no one has done this, and it will be a big attraction in Caesar's Palace, whether it is Erville Neville or the movie, Caesar's Palace is doing this kind of thing.
The response I got was: Wow, that's a good idea.
When I went to Caesar's Palace, they felt the same way because there was no hockey in Las Vegas.
As we used to joke, ice was what you put in your drink for those who were in Las Vegas at the time.
I found one of the Marketing Directors (at the NHL), Steve Flatow.
He said it was a very interesting idea and I should talk to him. LA Kings owner)Bruce McNall.
After receiving the support of the King, Rose's idea became active.
Although an opponent is still needed, the logistics of playing an outdoor game in Las Vegas also needs to be determined, the rapid interest of NHL and Kings makes the opportunity to play outdoors in the Caesars Palace a unique reality.
When they announced it, I thought: no problem. Let's do it.
"I think there is a direct connection --
With Wayne Gretzky.
There is no doubt about this.
I think the visibility he brings to the King and the league makes it possible for him to think of something like this.
I'm not sure if you can fully appreciate what he did unless you can come to Los Angeles before, during and after Wayne.
This is a king market, so you can get a special ticket in Las Vegas.
So people know the king of Los Angeles, they have Wayne Gretzky.
From an image perspective, Kings are one of the leading franchises with the greatest players in the game.
People really got on the boat.
Wayne's cross-border ability allows people who are not hockey fans but may be sports fans to recognize his name.
They recognized his name and they knew it somewhere.
This makes it possible for attention and attraction.
Of course, in Los Angeles, in Hollywood, that's what happened.
He was the only player and the only one who was able to get so much attention from the league at the time.
Of course, the domino fell after that.
I was a fan of the New York Rangers since I was a child.
So the King and Rangers are the ultimate game for me.
But this decision
Opponent for Rangers)
Not mine.
I can sign it.
The king has a very good relationship with him. NY Rangers GM)Neil Smith.
That's why it's easy.
After resolving the details, the stage was set to be the first NHL game in Las Vegas history.
In September 27, 1991, it will showcase the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers outdoors at Caesar's Palace.
We put the ice in on Tuesday afternoon.
The game is Friday night.
I think the only problem we have to deal with is the wind.
But there was no wind. we made ice.
The ice is good.
There was too much hype before the game.
I think it's Larry Robinson, Dave Taylor, myself, Wayne (Gretzky)and maybe Luc (Robitaille).
To create more buzz, we went to Vegas a few days in advance.
I believe the night before we went to Vegas, we played a preseason game in Tucson, Arizona.
I remember the look on the faces of players and rookies who had never been to Las Vegas before, as we walked down the avenue to Caesar's Palace.
It's like midnight, then the big tent at Caesar's Palace, with a huge letter saying, "nhl pre-season hockey. LA Kings vs.
New York Rangers
I felt a little bit that this was going to happen and it was very unusual.
For a lot of players, I think it's the first time they 've come to Las Vegas.
Being able to play outdoors in Vegas, no one knows this will happen.
Right there, everyone in town is talking about it.
Sometimes in Las Vegas, you will encounter unexpected things.
Today, 25 years ago, the day the NHL brought hockey to Las Vegas, an unexpected situation began hours before the game.
After the ice was put in, they said they wanted to put some heat shield on it so it wouldn't explode completely by the sun.
At 12: 30 on Friday, we should take that screen down and start preparing for skating before the game.
Finally, a crew member appeared.
What he did was take a large pair of scissors you used to trim the bushes and cut the rope one by one on this hot field.
What happened was that there was only one person and it fell to the ground.
It may have been in the sun for 50 hours.
It's like you put a hot iron on a piece of ice.
In 45 minutes, we had 3 inch of water.
Six hours before the game.
The rope was very hot, so it melted in the ice.
The whole ice is Ridge.
When I looked out of the room
We stayed at Hotel Caesar
And it's raining.
This is the last thing I thought about in Vegas.
It rained for about half an hour.
I wonder if we can get this game in.
To be honest, this is not an afterthought, but the only thing I am worried about is whether we will be ready for the game time.
In my opinion, there is no doubt that we can succeed.
The question is how long it will take.
Under normal circumstances, the ice surface is about 18 degrees at the NHL ice rink.
We keep it at 11 degrees.
After that, they immediately drove our car to three degrees.
Slowly, but for sure, it starts to harden and freeze again.
Around 4: 00, I went there and just wanted to see what it looked like.
There is a guy who is squeezing and I want to squeeze a 2 inch of water out of the ice.
I thought we wouldn't play.
As far as I know, they came to my partner Jim Fox and asked him to put on the skates and test if the ice was OK.
I am alone around the ice and continue my skates with the people who control the ice.
They asked me to advise if the game could still be played.
At that time, tarp had just been removed.
The ditch on the ice surface extends to the refrigeration system.
The situation is really bad.
I don't think the ice is that bad.
This is quite good.
At that time, when we played in Miami and Tampa Bay, the ice was much more serious.
We are satisfied with the quality of the ice.
It's not Edmonton style but it's playable.
They do have hours to go back and fix the holes there.
They did a lot of work in this case to make sure it was playable.
When Jim slid on it, he said he thought it was OK.
Then at 7: 30, we were in the air.
At faceoff time, the temperature at 7: 30 p. m. is 85 degrees.
It was an experience.
Although a few hours before the scheduled stand-off, the King and Rangers slid to the ice at 7: 45 p. m. , only 15 minutes from the original time.
I think the coolest thing is what we wear in Caesar's Palace.
We had to cross the casino.
You throw your equipment away and there is everything there whenever you cross the casino.
Slot machines, card dealers.
Yes, a long walk from Caesar's Palace.
I remember a long walk to the ice rink.
Go out with the skyline and all the big buildings there, just look up and see outside of Las Vegas.
The view is spectacular. Second to none.
It's a unique thing because I remember walking through the locker room with John van bisbrook to see the game.
He was the first member of the Rangers.
In my life, I never took the other side's goalkeeper to the skating rink.
It seems to me to be more of a Hollywood premiere, all of us in the spotlight.
I haven't been to many Hollywood premieres, but I just think that's what I want.
It's about promotions, keep an eye on our game as much as possible and it feels like a boxing match and everyone is cheering.
Being part of such a big event at the time was pure excitement.
I remember there was a roar in that place and someone was packing up.
13,000 fans and the fact that they are wearing hockey jerseys.
Not only the Kings and Rangers, but also the various NHL teams, the Canadian youth team, and the European team.
They are not only in the stands but also in the hotel.
We will see it in the casino and then in the game.
When I realized how many fans of other teams were there, I wanted to watch this outdoor game.
I think it's amazing to attract so many people in the preseason.
We sold out and had nearly 14,000 fans.
The crowd is sold out and the NHL premium ice is in good condition, which makes the Caesar Palace game a certain success.
But on the night the King won five points
There are some curve balls.
The funny thing is that we can't forget the bugs.
Those big grass shoppers jump on white ice because it's too bright.
They jumped a few times and froze.
It may not be the best day they have had for locusts.
They want to land in a warm parking lot instead of on ice.
This is the case.
Insects are always attracted by light.
I'm sure these locusts and locusts have never experienced ice in their lives.
I'm sure they are very confused about what happened.
They might be thinking, "Who are these guys playing hockey and what are they doing in our parking lot ? " Some of them were frozen on the ice, so the players were skating on the grass.
By the end of the period, there seemed to be 100 on the ice.
About 1 inch or 2 inch long.
These idiots are big.
They seemed to fly in, jump a few times, and freeze.
They're not crawling.
But there is no doubt that sometimes they will be pushed to you.
I don't remember being hit in the face.
But there were some casualties in the locust that night.
I didn't believe they were a problem until some time in the second period.
Then they came here in groups.
It's hard enough to fight hockey players.
But when you are skating on ice, you have to fight some bugs, which is annoying.
But it did not disappear from the atmosphere.
Many of us have experienced outdoor play while growing up, but only in the winter, never encountered locusts.
King goalkeeper Kelly herudí is not only fighting locusts.
He also played with the camera on his helmet, the first NHL player to wear a camera during live action.
At that time, the King's broadcast was broadcast during prime time.
Someone from their production team came up with the idea and approached me well before the game.
When asked if I would wear a helmet, install a camera, and a microphone, I totally agree.
I think we had some simple discussion about how it works with my device and what I would go through from this perspective.
The goalkeeper has a camera on his helmet for the first time.
I remember the foreman walking around and looking at the camera and saying, "Hi, Mom.
The camera itself is not a problem.
This may be part of the warm-up.
Even after the game, I remember I didn't think it was that bad.
The camera on my helmet is fine.
The only thing I care about is the battery pack and the size of it.
I am already a man in a heavy sweater.
So the last thing I need is a warm battery pack tied to my back and pants.
The result is not so good.
We think we will get a good chance from the blue line at the goalkeeper.
I remember Kelly was down a lot in front of him to play hockey.
So we didn't see as much hockey coming towards him.
In 1991, the battery pack and the camera itself were huge.
I can't remember how much it weighs.
This is attached to the back of my pants with a variety of tape to make sure this large battery pack is not loose in the game.
I may not think the goalkeeper is so busy.
But trust me, there are a lot of moves, you're all wet, and when you play with Wayne Gretzky in a team, all of these things can make this battery pack free, you have more awareness of trying to develop the game.
I have no problem doing such a thing.
I don't know how I was never asked again.
But it's too bad.
I still think it will be really cool with today's technology in today's game.
For the goalkeeper, wearing a camera on his head is not at all troublesome.
This will be an amazing lens with HD capabilities.
Hrudey, wearing "Hrudey cam", only scored two goals and was the goalkeeper who won the game.
The Rangers scored first, the King won the game, and Gretzky scored.
It can't be better.
If there was a special event at the time, that's it.
We know it's special.
No one has ever done this.
If you asked me at the time, I would have promised if I thought they were still talking about it in 25 years.
This is how special it is.
First, it is a great personal pride.
It's a sense of team pride to know a lot of people, of course, from the Caesar Palace and from the King of Los Angeles who are very supportive.
So many people have moved on this matter.
I watched Winter Classics, one of the top NHL events at the moment, probably outside the Stanley Cup.
We were able to start it was huge and we were able to show in Las Vegas that it could be done.