Jesse, Roman and myself during warmups at a recent Flint Firebirds game. It was Jesse’s first hockey game in 19 years.
MeltdownIn a recent interview with Jesse James Dupree from Jackyl, who grew up outside of Atlanta, Georgia, told the story of the only hockey game he'd ever been to. The game was at Joe Louis Arena on November 21st, 2005. It was the game where Red Wing defenseman Juri Fischer collapsed on the bench, suffering cardiac arrest and had to be revived by doctors who rushed in from the stands. The game would be halted and eventually postponed, the only time in NHL history, and played on January 23rd, 2006.
As Jesse told me, he had his big beer and pretzel ready to see some action when everything stopped. Never having been to a game, Jesse, along with many in the stands, had no idea what was going on. Juri was reportedly unconscious for 6 minutes while doctors worked on him. That would turn out to be the last game he'd ever play. He works for the Wings now.
After seeing the interview, local OHL scout and Jackyl fan, Tim Wilson, messaged me. He wanted to know if Jesse would like to watch a little of the game between the Flint Firebirds and the Sarnia Sting before their show at the Machine Shop on Thanksgiving Eve. I texted Jesse and was totally IN! Of course, he had to bring bate mate and Red Wing fanatic, Roman Glick, who took him to that game in 2005.
MeltdownDominic was cool enough to grab some pucks for me and the guys. They were actually frozen when he handed them to us! Right out of the freezer.
I swung by the venue and picked the guys up. We made the 5-minute drive to the arena where we were greeted by Tim and Firebirds director of marketing, Dominic Gutierrez. Dominic took us for a tour of the locker room while the teams were on the ice during warmups. I grabbed a stick off the rack for Jesse to hold. $400 of hockey technology in your hand gives a man a sense of the weapons the players use on the ice.
I noticed warmups were close to finishing and I wanted Jesse to see some of it, so we walked out a watched from behind the net as players rifled pucks toward us. Jesse's face said it all, he was amazed by the velocity of the shots going in the net as well as smashing off the glass.
We went to our seats as the anthems were sung and the opening puck dropped. This is where the irony of the game Jesse attended almost exactly 19 years earlier comes into view. Juri Fischer's son, Lukas, is the captain of the Sarnia Sting! How crazy is that?! Unfortunately, Juri wasn't at the game, but that would've been the wildest example of a small-world moment ever. To think of all the hockey players in the world, that the next game Jesse would attend would include the son of the man whose medical emergency caused the stoppage of the only game he'd ever been to is insane! The odds are staggering.
Myself with Jesse, Roman, and Tim Wilson. This photo was taken by a medical staff member at the rink. Thank You!
Because the guys had to get on the stage at 9 PM, we could only watch the first period. That was enough to see teddy bears tossed onto the ice after the first Firebirds goal on Toss A Teddy Bear night. I didn't tell Jesse about that because I wanted him to be surprised. He was! It was good to share that experience with two friends I've known for decades. I'm always willing to take in my favorite game with anyone.
MeltdownThe teddy bears flew during the first period as the Firebirds scored to make it 1-0.
Another big Thank You to Tim and Dominic! Maybe Jess will go to more games in the future.
MINTYThe obligatory "hallway shot" at the Machine Shop. Such a great tradition!
