by Dan Adkisson
Based in Los Angeles, the LA Kings are a very well-known professional ice hockey team. Competing in the National Hockey League, it’s fair to say that this team has had its ups and downs. While many ardent fans look forward to every game, the LA Kings have a few secrets that not everyone may know.
Freeway Face-Off
Before 2007, the rivalry that still exists between the LA Kings and the Anaheim Ducks had no name. If you’re wondering how someone came up with a name that has stuck, you might think there’s a rather interesting story behind it. However, this is not the case at all. Fox Sports Net actually conducted a poll in the hope that they could give the rivalry a name. Some of the names included the “Ice-5 Series”, and the “Freeze-way Series”. However, it was “Freeway Face-Off” that had the most votes. Apparently, the majority of the 12,000 voters thought that “Freeway Face-Off” was the most popular, and so the name stuck.
Roger Neilson and His Dog
Former coach Roger Neilson used to take his dog to The Forum back in 1983-84. The dog, who was given the excellent name “Mike,” would typically hang around outside in the parking lot. One game night, Mike decided that he was bored and chose to make his way down the ramp and past security. In fact, Mike somehow made his way to the bench during the game. Of course, this isn’t something that anyone at Grand Rush Online Casino or anywhere else could have created odds on for fans to place a bet on happening. Mike chose to just lay down behind Neilson while the game was taking place. This was much to the delight of all LA Kings fans and media in attendance that night.
For a while Roger Neilson’s dog Mike was perhaps one of the most famous animals in the world of hockey. He seemed unfazed by his fame, though, and continued to lay down behind his companion until Neilson spotted him.
Emilio Estevez
Some jokingly believe the LA Kings hatred for the Anaheim Ducks is all because of actor Emilio Estevez. However, the fault cannot lay with Estevez entirely. A Disney movie showed the Mighty Ducks, who were not yet a real-life team, winning a few games. But, it was the actual version of the NHL’s Mighty Ducks of Anaheim that began causing grief a few years later. While it took the LA Kings more than 25 years to reach the much-respected Stanley Cup Final, the upstart, and real-life, Anaheim Ducks made it there in just 10 years (vs. the New Jersey Devils).
Recorded Music
It wasn’t until the 1990-91 season when people attending an LA Kings home game heard recorded music during the stoppages in play. The music was played to the crowd on cassette tapes and it was safe to say that people loved it. Before the 1990-91 season, the only music that was played was heard during whistle breaks. The music was played live and on the organ. These days, music is heard nearly all of the time when the on-ice action is paused.
If you thought you knew a lot about the LA Kings, it’s safe to say you’re unlikely to have known these secrets. However, these are just some of the reasons why the LA Kings are so legendary.