Chapman club hockey reflects on NHL Outdoor Games
While Chapman’s club hockey team is out indefinitely due to COVID-19, they’ve been staying connected by watching the 2020-2021 NHL season. WikiCommons
Tradon Reid, head coach of Chapman’s club hockey team, was lost for words when he set foot — or blade — on the ice for the first time in nine months this past December after joining an Orange County adult hockey league.
His players haven’t had the same satisfaction, with their 2020-2021 season being canceled indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they’ve still done their best to remain connected with the sport. Noel Zuccaro, a junior goalkeeper, said he “always” stays up to date on NHL games.
“I not only watch them to watch the game, but to be analytical and really break down those games,” Zuccaro said.
In particular, Zuccaro paid close attention to one slate of games Feb. 20 through Feb. 21: the 2021 NHL Outdoor Games in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, which featured the Colorado Avalanche playing the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Philadelphia Flyers matching up with the Boston Bruins. Many, like Zuccaro, feel the outdoor format is promising for the NHL’s future. Zuccaro hopes the team has the chance to play outside at some point in their Chapman careers.
“I can safely say I’ve never seen a more beautiful hockey game and I probably haven’t seen a more beautiful sporting event,” Zuccaro said. “It’s a big step for the NHL … They’ve been trying to grow the game in this country and events like that are a big step (toward growth).”
Zuccaro, Reid and sophomore forward Dexter Corley all agreed the games were some of the most incredible games they’d ever seen. Reid himself was in Lake Tahoe the weekend of games, and described the day as “perfect” — except for one area.
“The weather was beautiful and that’s actually not a good thing when you’re trying to keep ice cold,” Reid said.
The warm sun forced the Avalanche-Golden Knights matchup to be delayed mid-game and pushed back eight hours to allow the ice to re-freeze properly after partially melting. The situation gave Corley flashbacks to a situation he’s experienced before with Chapman hockey.
“One time I was at this rink where something happened to the (air conditioner),” Corley said. “The ice started melting on us, and we had to cancel the game because it was getting pretty dangerous.”
Bad ice, however, would be more appealing for Corley, Zuccaro and their teammates than their current situation of not being on ice at all. Despite being out for over a year, they’re optimistic that when it’s all said and done, they will return to Anaheim ICE next fall to compete in a full club season.
“I’m really looking forward to the games,” Corley said. “Playing the games, being around the locker room, seeing the coaches — getting into that routine is going to be huge for all of us.”