Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
The Kings, Ducks and the rest of the National Hockey League will shut down during the Winter Olympics. No, not because they're being held in Canada — but because so many players go home to play for their countries. The Kings have players on the U.S., Canadian and Slovakian teams. Defenseman Jack Johnson so much wanted to take part in tonight's opening ceremony that he chartered a plane to fly him and and his family up north, then bring him back for tomorrow night's last Kings game before the arenas go dark. ESPN's Ramona Shelburne went along:
Making it happen wasn't easy: chartering a plane to fly out at 6 a.m. this morning after playing a game Thursday night, arranging for transport across the U.S.-Canada border, coordinating his plans with the Kings and USA Hockey, and then somehow figuring out how to get back before Saturday's morning skate, as the Kings prepare for their game against Colorado on Saturday night....This wasn't just some trip to Canada. This wasn't even some quick trip to the Olympics.
This was the first American-born NHL player to walk in the Opening Ceremonies at the Winter Olympics.
A million things had to line up for this idea to even get off the ground. The Olympics being held in North America, the Kings having an off-day, Johnson having the will and the endurance to try and make this happen.
The KIngs will honor their Olympians (and three from the visiting Avalanche) on the ice
after Saturday's game.