The St. Louis Blues have officially started the 2019-20 season last night at Enterprise Center. The event was emotional, electric, and brought floods of reminiscing of the unthinkable 2018-19 season.
The pump-up video displayed on the megatron gave everyone in attendance and watching on television goosebumps. Sitting in section 125, I could feel the electricity in the air. The St. Louis Blues were introduced one by one in a fashion that was all too suited for the iconic moment that fans throughout the arena came to see. You could feel the anticipation.
Brad Marchand was even shown for 3-4 seconds crying in the pump-up video generating a rise out of the fans in attendance and at home. As a life long Blues fan and all-around hockey junkie, I couldn’t even dream of what this would be like. To be there and be a part of it was simply “Gloria-us!”
Seeing the Stanley Cup in the building. Knowing we were champions. The surreal and indescribable elation billowing from the crowd can’t be overstated or expressed in words. With the team introduced and standing united in front of the Stanley Cup the moment we all in attendance made sure to be seated for.
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The first-ever Stanley Cup Champions Banner was hoisted into the rafters in the way that all Blues fans hoped it would.
Gloria played one last time as we all, phones in hand recording, allowed the irresistible feeling of accomplishment flood over and through us.
The team skated around the rink hoisting the Cup for all in attendance to get a good look at. You could see the joy in sharing it with the fans all over the faces of the players.
The Cup was put away, the ice cleared off and the teams were skating for warm-up. The adrenaline and intensity in the crowd was palpable. We all discovered what it meant to be champs and you could feel everyone wanted this feeling again.
The national anthem was stellar! I always cringe a little when it’s time for the anthem because you never know what you’re going to get. With Charles Glenn, championship ring on and in attendance retired, it was a moment for me where I thought, “Ok, here we go. It’s a new season.”
The team came out flying feeding off the adrenaline of the ceremony and fans. The Blues went up 2-0 in the first period and things looked like we were going to pick up right where we left off game seven of the Cup finals.
T.J. Oshie was quoted prior to the game saying, “We went through this last year. It’s emotional. These guys are going to come out flying and we have to be ready. They’ll be jacked up, but then the adrenaline will pass and it’s just like ok, now what.”
You could see that is exactly what happened. The first period was great! Then the second period started and you could see the sloppy play. I know these guys are professionals and are paid a lot of money to be ready for games, but they are human and human emotion is taxing.
So I really don’t want to go crazy analyzing something that was more than a hockey game to all Blues fans. Sure the Blues had their chances, and yes it is a new season, but all cup winners know that the season doesn’t really start until after the first game.
This was an event in St. Louis Blues team and fan history and doesn’t deserve to be graded on a scale that may diminish the true relevance of what occurred last night.
The Blues ultimately lost the game in overtime 3-2. There was a blown tripping call on Bozak that allowed the game to be tied. The Washington Capitals are a fantastic team and anyone who is a true hockey fan knew this game was going to be tough.
A win would’ve made the night perfect, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of perfection even after the loss. The ceremony of last night was perfection and it was a perfect way to end a championship season. To put an emotional exclamation point on a miracle run.
This extravaganza earns an A in my book. Leaving the plus off due to the overtime loss. The game’s last two periods were sloppy, but nothing can diminish what we all witnessed last night. It was more than any season opener in any sport in St. Louis.
It’s going to be a grind this season so let’s get ready. The banner is hung, the Cup is put away, Gloria rang one last time. rIngs are out, awards are shelved and last season truly is behind us now. Time to go to work.
Drop the puck!