On the Blue Line and in the Net

Last night was an amazing night for our family. The Nashville Predators hockey club provided an opportunity for Carson to be "Blueliner of the Game," which is an opportunity for youth hockey players to skate onto the ice at the beginning of the NHL game, and stand with the starting line-ups during the National Anthem. Mitchell also got to be the Blueliner of the Game, when he was eight years old.

It was also our first game of the season, which means it was our first Predators game without Mitchell. Maybe that isn't quite true, because there were games that we didn't all go together to, and games we would go to that we would sit in different places. But still, entering the arena seemed very odd.

We went downstairs in the building, to the event level, where the locker rooms, zamboni, training rooms, and all the game and event stuff happens. The last time I was down there was in the early spring, for the high-school senior game, because for the last three years, I've done the pictures for the seniors' families at Senior Night. I did get a little choked up thinking about not getting to have a Senior Night. He won't be announced, he won't skate over to us, he won't bring me flowers. Those kind of "little things" get me.

But this night was all about Carson! Some of the Predators staff showed our family around a little, and we got to watch some of the Tampa Bay Lightning doing some warm-ups with a soccer ball. We laughed when one of them kicked it and it got stuck up in some of the pipes and ductwork hanging down. We met the Predators PA announcer, Paul McCann. We were provided a little room for Carson to leave his bag, and to get dressed in his gear. We got to watch both teams warm up on the ice from the Zamboni doors, so we got to see the Lightning players up close and personal, including Ben Bishop, Brian Boyle, and of course, Steven Stamkos, who was Mitchell's favorite player. Mitchell even had a big "Fathead" lifesize of Stamkos in his room. As we moved away from the doors to get ready for the National Anthem, two of the Predators front office people met us, with a special gift for Carson -- a signed stick from Steven Stamkos!

That is when I sort of lost it. Mike took Carson into the dressing room to help him finish getting ready, and I had a good cry. Thanks, Steven Stamkos for making me cry! One of Mitchell's prized possessions was a Stamkos-signed Lightning hat that he won in a Twitter contest last Christmas. The Lightning asked fans to tweet their worst Christmas gift, and Mitchell tweeted a photo of the Philadelphia Flyers hat that Carson got for him at a hockey tournament, so they sent him a "better hat".

Then it was time! Carson skated out to the penalty box while the starting line-ups were announced, and then Paul announced Carson as Blueliner of the Game! Instead of skating to the blue line, though, Carson skated to the net, and stood with Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, who spoke to him and tapped his stick on his pads.

When they announced Carson, the Predators staff who were assisting us said that they thought he got the largest ovation of any Blueliner ever. (That might have had something to do with us inviting everyone we knew to be there.) The color guard and anthem singer went out on the ice, and we sang the National Anthem, and then Carson skated from one end of the to the other to come off, but not before Pekka said something to him and tapped his pads again.

After he took off his equipment, we went to find our seats and watch the game. And what a game it was! Back and forth scoring, including a goal by Stamkos and a goal by Mike Fisher, a beaut of a goal by Shea Weber, and James Neal being the man of the night! The game was tied at 4-4 at the end of regulation, and still tied at the end of the 3-on-3 overtime, so we got to see a shootout!!! Pekka stopped them all in the shootout, and then Forsberg lifted a shot in the shootout over Bishop's leg pad to give the Predators the win!

And if that wasn't exciting enough... our family was asked if we wanted to go downstairs for a meet-and-greet after the game. Well, of course! We were told that they didn't know who would come out, or how many players, and we were glad they won, so the ones we saw would be in a better mood. We got to meet several players, including Shea Weber first, and Mike Fisher, who we were able to thank for his prayers and tweets for Mitchell, and he talked to us for a few minutes. Several other players came out and signed autographs and posed for pictures, but Carson was especially glad to meet the goalies, Carter Hutton and Pekka Rinne. When they posed for a pic, Carter said it was a goalie sandwich! Pekka was especially nice, too, and stayed and talked for several minutes, asking Carson how long he had played goalie and how his season was going.

I can't thank the Predators organization for working together to make this a very special night, not just for Carson, but for all of us. Everyone, from the front office to the players to the ice girls and ice crew and everyone else we met last night were so nice and genuine. The only thing that kept this night from being perfect was that Mitchell wasn't with us physically, but I think maybe he was in spirit. That is a game he certainly wouldn't have wanted to miss.

#hockey