stillers4me
12-31-2010, 09:20 AM
When defensive end Brett Keiselhttp://www.steelers.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif (http://www.steelers.com/team/roster/brett-keisel/e07c42f5-62cd-4b07-828f-1d192885b0c0/) went to his first Pittsburgh Penguins game he admittedly didn’t know much about hockey. But he had a pretty good teacher, and instantly fell in love with the game.
“David Morehouse got me tickets and my wife and I sat with him in his box,” said Keisel, referring to the Penguins CEO/President. “He taught me the game that night. It was at Mellon Arena about six years ago. It was a special time. You could feel the energy from the crowd.
“The game is so fast. That is what is amazing to me how fast and agile they play on ice. We complain when the field is hard from the cold, but they are playing on ice and it’s a fun game to watch. I have grown into a huge hockey fan.”
And he isn’t alone. With Pittsburgh currently the center of the hockey universe courtesy of the NHL Winter Classic being played at Heinz Field on Saturday, Jan. 1 between the Penguins and Washington Capitals, even the Steelers players are talking hockey as they prepare to take on the Cleveland Browns (http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/) the next day.
“We love going to the hockey games,” said linebacker James Farriorhttp://www.steelers.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif (http://www.steelers.com/team/roster/james-farrior/f7f4fe77-9d04-41fa-ba5e-c5c0c49ca51c/). “I am getting better at understanding the game. I have been to a few games, so it’s coming along. I am a big fan, though, so I am learning it............
..............It is because of Elijah that Smith will now always have a special place in his heart for the Penguins. Elijah, who has battled leukemia, was in Children’s Hospital earlier this month when there was a knock at the door to his room and in walked several Penguins players, including Sidney Crosby and Max Talbot.
“Football players to him are chopped liver, but when those guys came in his face really lit up,” said Smith. “He was excited. I think as an athlete you don’t understand what it does for the kids until you are on the other side and are a parent of a child who is in there. You see the significance it makes in their day.............
http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Steelers-and-Penguins-have-special-bond/d67a9af6-4c6c-4895-acef-59dd22edd48b
“David Morehouse got me tickets and my wife and I sat with him in his box,” said Keisel, referring to the Penguins CEO/President. “He taught me the game that night. It was at Mellon Arena about six years ago. It was a special time. You could feel the energy from the crowd.
“The game is so fast. That is what is amazing to me how fast and agile they play on ice. We complain when the field is hard from the cold, but they are playing on ice and it’s a fun game to watch. I have grown into a huge hockey fan.”
And he isn’t alone. With Pittsburgh currently the center of the hockey universe courtesy of the NHL Winter Classic being played at Heinz Field on Saturday, Jan. 1 between the Penguins and Washington Capitals, even the Steelers players are talking hockey as they prepare to take on the Cleveland Browns (http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/) the next day.
“We love going to the hockey games,” said linebacker James Farriorhttp://www.steelers.com/assets/nflimg/icon-article-link.gif (http://www.steelers.com/team/roster/james-farrior/f7f4fe77-9d04-41fa-ba5e-c5c0c49ca51c/). “I am getting better at understanding the game. I have been to a few games, so it’s coming along. I am a big fan, though, so I am learning it............
..............It is because of Elijah that Smith will now always have a special place in his heart for the Penguins. Elijah, who has battled leukemia, was in Children’s Hospital earlier this month when there was a knock at the door to his room and in walked several Penguins players, including Sidney Crosby and Max Talbot.
“Football players to him are chopped liver, but when those guys came in his face really lit up,” said Smith. “He was excited. I think as an athlete you don’t understand what it does for the kids until you are on the other side and are a parent of a child who is in there. You see the significance it makes in their day.............
http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Steelers-and-Penguins-have-special-bond/d67a9af6-4c6c-4895-acef-59dd22edd48b