Attending Ken Dryden's retirement ceremony
-- by Mario Perrazzino; GOHABS.com
At the start of the 2006-07 season, there were two games that I circled in my calendar; first, October 21st: Avalanche at Montreal. Marking the return of Jose Theodore. And hence, the date of the GOHABs.com reunion 2.0
The second date was Jan 29. The retirement of Ken Dryden's jersey.
For this game I planned on getting access with my press pass. Request was made to my contact back in December. I again reminded him in early January. Finally another reminder last week. At which point it was too late as all spots in the media gallery were accounted for. My error as I should notified to my contact the importance of this game.
Why did I want to be present at the ceremony? Well I first began following the Canadiens back in 1978-79. I was 9 years old at the time. Ken Dryden's last season. I vividly recall Ken Dryden's O-Pee-Chee card. And me completing a puzzle of Dryden's famous lean on a stick pose. Dryden was, my first hockey hero I idolized.
And for those who recall the early days of GOHABS.com, back in 1996, the front page featured a menu page with Ken Dryden's famous pose. An hommage to my childhood hero.
So fast forward to this past weekend. I call my tickets broker contact. He told me on the street they're asking $75-$80 for 1 Blue ticket. Three times the price!!!! I ventured on ebay, and lost out on three bids.
So Monday I was refreshing the Admission.com tickets web site because I know Canadiens sometimes make game day tickets available for tickets that they do not give away to players, etc.
And sure enough just shortly after 5pm, 1 White ticket became available. I bought it, and picked it up at the box office.
The ceremony was handled with class, and the speech, what can you say. It was Ken thanking us, the fans. A classy gesture, from a classy man, who played for a classy organization.
#29 now hanging with the greats!
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