The Hockey Guy is the nom de plume of professional hockey commentator Jim Hughson. A graduate of the University of Maine, Jim began his broadcasting career at the University of Maine’s radio station WOOM, where he worked for three years. In 1990, he moved to Houston, where he worked for Sports Illustrated and the Houston Oilers. In 1993, Jim joined ESPN, where he continued to work for the network until 2017, becoming one of the longest-tenured employees at the company. During his time at ESPN, Jim commentated on hundreds of NHL games and Major League Baseball games, among other sports.
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Who Is The Face Of The Franchise?
Now that we know who The Hockey Guy is, it’s time to find out who the face of the franchise is. For those of you who watched the 2017 NHL All-Star Game, you know who the first hockey player to appear on screen was. And for those of you who didn’t, we’ll quickly introduce you to Jack E. Vogt. But before we do, let’s look back at the history of the NHL All-Star Game.
The NHL All-Star Game was first held in 1939. With the exception of 1941 and 1942, when World War II kept the sport temporarily suspended, this year-long tournament has been played every year since. In its early years, the All-Star Game was essentially a glorified skills challenge between the top players of the day, with exhibition games and occasional on-ice battles thrown in for good measure. In later years, goal judges, hockey officials, and television cameras have made the games less about on-ice activities and more about showmanship, celebrity, and corporate sponsorships.
The Emergence Of The Modern All-Star Game
The first-ever NHL All-Star Game was a 3-2 victory for the Metropolitan Division over the New York Rangers, with the assists going to Boston Bruins teammates Harry Sinden and Frank Patrick. The Bruins forward, who had one goal and one assist in the game, would go on to have a Hall of Fame career.
During the 1940s and 1950s, the NHL All-Star Game grew in importance and popularity, with the participants more closely resembling a modern-day Super Bowl roster than a team of the league’s top players. The intensity and violence that had defined hockey in its earlier years gave way to a more skillful and strategic game. The number of participants grew as well, with the first-ever All-Star Game having only three teams and 24 players. The game continued to grow in importance and popularity as well, with the winning team going on to win the Stanley Cup in each of the next four years.
Jack E. Vogt: From Farm-Girl Hero To Hockey Legend
The face of the franchise for the Buffalo Sabres is undoubtedly Jack E. Vogt. The middle-aged man in the red, white, and blue is the oldest living former player in the NHL, having played at the age of 52. His playing days are behind him, but Jack has gone on to have a long and distinguished career in broadcasting, as player agent, and even as a referee, where he was responsible for one of the most famous fights in NHL history: Mario Lemieux vs. Kirk McLean in the 1988 All-Star Game.
Like many other hockey players of his era, Jack grew up in the Toronto area, where he played for the Toronto Junior Canadiens. After scoring just two goals in 30 games for the team in the 1942-43 season, Jack enlisted in the Navy. He served in the Pacific during World War II, where he played with the US Navy hockey team that went on to win the Silver Medal at the 1945 Montreal Victory Pension Jubilee. Since his retirement in 1966, Jack has worked as a referee and a hockey agent, helping players with their careers. When he’s not working, Jack enjoys spending time with his family and going to the golf course.
Who Is The Guy In The Middle?
The second player to appear on screen is probably the most recognizable figure in the NHL today: Wayne Gretzky. At 37 years old, the Great One is still one of the most prolific scorers of all time, having left an indelible mark on the game with his play and his personality. A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Wayne is the all-time leading goal scorer and points leader among active players, with 794 goals and 1,514 points in just 827 games.
Gretzky, who was born in Edmonton, Alberta, started playing organized hockey at the age of four. He grew up in Edmonton, playing for the St. Albert Saints and the West Edmonton Mallions of the Minor Pro Hockey League. His father was an Oiler engineer who worked on the Alaskan pipeline, and his mother was a teacher. In his youth, Gretzky was known to be an exceptional athlete, soccer player, and hockey fan. He attended the University of Denver, where he played for the school’s hockey team. After graduation, he briefly played for the New York Rangers in the NHL before being selected in the 1974 NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings.
Other Notable Faces From The Past
In addition to Gretzky, the All-Star Game has featured other famed hockey players, including two-time MVP Gordie Howe, who was 88 years old when he participated in the 1985 All-Star Game. Howe, known to his fans as the “Howling Hexenhammer,” had an illustrious NHL career, winning five scoring titles, one Stanley Cup, and the Masterton Trophy as the league’s MVP in 1971. Howe is the only athlete to have his number, 12, be retired by an NHL team.
Other notable figures in the past include two-time Olympic gold medallist Syl Apps, who was one of the first hockey players to win Olympic gold; Hockey Hall of Famer Bill Durney, who was responsible for popularizing the slapshot and making players such as Ted Lindsay popular; and former Montreal Canadiens star Henri Richard, who was the first player to wear the letter “H” on his chest rather than his name.
The Future Of The NHL All-Star Game
This year’s All-Star Game will be held between January 25 and January 30. The skills challenge will be held at the NHL Stadium, with fans encouraged to attend. It’ll be the first outdoor game in the history of the NHL, and it’ll be broadcast live on NBC.
The NHL All-Star Game isn’t going away, even though it’s evolved into something completely different than what it used to be. This year’s event will be the 71st edition of the game, and it’ll be played at the end of January. For those of you who aren’t familiar, here’s a short list of things you need to know about the NHL All-Star Game.
NHL Stadium Is Big
The 2018 NHL All-Star Game will be played at the NHL Stadium in Las Vegas. This year’s game will be the 71st edition of the tournament, and it’ll be the first held outside of North America. The structure of the stadium looks like a puck, and that’s fitting because the puck is what the NHL is all about.
NHL Stadium is 762 feet long, 258 feet wide, and has a seating capacity of 19,400. It was designed by the architecture firm HOK, and the construction was entrusted to the OCC Las Vegas. The exterior is made of polished concrete with copper accents, and the interior has exposed wood and leather seating.
It’s Bigger Than The Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is the most valuable trophy in professional sports. It was first awarded in 1893 and is considered to be the ultimate indicator of sportsmanship, skill, and courage. The size of the cup varies from year to year, but it’s generally around 14 inches in diameter and 15 inches high. While the Stanley Cup is indeed the “grandfather” of the NHL All-Star Game, it’s actually bigger than that iconic trophy in almost every way.
First off, the Stanley Cup only goes to the winning team, while the All-Star Game can be won by either team. Second, the Stanley Cup weighs less than the NHL All-Star Game trophy, and it’s lighter too. Third, the Stanley Cup is actually gold-plated, while the NHL All-Star Game trophy is stainless steel. Finally, the Stanley Cup is a one-of-a-kind piece of art that is kept within the Hockey Hall of Fame. While the NHL keeps a replica of the Stanley Cup on display, fans won’t get to see the real thing.