“Crosby,” a large group of local hockey fans chanted outside of the Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday morning, beckoning NHL great Sidney Crosby to give them an autograph.
Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk was another popular choice among fans, many of whom were children, who gathered for the Kraft Hockeyville event.
At 7 p.m., the Pittsburgh Penguins will face off against the Ottawa Senators at the Sudbury Community Arena.
Young hockey fans react to the presence of Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who signed autographs outside of the Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday. Tyler Clarke / Sudbury.com
Although not in their home community, it’s actually better this way, Tracey-Lynn McAleese told our sister Sudbury.com. An Elliot Lake resident, she joined her daughter and grandchildren at the red carpet event outside of the arena, where hockey players signed things for fans on their way into the building.
With a much larger capacity than the Elliot Lake Arena, she said that with the Sudbury arena, “everybody gets the opportunity.”
Tickets were given out at Elliot Lake schools and area hockey associations, with Elliot Lake-area residents also afforded the opportunity to receive tickets through draws.
As such, although the event is taking place in Sudbury, it remains very much an Elliot Lake celebration.
Both NHL teams practiced on the Sudbury Community Arena ice at midday today and answered questions from students. The Penguins face off against the Senators at 7 p.m.
The Penguins’ roster and game notes are available by clicking here.
Key players to watch include Crosby for the Penguins and Tkachuk for the Senators, who both lead their teams in points with a respective 94 and 74.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
A crowd swarms around Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby, who signed autographs outside of the Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday. Tyler Clarke / Sudbury.comYoung hockey fans react to the presence of Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby, who signed autographs outside of the Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday. Tyler Clarke / Sudbury.comYoung hockey fans react to the presence of Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby, who signed autographs outside of the Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday. Tyler Clarke / Sudbury.comYoung hockey fans react to the presence of Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby, who signed autographs outside of the Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday. Tyler Clarke / Sudbury.comYoung hockey fans react to the presence of Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby, who signed autographs outside of the Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday. Tyler Clarke / Sudbury.comA crowd forms around the red carpet event outside of the Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday, where NHL players signed things for those who attended. Tyler Clarke / Sudbury.comPeople take photos outside of the Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday, which included signs featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators NHL teams, who were scheduled to play that evening as part of the Kraft Hockeyville event. Tyler Clarke / Sudbury.comHarrison Salisbury, Jeanette Belanger and Aubrey Salisbury are pictured at the red carpet event at the Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday, where they gathered a number of autographs from visiting NHL players. Tyler Clarke / Sudbury.comMother/child group Brooklynn, Teri-Lyn and Rilynn Riddell join mother/grandmother Tracey-Lynn McAleese at the red carpet event at the Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday. Tyler Clarke / Sudbury.comHayden Guthrie gets his hat signed by Ottawa Senators player Leevi Merilainen during a red carpet event outside of the Sudbury Community Arena on Sunday. Tyler Clarke / Sudbury.comThe Mercer family is seen at the red carpet event on Saturday morning at the Sudbury Community Arena, where NHL players made their way into the building. From left is Danielle, Ryan, Steve and Drew. Tyler Clarke / Sudbury.com
