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We can’t put Ottawa’s 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in our rear-view mirror just yet, not without at least sharing a few more great memories from what was a landmark week for the Panini America crew.
While hockey fans are likely still buzzing from Friday’s announcement that we’ve brought the legendary Gordie Howe to the Panini America family, Saturday and Sunday in Ottawa were pretty darn special, too.
Standout rookie Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche stopped by the Panini America booth on Saturday to sign autographs, including one larger-than-life version on a special Panini America blow-up card hanging nearby. He was followed closely in the Panini America booth by the great Jeremy Roenick, who took it upon himself to provide one of the real highlights of the week near the end of his signing session.
That’s when he signed for Marc and Nicholas Papineau, a father-son tandem from Gatineau, Quebec. Before the Papineaus could get away, though, Roenick asked them if they were going to the game. Alas, they didn’t have tickets.
“Why don’t you take my tickets,†JR said, retrieving them from his jacket pocket and handing them over to the awestruck gentlemen.
“I think this is really cool because I didn’t have tickets to the game and I got them from Jeremy Roenick!†said 7-year-old Nicholas. “I always play as him on the PlayStation.â€
With a gesture like that, here’s betting a whole lot more of us will be playing as the incomparable “JR†going forward.
Thanks to everyone who made Panini America’s voyage to Ottawa for 2012 All-Star Weekend a trip to remember. Before we go, though, here’s one more gallery of images detailing just some of the highlights from the last few days.
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