10.02.09 Stanley Cup Banner Raising

On Friday, October 2, 2009, the Penguins opened their season at the Mellon Arena for the last time. It was also the night of their Stanley Cup banner raising ceremony. The ceremony began at 7:30. Four giant screens were created around the JumboTron to show a video that recapped the season beginning when Dan Bylsma was hired in February. Highlights of each playoff series were shown in the video as well- Max’s “shhhhhh!” in Philly, Marc’s stop on Ovechkin in Game 7, Geno’s hat trick against Carolina, Jordan’s goal in Game 4 of the Detroit series, and Sid being handed the Stanley Cup. When the video ended, the giant screens were dropped to the ice to revel the Stanley Cup with a spotlight shining on it.

Next, Paul Steigerwald came out to thank the fans and to introduce Mario, upper management, and the coaching staff. Then, each player was introduced onto the ice. When all the players were on the ice, they gathered around Mario and the staff to watch the banner raise to the roof. It was so neat to see them stand and watch the banner go up. Jordan and Max touched the cup as they skated by it to the bench.

Round 4, Game 4- Pens vs Wings 6.4.09

Last year, when the Pens made it to the Stanley Cup Final, I wasn't able to get tickets. This year I decided I was going with or without a ticket. Fortunately, I was able to get tickets to Game 4 and Game 6.

Before the gates opened, we walked around the arena to look at all the people who were sitting in the grass to watch the game on the screen. The crowd stretched clear across the street into the parking lot across from the arena. A few people had even brought their couches to sit on to watch the game.



To watch warm-ups, I sat in the first row right behind Marc. At each playoff game, fans are given a rally towel when they enter. Someone decided to make the Stanley Cup out of their rally towels.


Here are a few other pictures from warmups



It was so loud inside the Mellon. I have never heard the arena as loud as I did for Game 4. Before the Pens even took the ice, people were chanting "Let's Go Pens!" Geno scored in the 1st minute of the game, and the arena got even louder. Unfortunately, Detroit scored at the end of the 1st to tie it and then at the beginning of the 2nd to take the lead. The arena got really quiet until Detroit had 5-on-3 advantage. Jordan Staal scored a short handed goal to tie the game again. Within 2 minutes, Geno made a great pass to Sid who scored his first SCF goal, and then 4 minutes later, Tyler Kennedy scored to give the Pens a 4-2 lead. The building erupted when John Barbaro announced TK's goal. It was so loud that you couldn't even hear the announcement that Detroit had called a timeout after the goal.


Leaving the game was just as loud as being inside. Everyone was yelling and cheering as they walked to their cars. People were beeping their horns and yelling "Pens in 6!"