EL SEGUNDO, California – The Los Angeles Kings will play at home on Monday for the first time since fires ravaged parts of the city, killing at least 27 people and destroying thousands of structures.
The Kings will honor firefighters and first responders during the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Crypto.com Arena (10:30 p.m. ET; FDSNW, SN-PIT) by wearing special patches on their jerseys and replacing the Kings logo the team at center ice with a new logo honoring the Los Angeles Fire Department.
“We can’t thank the first responders enough, but it’s a great addition to the rink and it will be special to skate on this ice,” said Kings forward Trevor Lewis.
Kings coach Jim Hiller expects an emotional evening that will highlight the importance of sticking together in crisis situations.
“There’s no better feeling than being part of a team and in this locker room, we’re a team,” Hiller said. But the beauty of it all is that it extends beyond the locker room to the members of the organization, but also to the fans, to everyone who fights the fires and to the people who have been victims of it. It starts with a small group, but it can bring the whole town together. You can bring everyone together, and it looks like we’re on one team right now. »
The Kings were scheduled to host the Calgary Flames on January 8, but this meeting was postponed to April 17 due to the fires. The team then left for a five-game road trip. Forward Trevor Moore made no secret that the players felt “far away” from the disaster and the community response.
“We want to be there for our city and we’re going to show that with our game tonight, so it’s nice to be back,” said Moore, born in Thousand Oaks, California.
“When we left, the fires were still active, so it was quite emotional. We didn’t know what was going to happen or how badly the city was going to be hit, so we know more right now. »
-While the team was away, the rest of the Kings organization found ways to contribute. They launched a donation drive at the Toyota Sports Performance Center, created a relief fund to raise monetary donations and teamed up with other Los Angeles teams to commit more than $8 million to charitable organizations . They also auctioned game-worn jerseys and helmets, while the Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets and Flames also provided some items.
Moore said the Kings appreciate the donations from other teams across the NHL as well as the recognition received during the recent trip, which began with an emotional 2-1 overtime win over Winnipeg on Jan. 10.
“The hockey world is small, and we really appreciate all the support during these times and the donations to the families and everyone who has lost their homes,” Moore said.
The Penguins, who will remain in the Los Angeles area this week before facing the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday in a seven-game road trip, are happy to help the community as well.
“People here have been through tough times, and we will do everything we can to show our support,” said Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby. “It’s inspiring for us. »
The last few weeks have been special for Penguins forward Blake Lizotte, who began his career with the Kings and accumulated 106 points (37 goals, 69 assists) in 320 games with them. This will be his first game at Crypto.com Arena as a visitor, but the Los Angeles Fire Department hat he wore after morning practice sent a clear message that his return means second plan.
“You put hockey aside for a moment and you realize what this city has been through over the last two weeks,” Lizotte said. It puts the important things into perspective, and what is paramount is family, health and safety. »
