Kate Willoughby

USA Today Bestselling Author

Hockey, Hockey Book

And Lo, Kate Morphs Into a Fan Girl

Drew Doughty at the Staples Center
Success! I was able to score some great tickets to the free practice session at the Staples Center on Monday night. We were Row 8! It was so exciting to be so close to the players. There was an announcer trying to describe what they were doing, but it was difficult to understand him. It didn’t seem like a real practice, and I was right. (More below.) Still, a really fun time. 
They lofted some of the pucks over the glass afterward, but we were seated behind an area where a high net was above the glass. Darn. One coach eyed the top of the net, bit his lip, and hurled a puck. It made it over, but too far for my husband to get to it in time. Double darn.

Dustin Penner at the Staples Center

 Wednesday, my eldest son–the one with the pricey camera–accompanied me to one of their regular practices at the Toyota Sports Center (TSC) in El Segundo. We just walked right in and it seemed very much like our local Ice Station Valencia in layout. We found our way in to the NHL rink where the practice was already in session. This was a real practice. They did many drills. They gathered on the sidelines to listen to the coaches. It was very exhilarating. If not for the glass, I could have reached out and tapped players on the shoulders.

Matt Greene at the TSC

I took a lot of notes on the sounds (lots of noise!!) and sights and what they did. My son took about 300 pictures. Below are some I took with my phone. My only difficulty was their jerseys didn’t have their names on them, so if I didn’t recognize their faces, I had to refer to the numbers on their helmets. Unfortunately, I’m not familiar enough with them to know each player by number, so I had the team roster on my phone ready to glance at.

I can’t wait for the Season Opener on Saturday. Hockey at last!!

Matt Greene even closer! Nice schnoz.

Hockey, Hockey Book

Hockey Tradition

Since 1995, whenever a team wins the Stanley Cup, each player (and other members of the organization such as coaches, equipment handlers, etc.) gets one special day with the famous trophy. I think this is such a terrific tradition.

I tried to win the opportunity to take a picture with the Cup at my local rink, Ice Station Valencia. I thought it would be a fantastic way to inspire my muse as I write the first of what I hope to be many hockey themed romances. Full of hope, I bought four raffle tickets, but alas, I didn’t win. 🙁

Still, here are some of my favorite photos taken this summer, celebrating the Los Angeles Kings’ win.

Dustin Brown’s kids make a chocolate milk jacuzzi out of the Cup.

Mike Richards is concerned about the Cup’s ability to swim.
Captain Dustin Brown at the grocery store. I notice he’s in the kitty litter aisle… Please, Dustin, not in the Cup!
The boys celebrate in Vegas. YUMMO.
(Photo by Al Powers of Powers Imagery LLC)

Hockey Book, Last Line Last Night

Last Line Last Night #1

A while ago I was posting the last line I wrote the night before. I thought that might be a fun feature to bring back. It doesn’t take up a lot of your time or mine. 🙂 This is from my work-in-progress, the hockey book, of course.

“Wild horses couldn’t drag me out of this bed.”

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