Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

The "First Step" In China

09/21/2017 at 11:48am EDT

from Nicholas J. Cotsonika of NHL.com,

The kids skated out in full uniform and lined up in the corners. Two days ago, they mobbed the Los Angeles Kings for autographs after practice and learned from some of their alumni at a hockey clinic. Now they greeted the Kings and Vancouver Canucks before the first NHL game ever played in their country.

They slapped gloves with the players as they came out, lined up on the blue lines with them for the Chinese national anthem, then took off their skates and helmets and headed up to the third level of Mercedes-Benz Arena.

Still in full uniform, waving rally towels, taking pictures with their smartphones, sitting on the edges of their seats, they watched the Kings' 5-2 preseason win Thursday in the 2017 NHL China Games presented by O.R.G. Packaging. Until now, they had never seen an NHL game live, never experienced the skill, the speed, the size.

"They skate one step," said Marco Huo, 8, "and for me, I have to skate five steps."

This was a first step for the NHL.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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