Registered: May 2001
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Queen to drop Canucks puck
Palace advisers told it can be done with 'dignity and grace'

Randy Boswell
Ottawa Citizen


Saturday, September 14, 2002

The Queen will launch ceremonial faceoff between Canucks and San Jose Sharks.

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It took a visit to Vancouver's GM Place by a skeptical delegation of royal advisers, and some reassurances from Canadian officials that it could be done with dignity, grace and immeasurable public delight.

But Queen Elizabeth, in a move certain to endear her to the millions of Canadian hockey fans, has apparently agreed to perform a ceremonial faceoff at a Canucks game.

The unprecedented event is to occur Oct. 6 at a Canucks pre-season match against the San Jose Sharks during the Queen's 12-day tour of the country.

News that she will attend the game has already been hailed as another shrewd step toward enhancing the Queen's populist credentials, reinforcing Monarchist League chairman John Aimers' claim that "the Queen and the monarchy are part of Canadian pop culture."

When she walks on to the red-carpeted ice to drop the puck, the event is sure to provide the most memorable image of her first visit to Canada since 1997.

The two players likely to line up for the historic face-off are Canucks captain Markus Naslund and Sharks captain Owen Nolan.

Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment officials in Vancouver declined to provide details of the event, but did discuss in general terms the organizing of ceremonial puck drops, which occur sporadically during the National Hockey League season.

Usually reserved for sports legends such as Olympic champions or hockey heroes, the event itself is relatively simple to stage, said Rob Viccars, coordinator of media and team services.

'It's pretty uncomplicated. You lay out a carpet. They stroll out to centre ice. They drop a puck and, I think, the home team traditionally always wins that ceremonial face-off and then they hand the puck to whomever dropped it."

Jamie Levchuk, senior coordinator of game presentation and events, said people occasionally request special instructions on how to drop a puck.

"But normally it's not too picky," he said. "Obviously, it's more of a ceremonial thing.

"Basically, when you're holding it, you hold it between the thumb and the forefinger, you hold it flat, parallel to the ice, and you drop it down. Try not to get it on its end so it rolls away from the guys. Make it easy to pick up."

The only other special instruction usually provided visiting dignitaries is a reminder to pick up their feet. "We don't want anyone tripping on the carpet," Levchuk said.

"I think it's pretty self-explanatory," Viccars said. "But then again you never know. There's people that have no idea about hockey, and I have no idea what the Queen's knowledge of hockey would be. I know she's seen the game before."

Mind you, that was more than 50 years ago.

On Oct. 29, 1951 -- just a few months before she became Queen, the 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, joined about 15,000 fans at the Montreal Forum to watch the Canadiens crush the New York Rangers 6-1.

On that occasion, just before the start of the game, the royal couple stepped on to a special platform at one end of the ice surface as God Save the King was performed by a military band.

"There was a sudden hush and a gasp from the crowd for a second or two and then a mighty roar of welcome was given the royal couple," said a news report at the time.

"Right from the start of play they followed the game closely. The Duke leaned over to watch the play, turned his head to follow every move and frequently broke into an appreciative grin. The Princess, too, watched closely, sitting with folded arms and not missing any of the action."

Over the years, the Queen has also attended a U.S. college football game, several soccer matches and many Olympic and Commonwealth Games events.

But lately she and her advisers have sought out opportunities to appear in less formal settings and connect more with the commonplace passions of her subjects.

In June, during her official Golden Jubilee address marking the 50th anniversary of her reign, the Queen stepped to her balcony at Buckingham Palace and -- before 700,000 spectators and tens of millions of television viewers in Britain -- made a surprisingly pointed reference to England's strong performance at the soccer World Cup, which at the time was electrifying the country's sports fans.

"I am more than conscious at the moment of the importance of football," she said, to the surprise of almost everyone watching the climactic speech of the anniversary celebrations.

"Although this weekend comes about halfway through my Jubilee year, as far as we are concerned it bears no relation to a rest at half time. However, I am very glad that the 50th anniversary of my accession is giving so many people all over this country and in the Commonwealth an excuse to celebrate and enjoy themselves."

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Registered: Oct 2000
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GoPuckYourselves!

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