MARQUETTE---The Hockeyville USA game between the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes was a spectacle in of itself Tuesday night, bringing national attention to Marquette and the U.P. The game was broadcast live on NBC Sports, as well as on regional radio.
"We're there to celebrate hockey," NBC play-by-play broadcaster Mike "Doc" Emrick said. "And we're there to celebrate a hockey community that not only suceeded in winning $150,000 in improvements, but it has shown all the way back through history when that Palestra was brought in on railroad cars from Laurium that they care about the sport. And they support it."
"The last time I was here was the late 80's, early 90's," said NBC analyst Pierre McGuire. "I was watching a player by the name of Dallas Drake. I am happy to be here. This is a hockey community. It's just awesome to be here."
Some former National Hockey League players were also in the Lakeview Arena Tuesday night, now working as broadcasters. One of them is Jeremy Roenick, who now works for NBC.
"A lot of people love the game of hockey here in Michigan," Roenick said. "To be able to come up here to northern Michigan...where I've never been, by the way. I've never been to the U.P. I know how hockey just thrives up here in these small towns. For them (Marquette) to win the second annual Kraft Hockeyville award is just really special."
And former Sabres tough man-turned-broadcaster Rob Ray was also on hand Tuesday.
"This is fantastic," Ray said. "The guys like coming to stuff like this. It's not like going into a normal out-of-the-way town to play an exhibition game. The excitement, the enthusiasm, everything that's going along with it. That really helps the guys, and for some of them, this is one of the bigger things that they've been around."
Buffalo beat Carolina, 2-0, in Tuesday night's game.
Thanks to Dave Danis, Ryan Beckman, and Justin Poquette for their contributions.
To read a report on the game, CLICK HERE
Click the Audio Buttons in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to hear our full interviews with NBCSN's Emrick, Mcquire and Roenick....as well as with Ray and Sabres lead announcer Rick Jeanneret. Behind-the-scenes photos, too!
"We're there to celebrate hockey," NBC play-by-play broadcaster Mike "Doc" Emrick said. "And we're there to celebrate a hockey community that not only suceeded in winning $150,000 in improvements, but it has shown all the way back through history when that Palestra was brought in on railroad cars from Laurium that they care about the sport. And they support it."
"The last time I was here was the late 80's, early 90's," said NBC analyst Pierre McGuire. "I was watching a player by the name of Dallas Drake. I am happy to be here. This is a hockey community. It's just awesome to be here."
Some former National Hockey League players were also in the Lakeview Arena Tuesday night, now working as broadcasters. One of them is Jeremy Roenick, who now works for NBC.
"A lot of people love the game of hockey here in Michigan," Roenick said. "To be able to come up here to northern Michigan...where I've never been, by the way. I've never been to the U.P. I know how hockey just thrives up here in these small towns. For them (Marquette) to win the second annual Kraft Hockeyville award is just really special."
And former Sabres tough man-turned-broadcaster Rob Ray was also on hand Tuesday.
"This is fantastic," Ray said. "The guys like coming to stuff like this. It's not like going into a normal out-of-the-way town to play an exhibition game. The excitement, the enthusiasm, everything that's going along with it. That really helps the guys, and for some of them, this is one of the bigger things that they've been around."
Buffalo beat Carolina, 2-0, in Tuesday night's game.
Thanks to Dave Danis, Ryan Beckman, and Justin Poquette for their contributions.
To read a report on the game, CLICK HERE
Click the Audio Buttons in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to hear our full interviews with NBCSN's Emrick, Mcquire and Roenick....as well as with Ray and Sabres lead announcer Rick Jeanneret. Behind-the-scenes photos, too!
