Tanya Wright was smiling ear to ear outside Honda Center a couple of hours before Wednesday's puck drop. She and hubby Simon flew into town earlier in the day, planning on staying overnight to catch Thursday's matchup against the Kings in downtown LA before getting up to Seattle for the Saturday home opener. Three games in four nights, living the dream large.
"I'm really excited," she said about her famous son taking the actual step onto the ice for the traditional rookie solo lap before warmups (he wristed several pucks into the net too) and, of course, the game too. "I mean, nothing prepares you for a night like tonight."
The solo lap is a tradition that runs deep into the emotions of any player who has imagined playing in the NHL and all those mothers, fathers, and volunteer coaches who get goosebumps when they see a rookie skating those unforgettable circles in the team's warmup zone.
Mom still holds to what she said about Seattle on this past summer's draft night" "This franchise is the best place for him. We felt that way during last season and at the draft and still do now.
"We're very aware of the years of experience with the other players," said Simon Wright. "And how much there is to learn. Shane is just trying to soak it all in."
"We just keep saying, 'be a sponge," said Tanya Wright.
"It's fortunate because the team's core group and this leadership group is so good in so many ways," said Simon Wright. "So many of them have so many good things in hockey. They have at least one player who has been on the Stanley Cup winner during the last seven seasons."
For his 18-year-old part, Wright said his teammates, especially the veterans, have been encouraging about appreciating and enjoying the night.
"The biggest thing is, 'you only get one first NHL game,' make it worthwhile," said Wright, smiling as he chatted with the media Wednesday after the morning skate. "Enjoy every second of it. Don't be too nervous, soak in the moment and enjoy it.
"Obviously, it's a really big night. It's really important for me and for the team as well. You want to manage emotions as much as possible. You don't want to get too high, don't want to get too excited. You want to stay level-headed ... we have a job to do, to win the hockey game."
