Favorite memory of season: European adventure with NHL Global Series

The NHL season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. During the break in the action, NHL.com writers will each look back at his or her favorite memory of the season so far. Today, deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman writes about a trip to Europe to cover the 2019 NHL Global Series between the Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks.

Everybody's got a hobby, and for some it's jumping on a plane and traveling to some exotic locale. Me? Not so much.

So heading to Europe to cover some hockey felt a bit daunting. But my trip to Switzerland and the Czech Republic for the 2019 NHL Global Series between the Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks became my favorite memory this season.

After a seven-hour flight from Philadelphia to Geneva, Switzerland, and an hour bus ride to Lausanne on Sept. 27, I checked into the Movenpick, a hotel on the picturesque shores of Lake Geneva. And to make things even better, there was a circus across the street.

Circus Knie, the national circus of Switzerland, had a big-top show that featured acrobats and clowns, as well as a zoo with pigs, goats, camels, birds and alpacas. The circus, which was celebrating its 100th anniversary, is run by the sixth, seventh and eighth generation of the Knie family.

There was hockey played in Switzerland too. The Flyers had an exhibition game the last day there, losing 4-3 to Swiss team Lausanne at Vaudoise Arena.

After four days in Switzerland, it was an hour flight to Prague, and while in the Czech Republic, the star of the show was Flyers forward Jakub Voracek, who grew up in nearby Kladno.

"I never expected I'm going to get the chance to play [NHL games] here," Voracek said. "And here I am. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm going to make the most out of it."

The weather was a bit rainy, but it was easy to have a good time. The city has too many good bars and restaurants to list, and I tried to get to as many as I could and sample some of the local food and drink.

There also was a visit to the famed Prague Castle, parts of which date to the 10th century. That includes an armory where I was able to shoot a crossbow.

The Czech Hockey Hall of Fame, in a mall next to O2 Arena, was also a worthwhile visit.

There are Czech hockey historical displays, including one commemorating the 1998 Nagano Olympics gold medal that has a small TV playing a continuous loop of goalie Dominik Hasek's performance in the shootout against Canada in the championship game. There's also fun stuff like a place for fans to do some virtual reality goaltending.

Then came the Global Series game in front of 17,463 fans at O2 Arena on Oct. 4. Among them was 86-year-old Ruzena Peca, Voracek's grandmother. She was one of about 70 family members and friends for whom Voracek purchased tickets.

"She's always watching back home when we are on Czech TV," he said. "She always wakes up in the middle of the night and watches me, so it's kind of satisfaction for us."

The Flyers left Prague with the satisfaction of a season-opening 4-3 win. Travis Konecny scored two goals, and Carter Hart made 28 saves. Patrick Kane had three points (one goal, two assists) for the Blackhawks.

"Everyone had a good time, we had fun as a team, the guys enjoyed sightseeing," Voracek said. "It was a great team win for us."

Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk agreed.

"This was such a fun trip," van Riemsdyk wrote in a blog he kept for NHL.com.

The players weren't the only ones who had a great time.