Pittsburgh Penguins

'Kraft Hockeyville' weekend caps off with preseason Pens game

CRANBERRY, Pa. — Kraft Hockeyville USA: $150,000 for the Rostraver Ice Garden and a day of celebration.

Sunday morning, the Ice Garden rolled out the red carpet for the Penguins and fans lined up to meet members of the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

The game itself though had to be held in Cranberry Township at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

The Pens faced off against the St. Louis Blues before a crowd of Belle Vernon ticket holders that traveled north for the showcase game.

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The Penguins gave the fans something to cheer about early when Sidney Crosby passed to Jake Guentzel, putting the Pens up 1-0.

But in the second period the Blues got two quick goals, and went on to win 3-1.

The event was about more than just a game. The community and the players were all taking the moment in.

"They are really fast, and they shoot really hard," Belle Vernon resident Paul Black Jr. said.

Diehard fans, many from the Belle Vernon area, fulled the UPMC Lemiuex Sports Complex in Cranberry to see the Pens faceoff against the Blues.

The preseason game is the grand prize for winning the Kraft Hockeyville competition, putting fans closer to the ice than many have ever been before.

While unique for those in the stands, the intimate setting wasn't lost on the players.

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"We usually practice here with a few people in the building, but not necessarily sold out like that," captain Sidney Crosby said. "For them to be able to share that with us and for us to be able to play that game in front of them is pretty cool."

"It means so much for the kids and all of the families so it was definitely a cool experience for sure," forward Jake Guentzel said.

It's a moment that will be remembered and shared by the entire Rostraver community, which will now be known as Hockeyville USA.

"I think it's incredible," Monongahela resident Brian Faust said. "It's great for the organizations who participate with youth hockey and it's a great experience for all of the kids for sure."

 

Cox Media Group

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