Love (of Hockey) and Marriage

The Kraken American Hockey League affiliate Coachella Valley has certainly provided plenty of highlight moments for fans to cheer both on and off the ice at the brand-new Acrisure Arena. Going into the AHL all-star break, the Firebirds have posted a 13-3-0-1 record over 17 games at home since the arena opened Dec. 18 including a decisive 4-0 win over San Diego on Saturday night.

"The fans have come out and been great," said Coachella Valley coach Dan Bylsma during a recent phone conversation and before another entertaining, edge-of-your-seat game. "We've given them a bunch of crazy games, a little bit of everything to enjoy. We had a 7-6 win and a 1-nothing game, another scoring with five minutes to win. They've had a chance to experience different games...It's been pretty electric. The building has the feel of an NHL building."
That's something Bylsma knows all about as a rookie head coach (after years of AHL success) when during a mid-season coaching change he led the Pittsburgh Penguins to the 2009 Stanley Cup in a dramatic seven-game final over Detroit. Currently, his squad leads the 32-team AHL in win percentage going into the All-Star break.

Another AHL rookie, winger Tye Kartye, earned the primary assist on the Evans goal. He has nine goals and 15 assists in 40 games but has come on strong in recent weeks with five goals and five assists in his last nine games before Saturday, including a recent four-game goal streak.
Kartye scored 45 goals last season for the storied Ste. Sault Marie Greyhounds (aka the "Soo") major juniors team last season, playing before supportive sellout crowds and plenty of fans who watched Ron Francis and superstar Wayne Gretzky (the Kraken GM is second all-time in assists only to the Gretzky). Firebirds fans and Kartye alike got to see Gretzky himself when the all-time NHL leading goal scorer dropped the ceremonial puck before a sold-out for Coachella Valley's Jan. 22 home game.
"The new arena has been incredible", said Kartye. "Every game feels like a playoff game or some super important game. The crowd is so lively. Every game the stands are filled and you really can't ask for anything more from the supporters down here."

Off the Ice: First Marriage Proposal

In early January, the Firebirds staged their first-ever Pride Weekend and two already-loyal fans, Joe Cox and Adrian Rios, significantly heightened the celebration. Cox emailed the team to inquire whether the franchise might be willing to help him surprise Rios with a marriage proposal. Gina Rotolo, Firebirds vice president of communication and marketing, and Cox decided to set up the momentous occasion under the guise of a first-intermission fan contest on the ice during a Jan. 8 matinee home game.
The two have been dating since last February after getting to know each other during online conversations for the six previous months. The plan worked and Rios happily said yes. The Firebirds crowd cheered long and loud as the inaugural Pride Weekend went higher level.
'We are really excited to have an arena here," said Cox during a recent weekday phone conversation. "We've been to most of our home games. We're actually headed down there right now to go to the game tonight."
Cox said he "had some nerves going down to the ice," especially in his hope to pull off the surprise. But despite the prospect of popping the question in front of a big weekend crowd, Cox found he could lock in with Rios during an intimate moment in a decidedly public setting.
"Once I got down there [to ice level], everybody else kind of disappeared," said Cox.
For his part, Rios was caught off guard, though he realized that maybe set the whole thing in motion.
"We went to the opening game [Dec. 18] and we noticed the Firebirds were having a Pride Weekend," said Rios. "I made a stupid joke talking about, 'wouldn't it be fun if the first marriage proposal was a gay proposal?' Then Joe went to work."
Rios, who grew up in Coachella Valley, has been interested in hockey since attending Ontario Reign games on Boy Scouts nights. Ontario is the AHL affiliate for the Los Angeles Kings. Rios readily switched his allegiances this hockey season.
"I was 14 and I was watching them all the way to 18," said Rios. "Then I would go with my parents. When Joe proposed it was fun to do it in this arena with the team we both root for."
Cox grew up in Minnesota and said hockey had always been a part of his life: "I would go to Reign games [two hours drive] and occasionally the Kings [three-and-a-half hours]. I've always been interested in the sport. The Firebirds are obviously more accessible and it's exciting to have it in what is now my hometown too."