"Growing up, I started playing when I was 5 and now seeing what they started with sticks, skates, helmets, and stuff and to see what they wear now, how light it is compared to then, it's astonishing how much the equipment has changed," Matt Newman said.
Even though the Newmans are lifelong hockey fans, they were able to learn something about the NHL by way of the interactive touch screens that illustrated the origins of NHL awards, as well as team histories.
"I didn't know half the teams," Rick Newman said. "I knew the California Seals, I knew the Cleveland Barons, I didn't know about the other teams. I knew about the Colorado Rockies and that, but it was pretty cool to see the old teams. I didn't know St. Louis had the Eagles, of all teams."
When the Buffalo Sabres entered the League in 1970-71, it gave Rick Newman a new team to root for and a chance to be a season-ticket holder at Memorial Auditorium. He passed that passion down to Matt, who coaches hockey in San Diego.
"The Sabres have a great history since the '70s," Rick said. "Before that, I was a New York Rangers fan. Oh, that was terrible, but then the Sabres came along."