The kids alternated saying each name before chanting their dad’s in unison: “BIG… JEFF… CARTER!”
"It was great. They did awesome. So proud of them," he said. "I think you could probably be a little intimidated walking into a room like that as a young kid, but they nailed it. It was great."
They then ran over to hug Jeff before heading to their seats to watch his milestone night.
“We had been planning this for a couple of weeks, but it didn’t come together until right before the game,” Megan said. “The Penguins and I have been working together behind the scenes to make this really special for Jeff.”
It took a lot of commitment and attention to detail to ensure that Jeff didn’t find out ahead of time - like taping and sending congratulatory messages from home - though the crew nearly got exposed during warmups despite trying to law low.
“All of a sudden a camera pops out in front of us, and it's focused right on our family – and of all the people, they put Jeff’s dad on the big screen!” Megan said with a laugh. “So, I just threw my hand in front of his face and I'm like, get down, get down!”
Shortly after that, Megan could have sworn that her husband looked right at them in the crowd… so they took cover again before making their way to the dressing room. But Jeff said he didn't see them, and that the surprise worked out perfectly.
The puck dropped shortly after, with Carter taking the opening shift on Sidney Crosby’s right wing. They’ve known each other for two decades, as they were teammates on Canada’s 2004 and ‘05 World Junior Championship rosters. They also played together internationally at the 2014 Winter Olympics, winning gold in Sochi.
“Played with him before he even got to the NHL and played against him for a long time. So, to see the kind of career that he's had and what he continues to do for us, and to play 1,300 games – there’s enough said right there,” Crosby said. “Tells you how good a career he's had and continues to have, and happy to see guys get milestones like that.”
"I'm definitely proud of it. I'm proud of my career and the way things have gone for me… to be able to hang around this long, it's pretty cool," Jeff said with a smile. "So, it's something that I'll cherish for sure."
Carter is now just the sixth active player to play 1,300 games. Before joining the Penguins at the trade deadline in 2021, the two-time Stanley Cup Champion with Los Angeles in 2012 and ‘14 played parts of 16 seasons with the Kings (2012-21), Philadelphia Flyers (2005-11) and Columbus Blue Jackets (2011-12).
“Our entire family is just so unbelievably proud of him,” Megan said. “From his parents and sister supporting him when he was little to his billet family in junior hockey to us supporting him now, it's just been an incredible journey. To watch him play and continue to love the game every single day and show up – we are so proud of him, and we love him so much.”
