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LA Kings: Stanley Cup Is A “Rock Star” That Everybody Has To Celebrate

September 16, 2012 by 18 Comments

FROZEN ROYALTY EXCLUSIVE: Frozen Royalty attended the Stanley Cup party hosted by Los Angeles Kings video coordinator Bill Gurney and his wife, Tina Gurstin-Gurney, on September 15. In addition to comments from Bill Gurney, the story includes extensive remarks from Mike Bolt, one of the Keepers of the Cup, and a photo essay.

LA Kings video coordinator Bill Gurney (left), along
with his wife, Tina (right), with the Stanley Cup
at their Westminster, California
home on September 14, 2012.
(click above to view larger image)
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

WESTMINSTER, CA — On its final day in Southern California before heading to points east, winding its way into Toronto and Montreal before ending up at the engraver on September 22, the Stanley Cup made three stops on September 15, including a party held that evening by former Los Angeles Kings left wing and current radio color commentator Daryl Evans.

But its first stop was at the Westminster, California home of Kings Video Coordinator Bill Gurney and his wife, Tina Gurstin-Gurney, who welcomed over 200 people to their home for the chance to take photographs with hockey’s version of the Holy Grail.

Family, friends, long-time Kings fans, some of Tina’s former students (she’s a teacher) and others, all got an opportunity with that majestic trophy.

“[You think about] all the people you’ve worked with over the years,” Bill said. “It’s been in the background for so long, and finally, we won it. Everybody’s got to celebrate that.” Read more of this post

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Filed under Exclusives, News, NHL, Stanley Cup Playoffs Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,

LA Kings Retired Athletic Trainer Pete Demers Looks Back At Controversy Surrounding His 2006 Departure

July 10, 2011 by 17 Comments

FROZEN ROYALTY EXCLUSIVE: After four consecutive seasons where the Los Angeles Kings were absolutely decimated by injuries, head athletic trainer Pete Demers suddenly found himself on the outside looking in, as he was “…retained in a lesser role,” following the 2005-06 season, a move that generated criticism aimed at the franchise. In part eleven of this series on Demers’ career with the Kings and in professional hockey, he talks about leaving the job he loved so much and the controversy surrounding his departure.

Los Angeles Kings retired head athletic trainer Pete Demers, shown here behind the Kings bench at Staples Center in Los Angeles on December 17, 2005.
Photo: Los Angeles Kings

LOS ANGELES — After a career with the Los Angeles Kings that spanned 37 years, starting with three seasons with their former American Hockey League affiliate in Springfield prior to joining the big club in 1972, head athletic trainer Pete Demers left the club after the 2005-06 season. But that came right after four straight seasons when the Kings were absolutely ravaged by injuries (see Retired LA Kings Trainer Pete Demers Recalls Record-Breaking, Injury-Filled Seasons, 2001-02 to 2005-06).

In two of those seasons, the Kings set unofficial records for man-games lost to injury, with 536 in 2002-03, a record they eclipsed in 2003-04 when they lost 629 man-games.

Those seasons were sandwiched between years when they lost 211 man-games to injury in 2001-02, and 366 in 2005-06 (the National Hockey League did not play in 2004-05 due to a labor dispute).

That is an unfathomable, mind-blowing 1,742 man-games lost to injury in just four seasons. Read more of this post

Filed under Exclusives, History, NHL Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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