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It was not a Stanley Cup game. But then again Lord Stanley was only a governor general and the person at centre ice Sunday night was the Queen. For the first time in her 50-year reign, Canada's head of state dropped the ceremonial puck at the start of a hockey game.
The crowd at GM place in Vancouver erupted as she walked out on the red carpet to centre ice, accompanied by NHL legend Wayne Gretzky. Former Maple Leafs player Howie Meeker and Cassie Campbell, the captain of the Canadian women's Olympic gold medal team, stood behind them.
Members of the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks banged their sticks on the ice in a traditional hockey salute as Elizabeth II smiled at the packed crowd of more than 18,000. A boys' choir sang God Save the Queen. Wearing gloves, pearls and carrying a hand-bag, she looked over the ceremonial puck for a few seconds before holding it over centre ice and then letting it fall between the two team captains. She and Prince Philip then went to a special box in the arena to watch the first period of the match – the first NHL game she has seen in more than 50 years. The royal couple watched a game between the Canadiens and Rangers in Montreal in 1951, when she was still a princess. The Queen spent most of the weekend in Victoria, after arriving in Canada on Friday. She made no public appearances Saturday. Sunday began with a visit to Christ Church Cathedral. Hundreds of people lined the streets leading to the church to watch as she waved before going inside. When the service was over, the Queen made an unscheduled detour and walked over to the barricades to talk to a few people. |
