The Hockey Episode
I was watching George Stombolopolous the other night and suddenly, my former hockey buddy, Chuck Hughes, appeared on the show! Mr. Iron Chef!
Seeing him on TV reminded me of the time when I was playing with the team and while learning about their careers, jobs and families, I discovered that Chuck was a TV chef. A little later, his show called Chuck’s Day Off on the Food Network, decided they should do an episode with the hockey team, so they brought us in to film Chuck cooking for us before our game. Quite the experience.
You can find the video here. Of course, I was playing defense against the star of the show and only shots of my failures were used, not to mention me starting to chew and then laughing…thankfully I didn’t spew food everywhere!
When we arrived, we went to the back to get our make-up done. The jokes started flying about fixing ugly faces etc. I was sitting in the chair getting my make-up when someone from the TV show said quietly to the make-up artist, maybe you could do her later, thinking I was someone’s girlfriend along for the ride. When I said I was one of the team, suddenly it was OK to get my ugly face all dolled up. After that, I started worrying that I would just look like someone’s girlfriend and not part of the team on the show…but they worked a mention of me into Chuck’s dialogue. Apparently he kept saying “the guys” and they had to keep cutting so he could say “the team” instead (I vaguely recall). I wouldn’t have minded being one of the guys.
If it weren’t for the cameras and lights in our faces, it would have simply been a meal with friends and plenty of beer. Playing later that night was a bit difficult with all of us being so stuffed, but we managed to play a good game. Chuck definitely put on a show for the cameras!
We were called back another time to be in the episode, Block Party, too! It’s nice to have a chef friend.
I miss the guys and playing hockey, it’s all soccer for me now. At least the ski/snowboarding season is fast approaching and I have my season-pass already. Hopefully I’ll brave the frozen-toes and go play some outdoor hockey this winter.
