Once-in-a-lifetime: What it was like watching the Capitals-Red Wings game with Mike Knuble and Kelly Miller

This post is written by former Knuble’s Knights and Brouwer Rangers member Nathan Burchfiel.

When we, the Knuble’s Knights, wrote our goodbye to Mike Knuble for RMNB in July of 2012, we figured that was the last chapter in a fun phase of our lives being super fans for the hard-working, net-crashing forward. But Knuble wrote an epilogue this week and we wanted to bring you along for the ride.

The story starts back in June at the Capitals Alumni Bourbon & Cigar Fundraiser, where we were lucky enough to win an auction for “Rock the Red Wings,” a trip for two to Detroit to watch the Caps take on the Red Wings with Caps alums Knuble and Kelly Miller.

Fast-forward seven months, and we found ourselves living out a dream game day with more than a few legends.

The festivities started in Detroit with a Caps Road Crew meetup for some pre-gaming. We managed to take some scooters across town without veering off into traffic to spend some time shooting the breeze with Horn Guy and other passionate Caps fans who travel around the country to cheer on the team in enemy territory.

Rolling in on our trusty steeds pic.twitter.com/tlSgqw3Br9

— Knuble’s Knights Remix (@tjyoshie77) January 6, 2019

Around 4 pm, it was time to meet up with our official hosts and head over to the arena. Joining us for our adventure were Knuble’s son, Cole, a youth hockey players, and Miller’s daughter, Ashton, a professional soccer player. We piled into Knuble’s SUV to headed over to the player parking lot entrance, where we hit the first and only snag: no tickets.

After bribing working things out with the security team, we headed up to the Red Wings’ Alumni Room. (Knuble broke into the NHL with the Red Wings in 1997, being called up in the spring of their 1997 Cup run and spending the 97-98 season with the club on another Cup-winning run – but let’s not talk about that one.) Along the way we bumped into a few familiar faces, including four-time Cup champion Kris Draper.

Then it was up to the gondolas to watch the game. The gondolas in the new Little Caesar’s Arena are a bit trippy. They’re laid out like a press box, but like the actual press box, are suspended from the rafters directly above the spectator seats. It provides a unique view of the on-ice action, as did getting to watch the game with Knuble (who now serves as an assistant coach for the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s AHL affiliate) and Miller (who has been an assistant coach with the New York Islanders and at the college level). Their insights into the systems of each team and the strengths and weaknesses of specific players, particularly younger Red Wings players who are moving back and forth between Grand Rapids and Detroit, helped us appreciate more of the complexities of the game. But then there was meeting more famous people!

Yep. Is actually hangs in front of the top rows of seats. pic.twitter.com/AxrfcOFs0f

— Knuble’s Knights Remix (@tjyoshie77) January 6, 2019

Partway through the game, Knuble left the seating area for a few minutes and returned with broadcasting legend Mike Emrick, who happened to be at the game for pleasure rather than work. That meant he had time to sit and talk shop with Knuble and Miller, reliving some highlights and catching up on family connections. (Several of Kelly Miller’s brothers also played in the NHL and remain active in the hockey community; his cousins Ryan and Drew Miller play for Anaheim and Detroit, respectively.)

Whatever you think about Emrick’s play-by-play style (I personally love hearing him call games), there’s no debate that he knows his stuff, and just getting to hear him talk about the game was a real treat. And yes, his normal speaking voice is very much like his broadcasting voice — instantly recognizable, just a bit more subdued.

We also got to witness another moment that spoke to Emrick’s character. As he left our seating area, a young man approached him and introduced himself as an aspiring broadcaster. Listen, this guy’s voice was perfect for broadcast, and Emrick made a big point to encourage him, spend time chatting with him, and giving him input on his game notes.

As the game wrapped up with a bit of a nail-biting finish (what’s new for the Caps?), we assumed the experience was coming to an end. Then Knuble said “let’s head downstairs and see if we can talk to some of the guys.” Oh?

After checking in at guest services and getting wristbands that admitted us to the event level, we headed down to the bowels of the arena where we were unceremoniously herded into a literal holding pen. Knuble had managed expectations: he’d put in a word to see if we could get an invite back to the room, but we’d have to wait and see.

A few minutes later a security guy came out and said to Knuble, “the guys want to see you in the room” so Knuble headed back with Cole. At that point we figured that was that and maybe a player or two would just come out to say hi on their way to the bus. Well a few minutes later the guy came back and said, “okay you guys too,” so we all walked back, now a little apprehensive. I just kept saying to myself, “don’t say anything stupid, don’t go anywhere you’re not supposed to, don’t touch anything labeled “Alex Ovechkin’s Stuff.””

We’d only been waiting just outside the visitors’ locker room a few minutes when around the corner came the Great 8 himself, grinning from ear to ear and shouting, “Noobs, what’s up big boy?” The reunited former linemates chatted for a bit about hockey, Ovi’s weight (Knuble gave Ovechkin a hard time for being “so skinny” and Ovi jokes about “too many Bud Lights”), being a new dad, and other topics. Later, Knuble introduced us to the Captain (as “the guys who used to dress up as knights and cheer for me”) and Ovi was kind enough to pose for a couple of pictures. A few minutes later, Brock Myles, the Capitals Equipment Manager, emerged from the locker room and tossed us each a yellow skate lace — “game worn in Dallas”.

Then one by one, all the players and coaches walked by, many saying hi to Knuble and a few stopping to catch up with Knuble, give his son some encouragement in his young hockey career, and pose for more pictures. One funny moment was when Knuble was talking about how Backstrom and Carlson are both dads now, and Backstrom cracked that when they got started, he was their dad. One of the coolest parts of being flies on the wall was getting to see the players in a more relaxed environment rather than in front of a media camera. Backstrom has a reputation for being quiet and reserved, but he was comfortable with Knuble and opened up to talk about things you’d never get to hear him talk about on the record — and we’ll never tell!

Once most of the Caps had left their room, we started to make our way down toward the Red Wings room and Holtby came by as well so he and Knuble chatted. As they chatted, Knuble pinched Holtby’s hat brim and complimented it — with only a hint of sarcasm.

Knuble: “Nice hat.”
Holtby: “Gotta keep it weird.” pic.twitter.com/RPiyBuM55J

— Knuble’s Knights Remix (@tjyoshie77) January 7, 2019

Needless to say, going into the Wings’ room was a little bit awkward, seeing as we were decked out in head to toe Caps gear and the Caps had just defeated the Red Wings. Perhaps fortunately for us, most of the Red Wings players had left the room and it was just friends and family hanging out. Except for Dan Bylsma, the former head coach of the Penguins who’s now an assistant coach for the Wings. After waving hi to Knuble, he grabbed our shoulders and looked and Mike and said judgmentally, “These two must be your friends. Keep an eye on them.”

Snuck in here for a look around pic.twitter.com/Kw1t6oiu3H

— Knuble’s Knights Remix (@tjyoshie77) January 7, 2019

The Red Wings’ locker room is understandably drenched in hockey history. The video above shows just a few of the many portraits of the hockey legends who’ve spent time in Detroit. Not pictured is the art celebrating the franchise’s 11 Stanley Cup championships. The one marked 1998 stung a little less this year than it would have in a visit in years’ past. For a brand new arena, the Red Wings have done a great job integrating history into lots of different places.

After a quick stop by the family lounge (where players’ families can get food, relax, and get a great view out over the team’s practice rink), it was back into Knuble’s car and quick drive back to our hotel for goodbyes and much-needed rest.

It turned out to be a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.