The Game - Anaheim Ducks

PRESS BOX CHALLENGEWINNING ESSAYThe dawn of the second half of my senior year symbolized the beginning of good times:when good grades were no longer my sole reason for being and when seniors, like me, were finally able to focus onenjoying the last few fleeting months of high school life.I thought I had my plan. I was going to go to college and become a singer. I had already put my major as music onall of my applications. But as John Lennon (ironically a pretty famous singer) once said, “Life is what happens to youwhen you are busy making other plans.”I had submitted an essay on the one and only Teemu Selanne; to the Anaheim Ducks Press Box Challenge. I did notever envision that the Challenge might be something that would impact my futureso greatly. In fact, I did not even think I was going to have a chance at winningbecause I never thought of myself as a writer.The next thing I knew it was Wednesday, February 2nd and I was on Interstate-5on my way to the Honda Center, by some strange miracle (and a lot of dedicatedvoting friends) as the Press Box Challenge winner. To say I was anxious would be anunderstatement.I was whisked away to a world underneath the Honda Center that I did not evenknow existed. As we passed the training room, I caught a quick glimpse of theinfamous Saku Koivu. When his identity registered in my brain, it finally hit me; Iwas in – or rather, underneath, the Honda Center on my way to one of the mostamazing experiences of my life.My first stop was dinner where I was lucky enough to chat with two men, whowere polite enough to still introduce themselves even though I had seen their facesevery time I watched a Ducks game. John Ahlers and Brian Hayward were my firstinterviewees – although I felt more like they were uncles to whom I got to tell mycontest-winning story and abbreviated life story.“Did you bring your phone?” John Ahlers said, as he placed the most expensivepiece of jewelry I have ever seen down in front of me, “Because I think you shouldget a picture of yourself wearing a Stanley Cup Ring.” I attempted to cover up mydropped jaw by smiling, but I’m sure I was grinning like a lunatic. The ring washuge and so elaborate. I was afraid to touch it and gave it back too quickly. Soquickly in fact, he had me look at it again. “Give it back when you are ready,” hesaid. I laughed. “Well in that case, I’ll mail it back in a few months.”For the conclusion of Shannon’s story as well as photos andvideo from the night visit www.anaheimducks.com/goal andclick on Press Box Challenge.