Is Seattle a great hockey city? Seattle Kraken fans have chance to prove it
Oct 23, 2021, 12:04 AM | Updated: 2:49 pm
Riley Sheahan of the Seattle Kraken celebrates his goal against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Saturday marks one of the biggest nights in Seattle sports history as the Seattle Kraken play the first NHL game ever in the city, christening the brand new Climate Pledge Arena at Seattle Center at the same time.
Why haven’t Kraken started strong like Vegas did as expansion team?
The game against the Vancouver Canucks, which is set for 7 p.m. and airing live on ESPN+, will be played in front of a sold-out crowd, and it has the distinction of being the first sporting event and just the third event overall since doors opened Tuesday.
That crowd will play a big role Saturday night, as Jon Morosi of the NHL Network told 710 ESPN Seattle’s Wyman and Bob on his weekly appearance Thursday.
“What I love about this, and I get goosebumps just saying this, is Seattle has a chance beginning Saturday to declare itself to be a great hockey city,” Morosi said.
Morosi has history in Seattle, having spent time as a sportswriter with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer early in his career, and as a hockey enthusiast he is plenty excited for the city to experience the NHL game in person. The biggest reason is that the Kraken fans get to establish their own identity.
“The canvas is blank. Whatever happened with the Metropolitans winning the Stanley Cup 100 years ago, the history is all cool, but you gotta bring it as a hockey city every single game the way that you hear a Montreal crowd brings it, the way that a Vancouver crowd brings it,” Morosi said. “It’s up to the city, it’s up to the fans, and I think it’s so cool that you get a chance to literally open up a new book, page 1, and start writing the history as of Saturday night. I can’t wait to see what Seattle does with that.”
Listen to Morosi on that, his thoughts on the 1-3-1 start for the Seattle Kraken on their five-game road to open the season, and even some Mariners talk (he’s also a reporter for MLB Network) in the podcast at this link or in the player below.
More Seattle Kraken coverage from 710Sports.com
• Andy Eide: Now healthy, Gourde gives Kraken shot of lightning
• Maura Dooley: What we learned from the Kraken’s first week
• Eide: Don’t panic about Seattle’s offense yet
• Seattle Kraken have had fights and a beef — are rivalries soon to follow?
• Eide: Seattle Kraken have a breakout candidate in Morgan Geekie
• Brandon Gustafson: Seattle Kraken look like they will win fans over
