Here is some info. on where to go in some NHL stadiums. I still need some help and I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me. Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Where to go: The Ducks park on the side of the stadium down a ramp that leads to the stadium. There are security guards there, but you can get autographs at the top of the ramp as the players come and go.
The Ducks practice at the Disney Ice in Anaheim (300 W. Lincoln Avenue). The Ducks usually practice at 11:00, and practices are open to the public. Go to the East side of the arena, and wait there. Their phone number is 714-535-RINK.
Atlanta Thrashers-
Boston Bruins
Where to go: The Bruins park behind the Fleet Center. There is a driveway on the right of the arena. Many of the players will stop and sign here. The Bruins also sometimes practice at the Ristuccia Exposition Arena in Wilmington, MA, about 20 minutes north of Boston.
Buffalo Sabres
Where to go: To get the Sabres, stand out back at the parking lot on South Park Avenue. When the players come out, move to the side of the sidewalk on the driver's side of the car. Most players will stop and sign. The visiting team comes out of the back as well, and you cannot get to the bus unless security is minimal. Sometimes visiting players will stay at a nearby hotel and walk to the arena.
Calgary Flames
Where to go: The Flames park on the East side of the Saddledome at Lot D. Before games, the security doesn't let you in there anymore. After games, though, you can go under the stands where the Olympia exits/enters and get all the Flames autographs as they exit.
For the visiting team, go to the North side of the Saddledome and go down the ramp where the bus parks. There are usually about 10-15 people there. You can walk right down there, and security doesn't mind. The WHL's Calgary Hitmen park there as well.
Most visiting teams stay at the Westin Hotel. You are not allowed inside the hotel, but you can wait outside, and your chances are pretty good of getting most players.
Carolina Hurricanes
Where to go: This is the information for the Hurricanes' temporary home in Greensboro. The Hurricanes bus in before every game from Raleigh, the team's eventual "home". Their bus is parked outside the coliseum, right outside the smoking area that is located dowbstairs. All players are good signers.
The visiting team's bus now parks in a fenced-in area, and you cannot get to it.
Chicago Blackhawks -
Where to go: The Blackhawks practice at the Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge. Practices are usually from 11-1, and more frequent when the Bulls are in town.
Colorado Avalanche-
Columbus Bluejackets -
Dallas Stars -
Where to go: Position yourself right in front of the Reunion Arena box office. The procedure for morning skates is the same as for games. The Stars' players have now begun parking in a lot behind Reunion that is fenced in, so you cannot get to it. Most visiting teams generally stay at the Hyatt, which is the hotel right behind Reunion Tower as you look from Reunion Arena. Most players will walk from the hotel, across the grassy knoll (this is Dallas), and enter through the doors to the left of the ticket window. After the game, however, the players will take the bus to the airport. Since there is no way to get into the fenced-in area where the bus parks (same as Stars' players), autographs after the game are generally non-existent, though sometimes teams will walk back to the Hyatt if they are staying overnight in Dallas. If a team buses to the morning skate, you may be able to get them at the fenced-in area, since security may not be around.
For practices, the Stars and their opponents use the Dr. Pepper Stars Center, located in Irving. Practices are open to the public, and a great place to get autographs. To get there, take 635W west to MacArthur Blvd, and turn right. At Valley Ranch Parkway, turn right. Continue until you get to Cowboys Parkway, and turn left. The Stars Center will be on your left after about a half-mile. Players enter and exit from the left side of the building, as you look at it from the front.
Detroit Red Wings -
Where to go: The players now park in the West lot of Joe Louis Arena. The enter through the entrance right next to their gated lot. It is possible to get some players to sign in their cars on the way in and out.
For the visitors, go to the entrance near the "lift up" door, which should also face the river. All the visitors enter here.
Edmonton Oilers -
Where to go: For the Edmonton Oilers, head to the East parking lot. Most of the Oilers park there. Jason Arnott and Doug Weight park in the North lot, and you can get them there.
The visiting team will stay at either the Hilton, Westin, or the Hotel MacDonald. You are allowed to stand outside the Hilton, but the Westin keeps people back 30 feet. Players take cabs or the bus to the stadium, where they go down the main ramp on the East side of the Coliseum. If the security guard is in a good mood (which hasn't been the case lately, apparantley), he'll let you stand at the bottom of the stairs, where the players must pass. However, the bus may drive under the stadium, in which case you have no chance to get them.
After the game, the Oilers exit from the North doors. Visiting teams board the bus from underneath the stadium, so there's no chance to get them after a game. Practices are at 10:00 for the Oilers and 11:30 for the visitors.
Florida Panthers -
Where to go:The new arena is very difficult to get autographs at, due to players parking in a gated area. The Panthers also practice here now. Opponents sometimes practice at the Incredible Ice arena, which has access to all.
Los Angeles Kings -
The Kings have a practice facility North Hills, CA, I'm not shure if they still use it but it's about 20 miles from the Forum. It is called the Iceoplex, and is located right off the 405N freeway. Take 405N to Roscoe Blvd. Take Roscoe to Hayvenhurst and make a right. The Iceoplex is about 1 block up on the left. The phone number there is (818)893-1784. Both visiting teams and the Kings may practice here, you can call for practice times. Most practices are open. The visiting team's bus usually parks behind the building that has the McDonald's in it. You can wait there for their autographs.
Minnesota Wild -
Montreal Canadiens -
Where to go: Head to the south side of the Molson Centre, and stand right between the 2 huge brown garage doors which lead to Molson Centre parking. Canadiens will drive into the parking area underneath Molson, with little chance of getting them before a game. Some players, however, get dropped off right there, and will sign before the game. The visiting team may walk from the Mariott (Chateau Champlain), located 1 long block away. If so, they will enter through the door marked "Media Entrance", which is located to the left of 2 huge garage doors. If the players take the team bus, the bus will drive into the stadium's underground parking, and there's no chance to get anyone. After the game, the visiting team buses out with no chance of getting them. The Canadiens will let you into the parking area (by the two brown doors) and most players will sign as they leave the stadium.
Nashville Predators
New Jersey Devils -
Where to go: Most Devils' players park on the West side of the arena, on the inside of the fence. If security is around, they won't let you stand there to get autographs. Some Devils park in the South lot and walk through the front doors that you go through if you're going to the game. After the game, they exit on the Southeast side of the building, and walk to their cars. Visitors take the bus underneath the arena. The only chance to get them is at their hotel.
The Devils practice at South Mountain Arena in East Orange, NJ. Practices are open for free.
New York Islanders -
Where to go: The visiting team stays at the Marriott Hotel (except the Rangers, who stay at the Garden City Hotel). Go to the back of the Marriott, where most players will exit the hotel and walk over to the stadium. You can get them as they walk (about 100 yards). Some players leave in taxis from the front of the hotel, and go down the ramp at the arena.
For Islander autographs, go to the West side of Nassau Colesium (the side opposite the Marriott). You should be able to get every player as they park their cars in the lot and enter through the West side entrance. After the game, the Islanders leave through Gate #1. The Islanders practice facility is the Long Island Skating Academy, which is located in Syosset, New York.
New York Rangers -
Where to go: Employee's entrance #8 is the place where several Ranger players enter and exit Madison Square Garden. You can get Mike Richter and Brian Leetch at the 7th Avenue entrance. Several players also enter through the Main Entrance as well, including Wayne Gretzky sometimes. Mark Messier enters/exits from a tunnel underneath the stadium.
The Rangers practice at Rye Playland Ice Rink in Rye, NY. Some practices are open, and players will usually sign after practice. The phone number to call for a practice schedule is (914) 967-2040.
Ottawa Senators -
Where to go: The Senators currently park down near the loading dock. They have valets park the cars, and are usually quite nice about signing there before the game. After the game, the players will drive out, but most of them will stop and sign there.
If you want the visitors, go to the same area near the loading dock. The visiting team's bus will drive down there, and sometimes drop the players off and sometimes drive in where you cannot get to them. If it lets the players out, they must walk from the bus to a door at the top of a small stairway. You can get them as they walk.
Philadelphia Flyers -
Where to go:Follow the loading dock area (you are looking down at it) and you will wind up walking into the parking lot and down to one of the exits out of the parking lot. That is strictly the players exit. You can recognize it by the rail (like at the toll booths). There are 2 gates there; the guards tell people to stand behind them but it is no use. The players come out in their cars and will sign.
The Flyers also have a practice facility in Vorhees, NJ. Cross Walt Whitman bridge into New Jersey. Take I-295 North to Route 30 East (White Horse Pike). Follow Route 30 to Somerdale Road. Turn left at the light on Somerdale Road and follow to Prescott Street. Turn left on Prescott Street and follow to the Colesium. Rink is on the left. Practices are usually at 10:30 or 11:00 AM.
Phoenix Coyotes -
The players park in the back of the arena on the lower level of the parking garage. The will enter and exit the back of the arena in the parking garage. Fans are not allowed down to this area, but after the game the players exit up the ramp and will sign autographs there. Some players get out of their cars to sign, while others sign from their cars.
The visiting team's bus parks directly behind the arena so fans can get autographs from the visiting team when they exit the arena to get on the bus.
Pittsburgh Penguins -
Where to go: If you are looking for Penguins, go to the fenced-in lot that is on the low ground next to the Igloo (Gate #2). Some players will sign there as they come from/go to their cars. If you are looking for the visiting team, go to the South side of the Igloo, where a ramp goes downhill and underneath the Igloo (Gate #5). The visiting team will walk down this ramp to the lockerroom if they walk or take a cab to the game. If the visiting team takes the bus, your chances are not good. Most visiting teams stay at the Western William Penn Hotel (the Devils and Oilers stay at the Marriott.
The Penguins' practice facility (The Iceoplex) is located at Southpointe in Washington County, which is about 20 minutes south of Pittsburgh. Take Route 70 South to exit 10A, stay right, and turn onto Southpointe Blvd. The Iceoplex is about 2 miles, on the left. Practices are usually from 10:30 until noon, or noon until 2:30 when the Penguins are home. The barricades outside are the place to go to. Players will roll up to fans in their cars and sign. The phone number of the Iceoplex is 745-6666.
San Jose Sharks -
Where to go: The Sharks players drive in the arena's player entrance on the corner of Autumn and St. John. There are three primary hotels the visitors stay at: the Hotel De Anza (Santa Clara and Almaden), Fairmont (Market & San Fernando), and the Hilton (San Carlos & Almaden). The Ducks, Coyotes, and Kings stay at the Hilton, the Sabres, Avs, Wings, Panthers, Rangers, Canucks stay at the Fairmont. All others usually stay at Hotel De Anza. These are always subject to change, so call ahead to find out where they are staying. If you have any other questions, e-mail Paul Buxton at buxtons@worldnet.att.net or Jon Harms at jonharms@pacbell.net.
St. Louis Blues -
Where to go: Before the game is the only time to get visitors. Most of the teams stay at the Hyatt located in Union Station, 2 blocks west of the Kiel Center. Players will generally walk from the Hyatt. You can get them either at the ramp on the West side (not the South side ramp) or at the backside of the Kiel, where you will find an employee's entrance on the West side (single glass door). Several visiting team players get dropped off by taxis here. Some teams also stay at the Adam's Mark near the Arch. The Devils stay at the Ritz Carlton, located in the suburbs, and the Canucks stay at the Marriott, located right next to Busch Stadium.
For the Blues, go to the South side of the Kiel, and walk down the Kiel Center parking ramp to the valet parking booth. Right there is a blue door which leads to the lockerroom. Most Blues go in and out right here.
The Blues also have a practice facility in Chesterfield, MO. It is called the Chesterfield Ice Complex, and the players are good signers there after practice.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Toronto Maple Leafs -
Where to go: There are two places to get 'graphs. 1)Wait outside of Gate 2 some players that live near by come out of there. 2) The underground parking comes out right on to the street and some players stop and sign befor they get onto the road but only at practise.
Vancouver Canucks -
Where to go: For Canucks' autographs, wait outside of gate 9. This is where the entrance to the players' parking is. Many will stop and sign after the game. The visiting team's bus is parked at gate 10. After the game you can ask for autographs there.
The Canucks practice at the 8-Rinks Ice Sports Complex.
Washington Capitals -
Where to go: The Caps have moved to the new MCI Center in downtown Washington, D.C. Autographs are hard to come by for the visitors, with most of them staying at a variety of hotels in the D.C. area. The visting team bus loads inside the arena after games, so you cannot get them there.
The Capitals have a practice facility located in Odenton, MD, which is off of Interstate 95 between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. The name of the rink is the Piney Orchard Ice Arena. When the Capitals are home with no game that evening, they will practice here, generally somewhere between 9:00 to 12:00 AM. Practices are open to the public, so you can go in and watch. When the players go off the ice to the locker room, they walk by an open area where you can get autographs. Or you can wait out back for the players to go to their cars.
Some of this info. came from Kuch's Hockey Autographs |
