Season Ticket Holder Spotlights

THE OFFICIAL GAME PROGRAM OF THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS®

SEASON TICKET HOLDER

SPOTLIGHTS

S EAS O N TI C KET H O LD E R

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PAT R I C I A TA R TAGL IONE

Patty with her hockey family (left to right) Ty, Jack, Connie, John, and Barb attending this year’s home opener.

FIRST YEAR AS A PENGUINS SEASON TICKET HOLDER

1993

SEASON TICKET LOCATION SECTION

231

HOMETOWN

Pitcairn, PA

WITH WHOM DO YOU ATTEND PENGUINS GAMES?

DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL GAME DAY ATTIRE.

I attend games with my good

Anything with the Penguins’ logo...

friend Barbara.

usually a long sleeve shirt/sweatshirt with jeans. Also, I wear my Penguins

AT WHAT POINT IN YOUR FANDOM DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE HOOKED ON HOCKEY? I started following the Penguins in the mid 1970’s. I played street hockey

necklace. After each Stanley Cup win, I have added a diamond to the charm.

Hopefully, #6 will be added this year!

cousin worked for the public relations

HAVE YOU WITNESSED ANY PLAYER OR TEAM MILESTONES IN PERSON? WHICH MEMORIES STAND OUT?

company that handled the Penguins

I was able to attend the Stanley Cup

and she would take me to a game over

Final in 1991 and 1992. Witnessing the

the Christmas holiday. From then on, I

first team championship in 1991 was

was hooked!!

awesome. Also, being at the 2017

with my youngest brother. My mom’s

EASTERN CONFERENCE GAME 7 DOUBLE OVERTIME WIN WAS UNBELIEVABLE...I COULD NOT FALL ASLEEP ONCE I GOT HOME! WHAT IS YOUR MOST-PRIZED PENGUINS RELATED KEEPSAKE? Several Christmases ago, season ticket holders were given a keychain made from the metal of the Civic Arena dome.

I carry it on my keys every day.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SNACK AT PPG PAINTS ARENA? I love the Nakama shrimp and fried rice.

The sauce is to die for...love it!

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE AWAY GAME DESTINATION? IF SO, WHERE? Las Vegas! I was there in May of 2018 (the day before the Stanley Cup Final was to begin) and the city was hockey crazy for the Golden Knights!

WHICH NHL TEAM OR NON-PENGUINS’ PLAYER DO YOU ENJOY WATCHING AT PPG PAINTS ARENA? The Golden Knights or the Capitals...

Patty with fellow St. Maurice teachers Karen, Ann, and Barb dressed for a Gold Out!

Patty and hockey buddy Barb attending Game 1 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.

I love when we beat the Caps!!!

WHICH PITTSBURGH PENGUINS’ PLAYER WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF MOST LIKE? WHY? Now that he is with the Penguins again, Matt Cullen. His leadership skills and presence go above and beyond all expectations. Like me, he puts forth 100% in the way he plays to get the job done!

IF TRAPPED IN AN ESCAPE ROOM, WHICH TWO PITTSBURGH PENGUINS’ PLAYERS WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO HELP YOU BREAKOUT AND WHY? I would choose Carl Hagelin and Sidney Crosby. They both have leadership skills and would know how to get out of sticky situations. I think that we would have a lot of fun, too!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE GAME DAY EXPERIENCE? I just love the entire atmosphere as you enter PPG Paints Arena, especially during the playoffs. Nothing else can compare to the excitement.

S EAS O N TI C KET H O LD E R

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DAN LUTZ

Dan (pictured left) with his friends Howie, Jeff and Jim tailgating before the game.

FIRST YEAR AS A PENGUINS SEASON TICKET HOLDER

1995

SEASON TICKET LOCATION SECTION

210

HOMETOWN

Baldwin, PA

WITH WHOM DO YOU ATTEND PENGUINS GAMES? I attend games with two of my close friends, Jeff and Howie, who are longtime season ticket holders with me. I also frequently attend games with my wife, Erin, my brother, Dave, and another one of my close friends, Jim.

to use and we added the Mylec blades

AT WHAT POINT IN YOUR FANDOM DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE HOOKED ON HOCKEY? I started listening to Mike Lange when I was around 11 or 12 years old and would record the goal replays after the game.

At the same time, all of my neighborhood friends began playing street hockey together. We made our first goals out of 2x4s and chicken wire and carried them to the local school playground. A neighbor who worked for the Penguins at the time gave us broken player sticks

HAVE YOU WITNESSED ANY PLAYER OR TEAM MILESTONES IN PERSON? WHICH MEMORIES STAND OUT?

(I had John Chabot’s).

DO YOU, OR A FAMILY MEMBER CURRENTLY PLAY HOCKEY? IF SO, WHICH TEAM AND/OR LEAGUE? I play for the Dead Presidents at Cranberry Dek Hockey.

Yes, Mario Lemieux’s 600th goal into the empty net against the Canucks, his five goal game against St. Louis, his final goal against the Flyers’ Garth Snow prior to retiring for the first time and his first game back against Toronto. I also attended Game 7 in Detroit to see the Penguins win their third Stanley Cup, which is the greatest memory of all.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST-PRIZED PENGUINS RELATED KEEPSAKE? A Wendell August Forge Christmas ornament made out Family photo: Dan with his brother Dave, dad Dave, mom Jan and wife Erin.

WHICH NHL TEAM OR NON-PENGUINS’ PLAYER DO YOU ENJOY WATCHING AT PPG PAINTS ARENA? The Flyers and Capitals are obviously highly anticipated games and heated rivals. It never gets old winning against them. I shake my head at how hard Alex Ovechkin shoots. I love watching the high end skill and stickhandling ability of Patrick Kane and really enjoyed seeing the speed of Connor McDavid for the first time in person last season.

of metal from the Civic Arena.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE GAME DAY EXPERIENCE? Our seats are behind the goal where the Penguins shoot in the 1st and 3rd periods, so nothing beats watching the skill level that this team has and seeing it result in the puck crossing the goal line from our unique viewpoint.

WHICH PITTSBURGH PENGUINS’ PLAYER WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF MOST LIKE? WHY? Patric Hornqvist primarily because of his intense competitiveness. He’s also an agitator, which I can be too at times.

IF TRAPPED IN AN ESCAPE ROOM, WHICH TWO PITTSBURGH PENGUINS’ PLAYERS WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO HELP YOU BREAKOUT AND WHY? I think it would be a guaranteed fun time with Brian Dumoulin and Olli Maatta. It doesn’t hurt that Dumoulin has been a winner everywhere he’s been in his career so we would certainly escape with plenty of time to spare.

A one-of-a-kind Penguins robe and pants made exclusively out of playoff towels that were sewed together by Dan’s friend, Tina.

S EAS O N TI C KET H O LD E R

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D AV I D GILBERT

David and his two daughters, Lily (L) and Eva (R), having fun at a Penguins game together.

FIRST YEAR AS A PENGUINS SEASON TICKET HOLDER

2006

SEASON TICKET LOCATION SECTION

WITH WHOM DO YOU ATTEND PENGUINS GAMES? I normally attend games with my brother, Donald Gilbert, Jr. He has seat three and I have seat four. I try to take my wife and children to a couple of games throughout the season, as well.

AT WHAT POINT IN YOUR FANDOM DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE HOOKED ON HOCKEY? I was hooked from my very first game I attended as a child. I remember we played the Detroit Red Wings and we scored seven goals so fans got free chili.

HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED HOCKEY? I played some roller and dek hockey

230

HOMETOWN

Ligonier, PA

recreationally growing up and we played on a pond a few times when it froze.

That was always a lot of work because we had to shovel snow before we could do any skating.

HAVE YOU WITNESSED ANY PLAYER OR TEAM MILESTONES IN PERSON? WHICH MEMORIES STAND OUT? There are many and I think it would be difficult to name just one. I was at the last game in the Civic Arena and the first game at PPG Paints Arena. I enjoyed the opening ceremony of that game when Mario poured water from the old ice onto the ice in the new arena.

David (L) and his brother, Donnie (R), at the 2009 Snapshots with Stanley event.

DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL GAME DAY ATTIRE. I usually wear jeans and one of the many jerseys I own. Last season, I bought a Penguins ugly sweater sport coat that I enjoy wearing from time to time.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST-PRIZED PENGUINS RELATED KEEPSAKE? That would have to be my Brian Dumoulin signed jersey. I purchased one of the charity duffle bags but not the one with the guaranteed jersey in it. I was beyond thrilled when I opened it up and saw that I was fortunate enough to get one.

It is now in a framed shadowbox hanging up in my Penguins-themed custom home theater.

WHICH NHL TEAM OR NON-PENGUINS’ PLAYER DO YOU ENJOY WATCHING AT PPG PAINTS ARENA? In the 1990s I was a bit of a Red Wings fan when Sergei Fedorov played for them.

I enjoyed his style of game and would always try to get tickets when Detroit came to town. That made the 2008 and 2009 playoffs very interesting for me.

David sporting his Penguins blazer with his wife, Sarah.

WHICH PITTSBURGH PENGUINS’ PLAYER WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF MOST LIKE? WHY? I’d have to pick Patric Hornqvist. He’s good at what he does, is usually cool, calm and collected, but when he gets fired up watch out!

IF TRAPPED IN AN ESCAPE ROOM, WHICH TWO PITTSBURGH PENGUINS’ PLAYERS WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO HELP YOU BREAKOUT AND WHY? I would choose Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang. Not only are they two of my favorite players and it would be fun to hang out with them, but they are both good at the breakout (at least on the ice). Crosby is so good at getting out of tight situations that I’m confident the three of us could figure it out.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE GAME DAY EXPERIENCE? The game itself! From where our seats are located (at the end where the Penguins defend twice), we look almost straight down the length of the ice and can watch the plays develop. We also have fun people who sit around us so the game is always entertaining.