The NHL All-Star Game will take place in Sunrise, Florida just outside of Miami – the home of the Florida Panthers. And it looks like the league has quite a bold and unique plan to bring some local flavor to the weekend by incorporating some iconic Florida wildlife into the events.
Yes, we’re talking about alligators.
According to B/R Open Ice, the NHL is considering using alligators in one of the events during the 2023 NHL All-Star Game festivities.
The NHL is looking at ways to include alligators in the 2023 All-Star Outdoor Event in Florida, via 32 Thoughts Podcast 🤯😳
If you were in charge of the All-Star game, how would you incorporate gators? 🐊
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 16, 2022
“The NHL is looking at ways to include alligators in the 2023 All-Star Outdoor Event in Florida, via 32 Thoughts Podcast,” B/R Open Ice shared on Twitter.
It’s not currently clear how the NHL plans to use the alligators in the event – whether they’ll somehow be on the ice, whether they’ll be in a cage, or whether players will interact with them. But just the idea of the NHL utilizing these large carnivorous lizards was enough to get the NHL world talking and speculating.
I know a guy named Scooter… https://t.co/xAwqoSiBFw pic.twitter.com/usqgHjQuiU
— Mike McKenna (@MikeMcKenna56) September 16, 2022
Has anyone asked Jack Eichel about this? https://t.co/apEu9catiE
— Catherine Silverman (@catmsilverman) September 16, 2022
I can’t wait to see someone use an alligator in the Breakaway Challenge and somehow still lose the competition 😂😂 https://t.co/4hGdl7jXM9
— Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) September 16, 2022
NHL Hitz coming to life, NHL All Stars are taking on a team of anthropomorphic gators on a pirate ship rink in the Florida water https://t.co/okwenCgO2E
— Avry’s Sports Show (@Avry) September 16, 2022
I don’t like where this new method for compliance buyouts is going https://t.co/pOpp3ZpLNh
— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) September 16, 2022
Alrighty! https://t.co/rHhsif22Q6
— Steven Ellis (@StevenEllisTHN) September 16, 2022
I mean, gator in the penalty box seems obvious to me. https://t.co/L9y3Uhk641
— Dave DuFour (@DaveDuFourNBA) September 16, 2022
Let them drive the zamboni. https://t.co/ATtarteKja
— Yaya Dubin (@JADubin5) September 16, 2022
Regardless of how they choose to incorporate the alligators into All-Star weekend, the NHL still has plenty of time to prepare and figure it out. The 2023 NHL All-Star Game is slated for Feb. 4 with the skills challenge festivities scheduled for Feb. 3.