This first video is the Tunnel of Pride held before the game.  The one thing to notice, other than how excited the Jackets fans are, is who comes out last.  In years past this was always the spot held by the captain.  It is how I got the great shot of Rick Nash in the Call to Arms video.  To see Vinny Prospal in that position (as he has been all season from what I can tell) I think says a lot about what his teammates think of him.  Absent a player wearing the actual C, it looks like Vinny is the player that occupies that position in the eyes of his teammates.  He sure acts like it both on and off the ice.

I hope the team honors reported “Gentleman’s Agreement” with Prospal to keep him with the team as a player for as long as he can play, and with the team in a management role afterward.  His passion, his joy for the game, his willingness to speak out when things needed saying are all things the team need.  The recent point streak seems to be of a reflection of the team changing identity away from the identity of old, and more towards the passion of a player like Prospal.

The second video is my son rocking out to the music at the same game.  He is cutting molars, and was unable to sleep on the entire drive down to the game.  He fell asleep 10 minutes before the Tunnel of Pride.  The cheers of the fans woke him up, and he clapped along as the players went by.  He then clapped along every time music was played at any of the stoppages.  At the start of the 3rd period he looked as if he was completely asleep, but as soon as the music kicked in, there was one hand trying to clap against my chest.