Kraken Break Out Winter Classic Unis For Wild Card Matchup With Wild

When the Seattle Kraken face the Minnesota Wild Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena, they'll do so wearing the throwback uniforms last seen in use at the Winter Classic.

That's a perfect excuse to let Brian Daccord, father of Kraken goalie Joey (above photo), recount his Winter Classic experience.

"It was like being in a Disney movie," Brian said on the Rink Shrinks podcast. "We get there on a Friday night, they're playing Philly. They win 2-1, he's the first star of the game."

Family Skate At T-Mobile Park

"I was looking around, seeing all the families and the parents. And how many people had never been that close to the ice to watch a practice.

"The guys were coming over and knocking on the glass, waving and doing funny stuff.

"Practice ended; five minutes later, everyone's on the ice. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, it was incredible."

Game Day

"When the helicopters came in, that's when I went like, 'Holy crap, this is a big deal!'"

Brian Daccord, as well as being the dad of an NHL goalie, is owner of the “Stop it Goaltending” school. He's also Boston University goalie coach, and has worked for several NHL teams.

As any hockey parent can tell you, watching can be much more nerve-wracking than participating. "To calm myself down as the goalie dad, I'm using the 'Cory Schneider five-minute segments.' (Thinking of Joey in net), Just don't get yanked in the first five minutes, please. Then you get to the next five."

Postgame Parade

"The game's over, and the whole place is chanting his name. Now remember, he's a 7th round pick that had been battling his ass off in the minors to get there.

"What no one saw, after the (TNT TV postgame) interview, they pull up a cart, like when the football players get injured.

So it's Buoy, the mascot, they take him around the warning track, the whole thing. It's like a parade. There's still pockets of people cheering his name.

"He gets back to the dugout, they make the first star announcement, he's first star. He signs the fish, he throws the fish up into the crowd. The game was over 25 minutes ago."