How Did the Los Angeles Kings Get Their Crown?
So, you're wondering how a hockey team ended up with a name fit for a monarch, huh? Well, buckle up, because this is a tale as old as time... or at least as old as the NHL expansion draft of 1967.
A Royal Flush of a Name
When Jack Kent Cooke, a man clearly with a penchant for the dramatic, was awarded an NHL franchise for Los Angeles, he didn’t just want a team. He wanted a kingdom. So, he threw a naming contest to the masses, hoping to unearth a genius who could come up with something truly regal.
While there were probably some doozies submitted (like the "Los Angeles Ice Cubes" or the "Hollywood Pucksters"), the eventual winner was a name that oozed sophistication and grandeur: the Los Angeles Kings.
Cooke was all about that royal vibe. He picked purple and gold as the team colors because, you know, those are totally colors associated with royalty. Never mind that they’re also the colors of the Lakers. Hey, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?
From Humble Beginnings to Crowned Glory
It's funny to think that a team named the Kings would struggle for so long. For years, the Kings were the Rodney Dangerfields of hockey – they just couldn’t get any respect. Despite some incredible talent, playoff success was as elusive as a unicorn riding a unicycle.
But then, something magical happened. The Kings drafted a young, lanky kid named Wayne Gretzky. It was like adding a cheat code to a video game. Suddenly, the Kings were contenders. And in 2012 and 2014, they lifted the Holy Grail of hockey – the Stanley Cup. Talk about a fairytale ending!
So, there you have it. The Los Angeles Kings: a team born from a name contest, raised on heartbreak, and crowned with glory. Who would have thought that a bunch of ice hockey players could live such a dramatic life?
How to Become a Hockey Royalty Expert
How to pronounce "Gretzky" correctly?
- Gretz-KEE
How to explain the offside rule to a non-hockey fan?
- It's like being offsides in soccer, but with ice and sticks.
How to survive a hockey fight?
- Don't get involved. Seriously.
How to impress your hockey-loving friends?
- Learn the difference between a slapshot and a wrist shot.
How to enjoy hockey even if you don't understand the rules?
- Just focus on the fights and the really loud cheers.