Well this past Wednesday my New York Rangers came to Tampa and all I can say is that they gave me the time of my life.  As most of you know I am not one to go hotel hunting to meet players but since this was the last time the team would be in Tampa I figured, why not? 

I arrived in Tampa to catch the Lightning coming out of practice.  Managed a few autographs but more importantly I was able to see Mike Smith and give him a photo of mine that he requested from me.  Its cool when a player actually likes you photo enough to ask for a copy.  Once I was finished with that I was off to the hotel to wait from the Rangers to return from practice.  A few of them arrived after the morning skate but no one seemed to be in the mood to sign.  At this point my friend Calli joined me and we decided to grab a bite to eat and then go back later. 

Back at the hotel around 3ish, Calli and I just hung out enjoying the beautiful day in Tampa.  At that point I was just hoping to catch one of the guys for either a photo or an autograph.  After waiting what seems like an eternity the first person that I was able to get a photo/autograph with was Coach Tom Renney.  He was so nice and really made me laugh when I told him I was a New Yorker trapped in Tampa.  He was more than happy to chat, take photo and sign for me.  At that point my day was made and if I did not get anyone else I would have been happy.  After Coach I got to met Paul Mara, he was very short and sweet.  After that Chris Drury stopped and signed for a child and then one other person.  Then a few of the guys came out-some signed one or two people and some signed nothing.  I got to see Nigel Dawes, Fredrik Sjostrom, Petr Prucha and Aaron Voros.  There were a few other players and to be honest I was not sure of some of them.  The next highlight came when someone pointed out that Colton Orr was walking a different route.  I really wanted to get him to autograph my Orr jersey so I walked over to him and he was more than happy to sign.  It was now beyond happy with the way the day was turning out.  I managed to get two my autographs belonging to Blair Betts and Brandon Dubinsky.  At the point I was about to call it a day since I had to get ready for the game.  I was hoping for Scott Gomez but I was more than happy with my day so I picked up and left.  Little did I know what Scott G and the boys were going to do later that evening to really make my day.

I'm now at the game and I am waiting down in the XO Club, for those of you that don't know the XO Club is located adjacent to the ice in the St. Pete Times Forum, the club offers unforgettable entertainment experience, including food and drink and access to the visiting team as the go from the locker room to the ice.  So of course knowing the Rangers fan that I am, this was the other place for me to be.  I was able to cheer the boys on as they took the ice for pre-game warm-ups and then I heading out to start shooting my photographs.  I met up with my girl Jackyee, see I have lured her to the dark side using cookies in the form of Aaron Voros. (He is still mine)  We cheered on the boys, having a good time.  Jackyee helps me hold up my newly signed Colton Orr jersey to get his attention, which works and he flips me a puck. 

Now fast forward to the 3^rd period when I head back to the XO Club to wait for the boys to come in and cheer them on.  I let me excitement get to me a little too early and we end up in OT and the shootout.  Thank God we get the win.  Rangers start walking down the tunnel and I am able to knuckle them and Hi-5 them, cheering them and Coach on.  This is when one of the associate coaches says to me, "I know you".  Seems like he remember me from earlier in the day.  Coach Renney and him were all smiles.  As the team continues I figure I would not hurt to ask for a stick.  I was really hoping for Colton Orr's, kind of would have been like a hat trick-jersey, puck and stick.  LOL!!!  As Colton walks by I notice no stick, he ended up giving it to a family that he knew.  So I ask Scott Gomez for his stick but he says that he just started using it and he did not want to give it away.  Hey superstition, I get it-if it is working for him and they are winning-I totally understand.

Now I figure the evening is over and I am just hanging out in the Club, talking with other Rangers fans and enjoying the night when all of a sudden Colton Orr walks out and starts talking to people.  He joined the family that he gave his stick to.  I wanted to go over and ask for a photo but I was raised to respect that personal space, so I leave him alone.  I did get a brief moment to say thank you to him for the puck.  Next out of the locker room was Steven Valiquette and Marc Staal, which I accident said Jordan to my husband.  Thank God I did not say it out loud.  Both of them were with either friends/family.  After waiting a little while I was able to meet Steven Valiquette and get a photo/autograph with him.  He was nice.  Marc Staal was very engaged with his group and I did not want to bother him.   Then just when I things are great they manage to go to beyond great-Scott Gomez walks out of the locker room and I think wow I will at least get him to sign this amazing photo I took of him.  I ask him and he says to hold on a sec and then leaves and goes back to the locker room.  I am standing with my hubby and I am so excited at this point and I am just waiting for him to come back out.  When he reappears from the locker room I swear I thought I was going to die,  He is carrying a stick and he gives to it me. He even took the time to sign it.  I think for a moment I died and then I can back to life and asked him to sign the photo, which he was more than happy to. 

So all in all the New York Rangers not only rock the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 26, 2008 but they totally rocked this fans world.