Though Wayne Gretzky's last-minute replacement of John Tortorella behind the Team Metropolitan bench was a move that garnered much of the All-Star Game spotlight, there was another emergency call up who got her chance to shine before the big game.Los Angeles Kings ice crew member Courtney Daniels was preparing for her usual duties as she does before every game at the Staples Center, but less than 15 minutes prior to puck drop, she received a phone call asking her to step in and perform the US national anthem prior to the game.
Pop stars Fifth Harmony were supposed to perform the anthem but bailed just prior to game time as one of their members apparently fell suddenly ill. Just 13 minutes before walking out on the carpet to a thunderous ovation from a sold-out Staples Center crowd, Daniels received a call."They were like, 'Fifth Harmony just dropped out. We need you to sing the national anthem.' And I was like, 'What is going on? What is happening?'" Daniels said after the game.
Bill Daly. The All-Star Game MVP. And Wayne Simmonds. Photo by Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
After completing her call-up anthem duties, Daniels went back to skating and shovelling the snow off the ice during breaks as she has for the past two years at Kings home games. The NHL then brought her back after the final contest to present the MVP award to Wayne Simmonds.The unsung hero of NHL All-Star weekend is one versatile ice crew member, and, obviously, a hell of a singer, too.
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