Puck Drop 2021 - Digital Spotlight Collection

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS©

SEASON TICKET HOLDER

SPOTLIGHTS

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SEASON TICKET HOLDER SPOTLIGHT

JASON

KUCHTA HOMETOWN

Butler, PA S E A S O N T I C K E T L O C AT I O N

117 ROW N SEATS 1 AND 2 FIRST YEAR AS A SEASON TICKET HOLDER

2014

WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO THE SPORT OF HOCKEY? AT WHAT AGE? My parents when I was seven.

Jason with his wife, Nicole, along with their daughter, Brynn, and son, Jaxson, at the 2018 season ticket holder holiday photo event.

WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION? HOW HAS YOUR JOB EVOLVED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS? I am an Orthopedic Physician Assistant.

Everyone’s job in the medical field has drastically changed over the past 10 months.

WITH WHOM DO YOU ATTEND PENGUINS GAMES? I attend games with my wife, children or friends.

AT WHAT POINT IN YOUR FANDOM DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE HOOKED ON HOCKEY?

After watching Mr. Lemieux play and realizing what he gave and means to the city.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PENGUINS PLAYER (PAST OR PRESENT)? WHAT DID HE DO TO WIN YOU OVER? Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux — not just for their talents and stats — but for their hard work, leadership, dedication and commitment to the city of Pittsburgh. I also admired the intensity with which Max Talbot and Chris Kunitz played.

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Brynn and Jaxson show off their Penguins pride with Leo and Nolan, the sons of the Kuchta’s seating partners, Mark and Alison Donohue.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED PENGUINS RELATED KEEPSAKE? Pictures with the Stanley Cup with my kids and wife. My son was born premature and I have an amazing picture with him inside the Cup (he was very tiny) which we will always treasure.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CUP YEAR? WHICH ONE AND WHY? They all are amazing and have a special place in my head and heart. The win in 2017 was pretty special because we were at the beach with friends and both of my kids were running around celebrating.

DURING THE PAST YEAR, WHAT HOBBIES OR ACTIVITIES HAVE YOU FOCUSED ON WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING? We have spent a ton of time reconnecting and refocusing with our family and have loved every second of it.

DID YOU START ANY NEW HOBBIES, TRADITIONS OR HABITS IN 2020?

Both kids learned to ride a bike and ski. In addition, we have done tons of cleaning, home projects and we are working on purchasing an RV.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPOT TO WATCH PENGUINS GAMES WHEN NOT AT PPG PAINTS ARENA? Living room with the kids and wife.

IS THERE A PART OF THE PPG PAINTS ARENA GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE YOU ARE RECREATING AT HOME? Cold beer and hot tasty treats!

WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST FOR 2021?

I am just grateful for health and happiness. I am excited to wake up and enjoy each moment of each day!

Jaxson Kuchta, a big Sidney Crosby and Penguins fan, enjoying a game at PPG Paints Arena.

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SEASON TICKET HOLDER SPOTLIGHT

KELLY

FOSTER

HOMETOWN The Fosters sporting their Penguins gear.

(Brock, Sydney, Clayton and Kelly)

Coraopolis, PA S E A S O N T I C K E T L O C AT I O N

WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION? HOW HAS YOUR JOB EVOLVED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS? I am an elementary school teacher in the Cornell School District. I am lucky that we have had very few virtual school days. However, my two children attend the Moon School District with mostly virtual learning. We balance them being home and coming to school with me.

WITH WHOM DO YOU ATTEND PENGUINS GAMES? My dad who lives in Charlotte, NC. Yes, he attends all of the games in our half season

110 ROW V 28-29 ticket package. Sometimes he makes 20 trips depending on the schedule.

WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO THE SPORT OF HOCKEY? My dad introduced me to hockey. Later, I started attending games with my husband at the Igloo and purchased a six pack of games. We finally bought a half season plan when PPG Paints Arena was built.

| 5 AT WHAT POINT IN YOUR FANDOM DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE HOOKED ON HOCKEY? At least 10 years ago.

My daughter’s name is Sydney and my son has been playing hockey in different RMU programs since he was five.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PENGUINS PLAYER (PAST OR PRESENT) OTHERS WOULDN’T EXPECT? WHAT DID HE DO TO WIN YOU OVER? Besides Sidney Crosby probably Matt Cooke, Max Talbot and for sure Marc-Andre Fleury. My children really liked Ian Cole and Ryan Reeves along with Jake Guentzel because of their style of play and personalities.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED PENGUINS RELATED KEEPSAKE?

Kelly and her dad, Terry, enjoying an away game in Montreal.

I cherish the photos we have of our two children meeting players over the years.

We also have family videos of the last two Stanley Cup parades. In addition, I was able to buy an Evgeni Malkin hockey stick which I gifted to my dad for his Penguins room.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CUP YEAR? WHICH ONE AND WHY? Probably 2017 because my children were nine and six and we stayed in a hotel downtown.

We were able to attend the parade and take pictures with Phil Kessel and Jake Guentzel.

DURING THE PAST YEAR, WHAT HOBBIES OR ACTIVITIES HAVE YOU FOCUSED ON WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING? I coach competitive gymnastics. In addition, every Tuesday night our small neighborhood

encourages everyone to patronize locally owned restaurants in the area.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPOT TO WATCH PENGUINS GAMES WHEN NOT AT PPG PAINTS ARENA? In my living room wearing some type of Pittsburgh Penguins clothing with the phone close by to talk with my dad between periods.

WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST FOR 2021?

Hopefully, we are on the backside of the virus and can look forward to more hockey games and creating a new normal routine. I want to look back on this past year and be a better person for the experience.

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SEASON TICKET HOLDER SPOTLIGHT

TODD

HENDRY HOMETOWN

Bethel Park, PA S E A S O N T I C K E T L O C AT I O N

205 ROW M 19-20 FIRST YEAR AS A SEASON TICKET HOLDER

2015-16

Todd and his son, Maxwell, who just completed the Little Penguins program at Bethel Park YMCA.

WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION? HOW HAS YOUR JOB EVOLVED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS? I am a retail account manager for Sargento Foods. We are an essential part of our nation’s food supply, which means we were heavily relied upon by our retail customers and consumers to meet the increase in demand during the pandemic lockdowns. Demand for our cheese products in 2020 increased more than 30% vs the prior year due to restaurant closures and people eating more meals at home.

Personally, I am used to traveling frequently in my role, however I have not traveled for work in over a year. All of our business interactions are now virtual for the time being. We hope to be able to travel to see our customers and co-workers in the second half of this year.

WITH WHOM DO YOU ATTEND PENGUINS GAMES? My dad, Cliff; my referee buddies; my son, Maxwell; and my best friend from high school, Whitney.

WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO THE SPORT OF HOCKEY? AT WHAT AGE? I started playing hockey in the early 90’s when Mario Lemieux was the superstar of the league.

I was around eight or nine years old. My dad played college football, so everyone thought I would play football, but all I wanted to do was play hockey.

AT WHAT POINT IN YOUR FANDOM DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE HOOKED ON HOCKEY? When the Penguins were on their consecutive playoff runs in the 90’s and early 00’s.

I attended the games and followed the team

| 7 through the playoffs which was really exciting and made me hooked.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PENGUINS PLAYER (PAST OR PRESENT) OTHERS WOULDN’T EXPECT? WHAT DID HE DO TO WIN YOU OVER? Growing up playing goalie I would always watch “One From the Heart” and try to re-enact

“The Save” by Frank Pietrangelo during the ‘91 Stanley Cup run, so I guess in a way he is one of my favorite players that others wouldn’t expect.

However, Marc-Andre Fleury will always be my all-time favorite Penguin.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CUP YEAR? WHICH ONE AND WHY? 2009. We had been through so much as a fanbase since the last Stanley Cup in ‘92 such as changes in ownership, the future of the team in question, Mario saving the team, and several years of struggles. It was vindicating to see it all pay off when Sid raised the Cup in 2009, especially against Detroit who we lost to in ‘08.

DURING THE PAST YEAR, WHAT HOBBIES OR ACTIVITIES HAVE YOU FOCUSED ON WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING? Last year I played a lot of golf. Golf is a great social distancing activity when the weather is nice. Other than that, I have focused on spending time with our two children, Maxwell (6) and Natalie (3).

Todd and his dad, Cliff, enjoying a playoff game in 2018.

DID YOU START ANY NEW HOBBIES, TRADITIONS OR HABITS IN 2020?

Jigsaw puzzles and board games were popular activities in our house during the lockdowns last year.

IS THERE A PART OF THE PPG PAINTS ARENA GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE YOU RE-CREATE AT HOME? When I am watching the game at home with my son, Maxwell, he likes to stand with his hand over his heart when Jeff Jimerson is singing the National Anthem.

WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST FOR 2021?

My son, Maxwell, is just getting started playing hockey. He recently finished the Little Penguins program and I am excited to see him grow and develop with the sport I have loved for the past 30 years.

Todd’s daughter, Natalie, and son, Maxwell, watching the Penguins from home.

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SEASON TICKET HOLDER SPOTLIGHT

KIM

NORTHIME

HOMETOWN

Chicora, PA Kim with her husband, Gary (left), on a road trip to Florida for a Penguins game with friends, Rick, and his dad, Tony, in February 2018.

S E A S O N T I C K E T L O C AT I O N

214 ROW G SEATS 14–15 WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION? HOW HAS YOUR JOB EVOLVED IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS? I am a Federal Government worker. I have been working from home five days a week for the past year. Before, I had a one-hour commute to work every day and now I have a 30 second commute from the bedroom to the office.

I went from traveling to DC on a regular basis to holding meetings through virtual platforms.

My biggest challenge is deciding whether or not I need to fix my hair and put on makeup for that day’s meetings. We renovated a spare bedroom in our home into an office to give me my own space with a custom-built desk. Instead of wearing suits to work I now wear leggings and long sleeve T-shirts every day!

FIRST YEAR AS A SEASON TICKET HOLDER

2008

WITH WHOM DO YOU ATTEND PENGUINS GAMES? I attend games with my husband, Gary.

WHO INTRODUCED YOU TO THE SPORT OF HOCKEY? AT WHAT AGE? My husband introduced me to the game when we started dating about 25 years ago. I’ve been hooked ever since!

| 9 win. We took our kids both years to Detroit for playoff games and we were super excited in 2009 when the Penguins beat the Red Wings for the Cup!

DURING THE PAST YEAR, WHAT HOBBIES OR ACTIVITIES HAVE YOU FOCUSED ON WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING?

Kim and Gary sporting their Penguins hats in Fairbanks, Alaska.

AT WHAT POINT IN YOUR FANDOM DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE HOOKED ON HOCKEY? We realized we were hooked when we decided to buy season tickets in 2008 because we were spending so much money on individual game tickets. We squeaked in right before the waiting list!

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PENGUINS PLAYER (PAST OR PRESENT) OTHERS WOULDN’T EXPECT? WHAT DID HE DO TO WIN YOU OVER?

I’ve been walking a lot to avoid putting on Covid weight. Also, I have watched a lot of Netflix this year! There are so many options to watch. Right now, I’m in the middle of Grace and Frankie.

DID YOU START ANY NEW HOBBIES, TRADITIONS OR HABITS IN 2020?

Walking on a daily basis — in rain, snow, sleet or hail. No matter the weather, my daughter and I are out there with her two dogs!

WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST FOR 2021?

We are looking forward to getting back to some sort of normalcy which includes taking a vacation! We are avid vacationers and haven’t had one in over a year. We both have cabin fever and are ready to go back out there to travel and see a Penguins road game!

Darius Kasparaitis is my favorite past player.

I loved the grit he added to the team. And you gotta love the hair on “spaghetti head”. Marcus Pettersson is one of my favorite current players.

I met him at a charity event and was impressed by his attitude and nice personality.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED PENGUINS RELATED KEEPSAKE? There are so many... the signed Mario Lemieux stick I won in a Penguins fantasy hockey game contest is treasured. I also love the Marc-Andre Fleury signed jersey I received in one of my Penguins Foundation charity bags.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CUP YEAR? WHICH ONE AND WHY? 2009. We watched the Red Wings win in 2008 in the Burgh and we knew we deserved a

Kim and Gary attending their first home game of the 2020.21 season.