My first nhl game
Growing up on the coast, I could not even begin to tell you where the nearest ice rink was to my house, let alone what ice hockey was, or how it might one day impact my life.
While I was a sophomore in high school, I attended my first NHL game. My sister was a Game Day Intern with the Carolina Hurricanes and was tasked with making sure all the journalists got the proper information throughout and after the game. My family wanted to support her and see what she was doing, so we decided to venture to the, then named, PNC Arena. I don’t remember who the Canes were playing, or what the final score of the game was, but I do remember the feeling of wonderment and amazement at this sport. They were running and fighting and hitting and chasing and scoring, which is impressive enough on solid ground, but they were on ice?? How is that even a real sport?
While I did not become a mega fan right then and there, a love for the game was starting to fester.
During my junior year at Carolina, I shot my first hockey game. The Tar Heels were playing at Wake Forest. A friend of mine was running their social medias and needed a second videographer, so we made the trip to The Winston Salem Annex. I didn’t know who the players were, I still didn’t know much about the sport, let alone the skills that it requires to capture the action on the ice. But, after the game, I knew that I found something special. I continued to shoot for the team as I was able, and even had the opportunity to shoot the outdoor Frozen Finley game where UNC and NC State faced off in an exhibition match on the same ice the Hurricanes played on a few nights before.
Going into my senior year, I became the Associate Director of Media for UNC Hockey. Through this position I began to learn more and more about the sport, the players, the action. The more I learned, the more I fell in love with the sport. While I enjoyed video, I quickly found my passion in photography and began to work towards excelling in my craft.
As I continued to work and continued to grow as a photographer, I was given the opportunity to shoot the Hurricanes, the team that had first brought me to hockey.
It was October 15, 2024. The Hurricanes were playing the Devils, and I was shooting it. I nervously walked into the newly named Lenovo Center, unsure of where to go, unsure of how my shots where going to turn out. Everywhere I turned I was in awe. A friend, Kaydee, brought me all the way to the top of the arena to the cat walk above the ice. As I took in the cool air of the rink, the banners hanging- that I was now at eye level with, I felt a sense of peace and confidence in myself. I had worked hard to get to this point, shooting at the highest level, and I knew I could do it.
As the clock counted down to puck drop, I made my way to my assigned photo hole, and let the excitement fill me. The teams skated onto the ice, and I sat in disbelief that I was really there. How was it real life that I was shooting the Hurricanes? How was it real life that I was that close to these NHL players, that I was going to be capturing the action and emotion of the game?
I quickly learned how different shooting the NHL was from shooting for UNC. The photo holes made it harder to get the right angles, the players were bigger, faster, there was a bigger crowd, and more excitement in the air. I was snapping all the shots I could get and absolutely loved every second of it.
Being able to shoot the Hurricanes is an opportunity that, when I was kid, I didn’t even know existed. When I was in high school, I didn’t realize was something I’d want to do. When I was a junior at UNC, I didn’t think it would be possible. But now, it is something that I can say I’ve done, and I can say I will continue to do, as much as they will let me in the door.
Ashley White 