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DETROIT -- Aaron Ekblad stood at center ice during the national anthem Tuesday night soaking in the sights of an arena he grew up in yet was on its ice for the first time.
Ekblad, 18, saw the many banners, the retired numbers of Hall of Famers he already knew by heart. Across the ice from him were some of his heroes from his childhood days wearing that iconic red kit.
If Ekblad was overwhelmed by it all, he didn't let on.
"It was pretty cool looking up at all the banners. This is a pretty storied building,'' said Ekblad, who grew up across the Detroit River in Windsor, Ontario.
"Then you look across the ice and see Datsyuk, Zetterburg and Franzen and I'm playing against them. That's pretty cool. I thought we handled it well.''
Ekblad, the first pick of the 2014 draft, rewarded the dozens of friends and family at Joe Louis Arena by scoring his second goal in as many games to give Florida a 4-1 lead in the third period.
Detroit scored twice in the final 10 minutes Tuesday cutting Florida's lead to one. Ekblad's insurance goal turned into the game-winner as the Panthers left town with a 4-3 win.
After the game, he handed over the stick he scored with to his parents for safekeeping.
During a timeout, Ekblad even saw one of his buddies up on the scoreboard dancing. That brought one of many smiles to his face this night.
"That was hilarious. I had a good chuckle sitting there on the bench,'' said Ekblad, who will have plenty of time to visit friends next week when the Panthers spend four days in the Motor City.
Posted with Blogsy
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