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The three Rangers fans who were stranded on a ferry and missed New York's game Wednesday were given VIP treatment with a tour of Citi Field and tickets to the Winter Classic between the Rangers and Buffalo Sabres on Monday (1 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVA Sports, NHL.TV).
"We are very grateful to the NHL," Jake Nicholson told NHL.com. "They truly care about their fans."
Scotto and the Nicholsons are home from college for the holidays, and were on their way from the Rockaway Beach section of Queens to the Rangers game against the Washington Capitals when their ferry struck a sandbar. They were three of the 27 people stranded on the ferry for almost seven hours before the New York Fire and Police Departments rescued them.
The three passed the time by huddling around a cell phone and watching the Rangers' 1-0 shootout victory.
"When we realized we weren't going to make the game on Wednesday, we were very disappointed," Nicholson said. "We watched a thriller go into a shootout on a cell phone on a freezing boat. We were glad the team got the two points."
NHL Executive Vice President, Global Partnerships and Chief Revenue Officer Keith Wachtel saw their story and suggested giving them tickets to the game. The League contacted Jake to offer the guys six tickets to the Winter Classic and a tour of Citi Field, which they took Friday with Steve Mayer, NHL Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, Events and Entertainment Programming and Content Development.
"It was breathtaking," Nicholson said of the tour. "It was so cool to see all the hard work that goes into putting the Winter Classic together."
The Nicholsons have been Rangers fans since they were children and attended the 2012 Winter Classic between the Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens Bank Park. But after the week they had, and with the game in New York, Jake expects a superb experience Monday.
"[The 2012 Winter Classic] was an incredible experience," Nicholson said. "To be able to share the same experience but this time in our city is very exciting for us."
