Doug Wilson Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations | Pittsburgh Penguins
Doug Wilson Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations | Pittsburgh Penguins
A couple from Ontario, Canada, celebrated a significant milestone at PPG Paints Arena during a Penguins game against the Islanders. Rachel Cassell and Matt Reardon marked Rachel's birthday, their anniversary, and their engagement all in one night.
Matt had meticulously planned the proposal to align with Rachel's love for the Penguins. "Knowing how die-hard of a Penguins fan she is, I started to slowly plan this," he explained. The idea was to combine her passion for hockey with their special occasions: her birthday and their anniversary.
Rachel's affinity for the Penguins began years ago when she attended her first NHL game at Mellon Arena while in Pittsburgh for her cousin's hockey tournament. "We were able to get tickets to the Penguins game, and I’ve been hooked ever since," she recalled.
The couple frequently attends Ontario Hockey League games together, which made proposing at a Penguins game an obvious choice for Matt. He orchestrated a surprise road trip from Ontario to Pittsburgh as part of his plan. "When we got to the border, I asked her for my backpack from the backseat," Matt recounted. It was then that Rachel realized they were headed to Pittsburgh.
At the arena, seated close to the glass during the first period of the game, Matt proposed. Despite some nerves about concealing the ring box in his pocket, he maintained confidence throughout. The proposal caught Rachel off guard amidst all other celebrations but turned out to be perfect timing.
"It came to mind that he might propose... but I didn’t want to get my hopes too high just in case," Rachel admitted. When Matt popped the question on camera, resulting in cheers from fellow fans and congratulations from those around them, it underscored the community spirit within hockey fandom.
Reflecting on their experience, Matt expressed satisfaction with how everything unfolded: "I’m just happy we were able to knock it out in style." The couple now intends to make visiting PPG Paints Arena an annual tradition given its newfound significance in their lives.
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