On March 17, Andrei Vasilevskiy was a total brick wall for the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, locking down the net with 21 saves in a dominant 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at Amalie Arena. Nikita Kucherov wasn’t about to miss out on the fun—snagging a goal and an assist to keep the Bolts buzzing. With this back-to-back dubs, Tampa Bay (39-23-5) inched just two points behind the Florida Panthers for that top spot in the Atlantic Division, with a game in hand. Meanwhile, things weren’t looking too bright for Philly (28-33-8), as they took their seventh loss in eight games and got shut out for the second straight time—ouch. But forget the stats and standings for a second because this night?

It belonged to something way bigger. Tampa Bay’s big win was special, but nothing—and we mean nothing—could outshine the moment happening off the ice. Among the spectators sitting in the stands and witnessing her first NHL game was a 94-year-old grandma with a heart of gold and the spirit of a fighter. This was not just any fan–she was there for her grandson, a defenseman for the Lightning and she would not let a few bouts of travel hurdles get in the way of her supporting him in person. Despite everything, she was able to get to Amalie Arena, fulfilling a dream while she watched her grandson perform on the big stage. And honestly? That’s the kind of hockey magic you just can’t make up!

NHL game sees grandma in the stands!

Hockey wins are cool and all, but some moments? They just hit different. In a heartwarming video shared by NHL on X, Darren Raddysh was all smiles as he talked about his 94-year-old grandmother making it to her first-ever NHL game. Post the game, a reporter got right to the good stuff, asking, “Is this a game, a moment that you’ll remember forever?” But before that, they made sure to mention how she stole the show—dancing on the jumbotron and calling it the best time ever.

As for Raddysh, he didn’t even need to pause for a second. “I think so. This definitely tops any game I played in the NHL. You know, having her here in her first NHL game, it’s awesome,” he said, still soaking in the magic of the night. He said that since “she can’t travel too much,” the fact she was able to travel from Toronto to Tampa was special. “So yeah, it was a special moment for my family and I.” And so, the scoreboard became irrelevant because, you know, this was a core memory unlocked.

Grandma Lorraine was the star of the night, beaming with joy and busting out some dance moves on the big screen as she cheered on her grandson and the Tampa Bay Lightning. And what a first game to witness—she brought good luck as the Lightning blanked the Flyers in the game. Well, if you are counting, that is 1-0 when Grandma Lorraine is around! Could she be the team’s secret good luck charm? Maybe! But, strangely enough, Darren is not the only one with a heartwarming grandma story in the NHL. One of his teammates had a similar unforgettable experience back in 2021!

Another player, similar experience!

Back in 2021, the NHL world got introduced to another legendary grandma—Marge Robben, aka Grandma Marge. She made her grand in-person debut at a Philadelphia Flyers home game to cheer on her grandson, Cam Atkinson, a seasoned NHL veteran and Greenwich native. And let’s just say, she didn’t just attend—she arrived. The Flyers even shared a picture of her riding the Zamboni, rocking her grandson’s jersey, and waving to the crowd like a true hockey queen.

But let’s be real—hopping on and off a Zamboni isn’t exactly easy at 87. “I will never go on it again though,” she said. “It was hard for me to get on and off, but it was very exciting.” And exciting it was! Grandma Marge posed a picture wearing her Flyers jersey, and naturally, Cam reposted it on his Twitter with his 55k+ followers. Her presence in the stands was something that he always cherished. “It was good to see the smile on her face,” he said after the game.

That game was extra special, with around 50 family members traveling by car, train, and plane to support Atkinson as he started his new chapter with the Flyers after a decade with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Of course, she cannot attend every game but she is the biggest fan of the team nonetheless. “I bought the NHL package so I wouldn’t miss a game,” she said. “At my age, it’s difficult to travel, so I’ll be watching him from home—but I’ll go when I can.” Now, fast forward to the present, and guess what? Cam’s been traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning—so maybe Grandma Marge and Grandma Lorraine need to team up for a little good luck magic!