Shoutout to @WWEDanielBryan for coming to tonight's game and leading our #YESYESYES chants! pic.twitter.com/TeURp83vJ2
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) October 17, 2016
The New York Islanders held their home opener on Sunday night, hosting the Anaheim Ducks. Despite the stiff competition, the Islanders were able to prevail by a final score of 3-2 in overtime. Perhaps their victory is due to a former WWE Champion with absolutely no skin in the game, Daniel Bryan, being there to help pump up the crowd. You know, the guy from Washington who is a big Seahawks fan and who lives in Arizona and occasionally at John Cena’s house in Tampa. Maybe this is how you stick it to the NHL for refusing to open a franchise in Seattle for so long.
I kid, because the Isles have been using Bryan’s “Yes!” chant since at least 2014, and the players routinely gather in a huddle to do the chant as a group and celebrate after goals. So in a sense, they have become Bryan’s adopted NHL team, much like he has become a part of San Francisco Giants lore.
Bryan even stopped by the Islanders’ booth between periods to gab about the origins of the chant, which of course we all know pretty much by heart now. But it’s always nice to see one of our favorites having fun.
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And according to the Smackdown GM, he even got to ride a Zamboni!
Awesome time watching @NYIslanders at the @barclayscenter! Rode a zamboni and got the ice to myself after! pic.twitter.com/02GNie9nBA
— Bryan Danielson (@bryandanielson) October 17, 2016
So it was pretty much an eventful night all around. If you were in search of a hockey team to root for, here you go.