Los Angeles Kings’ Harmonica Good Luck Charm Takes Centre Stage in Playoff Series
The Los Angeles Kings are on the brink of sweeping the Edmonton Oilers in their playoff series, with a chance to win their first playoff series since their Stanley Cup championship run in 2014. As the team takes to the ice, they are being accompanied by an unlikely good luck charm – a group of senior citizens from the Koreatown Senior and Community Center, who have been performing the national anthem on harmonicas before games.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Koreatown Senior and Community Center, located just 2.5 miles west of the Kings’ home arena, offers 47 programs attended by around 1,500 people each week. The center’s harmonica class, introduced seven years ago, has become particularly popular, with members learning to play the U.S. national anthem in 2021. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, the harmonica class has been a hit with the Kings, who first invited them to perform at their K-Town Night on March 23.
The Los Angeles Times reports that on June 7, 2023, several class members played the anthem to start a Los Angeles City Council meeting at City Hall, receiving a standing ovation from council members and over 100 attendees. This confidence-boosting experience paved the way for their performance at the Kings’ game against the Boston Bruins in March. Kwanil Park, the center’s executive director, suggested that the harmonica group reprise its performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the game, which the Kings liked.
As per the Los Angeles Times, 13 women and one man from the harmonica class, dressed in traditional Korean hanbok, appeared at the game and played the anthem to an overwhelmingly positive response. The harmonica class was invited back for Game 1 against the Oilers on Monday, this time with a group composed entirely of women, again dressed in their traditional garb.
Gloria Y. Kim, public relations manager for the center, told the Los Angeles Times that it was a truly moving moment when the crowd sang the national anthem along with their harmonica performance. After the Kings’ wild 6-5 win that night, the team’s social media account posted a group of photos from the game with the caption, “The power of the harmonicas.”
Following Wednesday’s anthem performance by the harmonica group, this time wearing Kings jerseys, the team’s social media account declared, “The HarmoniKings are 2-0.” As the series moves to Edmonton for Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday, it remains to be seen whether the Kings will be back home at some point this postseason. However, according to Kim, the center is currently discussing further performances with the L.A. Kings, as cited by the Los Angeles Times.
The harmonica group’s performances have undoubtedly brought a new level of excitement to the Kings’ games, and their good luck charm may not be over yet. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, fans will be eagerly watching to see if the Kings can continue their winning streak, accompanied by the sweet sounds of the harmonica. With their blend of music, community spirit, and sports enthusiasm, the Koreatown Senior and Community Center’s harmonica class has captured the hearts of hockey fans across Los Angeles.
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