Photo Credit: NHL
Harmonica players from the Koreatown Senior and Community Center have captivated LA Kings fans with their rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
As the LA Kings geared up to face Edmonton over the weekend in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series, players were reminded to “pack your harmonicas” before the show hit the road. But if you think a harmonica sounds like a strange thing to bring to a hockey game, you may not be familiar with the game’s superstitious nature.
While perhaps not as storied in its superstitions as baseball, hockey players aren’t afraid to show their appreciation for what they view as a good luck charm. This year, the harmonica has quickly become an unofficial good luck charm for the LA Kings, thanks to memorable pre-game performances of “The Star-Spangled Banner” played by a group of senior citizens from the Koreatown Senior and Community Center.
Less than three miles away from the Kings’ home arena, the center offers 47 programs attended by around 1,500 people each week, according to Board Chair Yong Sin Shin. Seven years ago, a harmonica class was introduced, and the group started practicing the US national anthem in 2021.
Several class members played the song to start a Los Angeles City Council meeting at City Hall on June 7, 2023. “That day, we received a standing ovation from LA City Council members and over 100 attendees, which gave us great confidence,” said Shin.
This past January, the center was contacted by the Kings, said Shin, who were planning their K-Town Night to be held March 23, when the team hosted the Bruins. The center’s executive director, Kwanil Park, suggested the harmonica group play its well-received rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the game. The Kings loved the idea.
That led to 13 women and one man from the harmonica class, dressed in traditional Korean hanbok, appearing at the game to play the anthem, “to an overwhelmingly positive response.” They were invited back for Game 1 against the Oilers last week, said Shin, and this time the group consisted entirely of women.
After the Kings’ incredible win that night, the team’s X/Twitter account posted, “The power of the harmonicas,” with photos from the game. That led to another performance of the group at the following game, this time with the harmonica players wearing Kings jerseys. “The HarmoniKings are 2-0,” declared the team’s social accounts after another win.
The team’s last few games have been away, but the Kings will arrive back home this postseason, and local fans are hoping they haven’t seen the last of the Koreatown Senior Center players.
“We are currently discussing it with the LA Kings,” said Shin.
Content shared from www.digitalmusicnews.com.