Tom Wilson was called up from Hershey and is playing in his first NHL game at the right wing on the 4th line. We’re sure many other sites will chronicle how his first game went, but let’s be honest, he isn’t likely to receive more than 8 minutes of ice time. As long as he doesn’t make a big mistake, it’ll be a success.
So instead of following his every move during the game, we followed his every move in warm-ups, where we were able to judge his ability to skate in big circles. He didn’t fall down, and he didn’t hit any of his teammates with warm-up shots. He seems like a keeper.
It made me feel a bit like a stalker, but I kept my camera lens aimed at big Tom Wilson for most of the pregame skate and shot over 100 photos of his fully legal 19-year-old self. Below are the 20 that felt decent enough to share. So for anyone who wants to know how good Wilson looks in his brand new #43 sweater, we have photographic evidence.
After the game, Wilson had a few things to say. “I was pretty nervous. I was at the rink and I wasn’t that nervous. Then I got back to the hotel room, had some down time, and it kind of set in. But, I was able to nap pretty well so it was good.”
As for his first taste of NHL experience? “It was everything I imagined. It was just unbelievable. The fans, you could hear them, everyone could hear them. It was just the best support we could have. And to have a finish like that; it was just a dream come true and everything I imagined.”
What an amazing first game tonight. Thank you to everyone for all the support!
— Tom Wilson (@tom_wilso) May 11, 2013
UPDATE: We showed this post to him – he ‘favored’ the Tweet!
@tom_wilso Here are some photos of you in your new sweater – http://t.co/cJk2b9CGeR
— Capitals Outsider (@CapsOutsider) May 11, 2013
