“Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak got the cold shoulder from hockey fans when he announced the starting lineups for the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals Saturday night.
When hosting in their hometown arena, the Knights have kicked up the showmanship on the pregame festivities this season, with everything from sword fights to performances by Lil John and Imagine Dragons. With Game 3 at Capital One Arena in D.C., the Caps planned to have a little fun by having Sajak — who said he’s been a Caps season ticket holder for 13 years — announce the starting lineups, like ring announcer Michael Buffer did before Game 1.
But hockey enthusiasts were underwhelmed by the choice of Sajak.
“Nothing sys [sic] hockey like Pat Sajak said no one ever WTF?” tweeted one fan.
https://twitter.com/LokitheWolfman/status/1003071700970323969
Keith Olbermann didn’t hold back his opinion either, tweeting: “If anything better defines the historical vacuum that is the Caps, it’s that the ‘celebrity’ lineup announcer is @patsajak droning on pointlessly about his lifelong fandom – 13 years. Wow! 13 WHOLE YEARS? After 20 as a self-professed Kings fan? #IdLikeYouToBuyAPersonalityPat.”
If anything better defines the historical vacuum that is the Caps, it’s that the “celebrity” lineup announcer is @patsajak droning on pointlessly about his lifelong fandom – 13 years. Wow! 13 WHOLE YEARS? After 20 as a self-professed Kings fan? #IdLikeYouToBuyAPersonalityPat pic.twitter.com/0hUZbiu8ps
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) June 3, 2018
And the criticism continued to roll in.
VEGAS: Knights, sword fights, flaming arrows, a catapult, flying magic, smoke machines and a giant flashing smoking knights' head descending from the ceiling.
WASHINGTON: Pat Sajak in a pullover with minimal mic feedback.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 3, 2018
literally everyone right now…pat sajak?!?! pic.twitter.com/b6oK4WYDJF
— Kelly K. Campbell Smolen (@kellyk_campbell) June 3, 2018
#StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/64ZHvf9PyJ
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 3, 2018
Pat Sajak trying to be a hype man is like seeing a school principal trying his hardest to be cool at assembly.
— Holly (@holly_holl) June 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/iancmclaren/status/1003068990837743616
Nothing gets me fired up for hockey more than Pat Sajak. ???#StanleyCupPlayoffs
— Adam Ruff (@AdamRuffPhoto) June 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/MultiraceWagers/status/1003069408795877377
The Capitals deserve to lose just for that whole Pat Sajak thing
— Stephen Gross (@Stephen_Gross23) June 3, 2018