Las Vegas Weekly

June 22, 2010 · 12:56 PM

2010 NHL Awards at the Palms a star-studded affair with Love

By Robin Leach

Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings wins the Frank J. Selke and Lady Byng trophies at the 2009 NHL Awards at the Palms.

Photo: Las Vegas News Bureau

On the ice, it often appears as outright war in what has been described as the most violent of sports. At the 2010 NHL Awards tomorrow in The Pearl at the Palms, it will be all about Love. In fact, 17 cast members from Cirque du Soleil’s Love at The Mirage are performing a 3-minute act on the telecast.

The act has never been performed live in front of an audience, and it’s likely to be a one-night-only production, as it was created for the telecast. Giles Martin produced the special music, and Napoleon and Tabitha Dumo, aka NappyTabs, choreographed the performance.

Thousands of fans from across North America are expected to line the Palms red carpet and scream and shout from the Fan Pit set up for meet the stars. Stars from Hollywood and sports will align when actor and comedian Jay Mohr hosts the awards, and a limited number of seats are still available through Ticketmaster.

Along with Jay and his wife, actress, Nikki Cox, celebrities scheduled to present include Mark Wahlberg, John Slattery, Jamie Kennedy, Kevin Zegers, D.B. Sweeney, Natasha Henstridge, Michael Rosenbaum, Leven Rambin, Jerry Bruckheimer; George Stroumboulopoulos, Reese Waters, 2010 Miss Nevada Julianna Erdesz and NHL greats Guy Lafleur, Eddie Olczyk, Luc Robitaille and Jeremy Roenick.

NHL stars and nominees include Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Martin Brodeur, Mike Green, Duncan Keith, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Miller, Henrik Sedin, Jose Theodore, Matt Duchene, Jimmy Howard, Tyler Myers, Pavel Datsyuk, Jordan Staal, Drew Doughty, Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis, Shane Doan, Steven Stamkos, Dustin Brown and Ilya Bryzgalov, plus the Jack Adams Award outstanding coach nominees Joe Sacco, Dave Tippett and Barry Trotz.

Palms owner and hockey fan George Maloof host the nominees and presenters at special receptions this afternoon in the Key West ballroom and then at Iron Chef winner Kerry Simon’s restaurant in Palms Place. Senior Editor John Katsilometes chatted with George in his The Kats Report posted on Neon Nightlife.

Executives and NHL officials believe that this year’s awards will outshine last year’s successful Las Vegas debut because of the two American teams -- the Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers -- who battled for the Stanley Cup this year (the Blackhawks won). They are expecting huge crowds, double last year’s size.

George said: “It’s off the hook -- just blowing up. The sport is enjoying a real surge right now.”

The Stanley Cup, along with a dozen of the other award trophies, went on display at the Palms last night and will remain there under guard until tomorrow’s awards. George already has the NHL Awards set for a third consecutive time next year, and then he and NHL officials will meet to discuss renewals of “the biggest ice show ever to hit the Las Vegas desert.”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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