Penguins plan to 'Party Hard' during goal celebrations
The Pittsburgh Penguins better be ready to party - and when they do, they need to "Party Hard."
After adopting Andrew W.K.'s 2001 anthem as their goal song, the Penguins welcomed the 36-year-old singer to Consol Energy Center on Wednesday to take in the team's game against the Metropolitan Division-rival New York Rangers. Captain Sidney Crosby and the Penguins, however, were unable to solve Henrik Lundqvist in a 3-0 loss, thus preventing Andrew W.K. from hearing his own tune.
.@AndrewWK: "I'm here as a rep of the party spirit. I don't have any ill-will toward NYR, but they didn't make my song their goal song..."
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 10, 2016
Wednesday's outcome notwithstanding, the singer told the team's website that the anthem is a perfect fit. Via PittsburghPenguins.com:
"It's amazing. I made this music to be used for energy in this kind of situation. So it's a dream come true and it's what the song wanted for itself as well."
Much like journeyman enforcer John Scott's push into the NHL All-Star Game, social media had a hand in "Party Hard" becoming the Penguins' official goal song.
Penguins bench partying... pic.twitter.com/kTr9uWTrLo
— ANDREW W.K. (@AndrewWK) February 10, 2016
Fan Nicholas Doblick requested a change in the team's goal song after Pittsburgh was eliminated by the New York Rangers during last season's playoffs. Doblick suggested the anthem and the movement steadily gained steam over the Internet during the summer before being selected as the club's goal song early this season.
.@AndrewWK: "There is really no partier bird than the penguin, so this is great." #PartyHard pic.twitter.com/MYqpy5tuac
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 10, 2016
Veteran Pascal Dupuis provided the honors on Oct. 29 when his goal 56 seconds into Pittsburgh's game against the Buffalo Sabres got the party started.
The official guide to the #PartyHard movement, courtesy of @AndrewWK.https://t.co/YT3JN6xYJR
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 11, 2016