Rangers center Kevin Hayes is used to playing in front of A-listers at the Garden, but seeing them outside the arena is another story.
In a personal essay published Wednesday by The Players’ Tribune, the 24-year-old Boston native recalls being starstruck by a famously devoted Philly sports fan.
“I brought him [Keith Yandle] to one of my favorite places in the Meatpacking District. … We had just received the bill when I got the feeling that someone was staring at me from four or five tables over,” Hayes wrote. “I kind of let my eyes wander to where this person was sitting. In an instant, I locked eyes with the guy. He looked so familiar, but I couldn’t really place him. I felt like I had seen him before — a bunch of times, too.”
It took Hayes a few seconds to realize he was a few paces away from “Hangover” star Bradley Cooper.
“I looked back at Yands, leaned a little close and interrupted him. ‘Dude, Dude,’ I said. ‘Don’t look over just yet, but there’s a guy sitting over at that table…’ I tried to signal in his direction with my eyes. ‘… I think it’s Bradley Cooper,’” Hayes wrote.
The restaurant’s manager made his way to Hayes’ awed table with a request from Cooper and company: “Mr. Cooper and his friends would like to know if you would like to join them for a bit.”
The encounter with Cooper — and EDM star Avicii, who was dining with the celeb — left a humbling impression.
“Yands and I shook hands with everyone and even had the chance to sneak in a few texts to our friends. That’s sort of when it really hit me … how absolutely insane it was that I was living in New York City and playing for the Rangers,” Hayes said.
Hayes and the Rangers begin their latest quest for the Stanley Cup on Wednesday night, when the club takes on the Canadiens in Montreal in the opening round of the playoffs.