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A London Knights star teamed up with Snoop Dogg to help hype up the hip-hop legend’s Friday night show at Budweiser Gardens.
The California rapper – and noted hockey fan – plans to sell Death Row Hockey merchandise at several stops on his Canadian tour with the help of a notable local player, and in downtown London on Friday afternoon the chosen teammate was Denver Barkey.
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“It’s pretty cool,” Barkey said of playing a one-day role with Death Row Hockey, so named as a nod to the legendary music label Death Row Records. “I probably never would have thought that I’d do something like (this).
“When I got the opportunity I couldn’t really turn it down.”
Barkey, 19, was contacted by tour officials and jumped at the chance to be at N4E1 on Talbot street Friday afternoon, where limited-edition posters and shirts were sold. The shirts featured a photo of Barkey celebrating a goal, the Death Row Hockey logo photoshopped over his jersey’s Knights symbol.
The Philadelphia Flyers draft pick was signing items as requested by fans.
While there was initially an expectation Snoop would arrive at the downtown store, he didn’t make an appearance. Barkey said he planned to attend Friday night’s show and expected to meet the music star there.
Sara Butchereit, 20, was among the fans who stopped into the pop-up shop, along with friend Lauren Pignatell. Once they heard about it on social media, they knew they had to get there, she said.
“We were like, oh, my gosh, we have to go to this because we like Snoop and we’re huge Knights fans,” Butchereit said. “So we were like, this is a collab (collaboration) we never expected but are so happy it happened.”
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Snoop Dogg’s Cali To Canada tour started June 3 in Halifax and ends on June 25 in Vancouver. Social media posts indicate his tour teamed with Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves to sell merchandise ahead of his Toronto show and Canadiens tough guy Arber Xhekaj before playing in Montreal.
Born Calvin Broadus, the 52-year-old Snoop Dogg is one of the biggest names in hip hop and has sold an estimated 35 million records worldwide since the early 1990s. Though his music has roots in so-called gangsta rap, he’s evolved into something of a lovable celebrity. He’s long been an outspoken hockey fan and was touted as a potential buyer for the NHL’s Ottawa Senators earlier this year.
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