When the NHL Winter Classic turns T-Mobile Park into a hockey arena on Sunday, Jan. 1, a Seattle-area teen will be part of the festivities.
Nikhil Bagga, 14, will play the national anthem for the NHL Winter Classic outdoor game between the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights.
Born in Toronto and now living in Seattle, Bagga took up guitar at age 9, learning to play favorites by AC/DC, Ed Sheeran, Nirvana and Queen. His first public performance was busking on a San Diego beach on his 10th birthday.
He started playing mostly covers and, during the early pandemic days, shared a song a day with a growing number of fans. Then he began writing his own songs and released a full-length album titled “Leap of Faith” in early 2022.
He has played a lot around Seattle, including at Pike Place Market, the Vera Project and the Crocodile. He has played the national anthem at Mariners and Kraken games.
His latest single, “Never Meant It,” is due out soon, as is a new album.
Learn more about him here, and here are details about the NHL Winter Classic.
