COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Artemi Panarin is one of top young players in the National Hockey League. That’s why one local business is making him a sponsorship offer he might not be able to refuse.
“It shows the fans here really love him. Obviously as a team, we love him. People want him here in Columbus. Whatever they can do to help him stay here would be awesome,” said Panarin’s Columbus Blue Jackets teammate Zach Werenski.
“A business like that [is] obviously a big fan of ours and watches the games and obviously likes ‘Bread.’ I think it shows that support that they like him,” added CBJ centerman Boone Jenner.
High Bank Distillery is peddling to Panarin’s Russian nationality, offering him free vodka for life to stay with the Blue Jackets when his contract is up at the end of the season.
Their offer sits just down the street from where the Jacket’s play at Nationwide Arena at the corner of Neil Avenue and Front Street in the form of a billboard.
“Well technically it’s free High Banks,” said High Bank Distillery marketing director Adam Hines. “He can have his choice of all High Bank products. I mean… maybe vodka was intentional.”
“The Blue Jackets having success means a lot to this city. It means a lot to us as fans, and Artemi is one of the best players in the NHL, and keeping him as part of our team is huge for a potential Stanley Cup run at some point,” said High Bank Distillery president Jordan Helman.
Panarin posted a selfie on his Instagram story with the billboard. Captioning a photo on his feed of the billboard, “Columbus, you keep amazing me. Thank you for your brilliance.”
High Bank’s president and head of marketing amazed he took the time to do that.
“I’m hoping since he took the effort to go out there and pose with his billboard, I hope it means he might be leaning towards staying in Columbus,” said Helman.
“That’s why I’m smiling, I feel like. It’s pretty nice to know that we can kind of do our part. We are definitely Columbus guys,” Hines added.
“It’s awesome to see that they care about him and want to keep him here,” said CBJ goalie Jean-Francois Berube. “I’m sure it’s the same for him. I’m sure he loves it here. It’s always nice to see you get that kind of support.”
High Bank Distillery is offering a special cocktail this weekend with a portion of the proceeds going towards the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation. NBC4 was told it will be vodka-based.
