On October 6, 2001 the Cold War featured Michigan State University and the University of Michigan where they played at Spartan Stadium. It broke the record at 74,544 in attendance. I graduated with a bachelor degree of science at Michigan State so I bleed green and I will always root for them. The final score was a 3-3 tie. I wish I could have gone to the game, it was a memorable one that people will always remember. Many players on both teams now play for the National Hockey League. Ryan Miller (MSU) was the goalie and currently plays for the Buffalo Sabres. Another former Spartan was Jim Slater who plays for the Atlanta Thrashers. I will stop bringing up facts most hockey fans know. This game led to a trend of many outdoor hockey games for NHL, IIHL, and college teams.
In November of 2003, the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens faced off in Alberta, Canada to play an NHL outdoor game. The final score was 4-3 Montreal.
Five years later the NHL decided to make a Winter Classic game every year on New Years Day. In 2008 in New York the Buffalo Sabres hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins where the attendance was 71,217 and the final score was from a shootout 2-1 Pittsburgh.
The 2009 Winter Classic I attended because my favorite team was going to play. It was at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL. The Detroit Red Wings played the Chicago Blackhawks and won 6-4 with 40,818 fans in the stadium. I put my name in a raffle to be able to purchase tickets and I recall everyone saying I won't even have a chance to go. A few days before the game I did get an email with the option to purchase tickets at face value; however I refused to miss the game so my friend Brandon found tickets on a website and we paid over face value. In the long run it was worth it. Since it was outside, it was obviously cold out with the winter weather. I made two signs: Happy New Year! (with a GO WINGS of course). My second sign I had NBC because it was going to be on that channel and from experience I learned its one way to get your sign on TV. With the letters I put Red Wings players (kroNwall,leBda, Chelios). At the game a fan behind me knew the camera man so he did actually put my NBC sign on the jumbotron so that was sweet! I had enough layers with my Lebda jersey as my final layer and kept warm. Brett Lebda is originally from Buffalo Grove, IL so I thought it was fitting to wear his jersey for the Winter Classic. I considered buying a Winter Classic jersey but I thought I'd use the money I saved up for the trip instead. The atmosphere of the whole thing was surreal. I took pictures of the whole stadium as well as the players. Where our seats were located was actually the Chicago Blackhawks entrance to their locker room, I was just happy to be there. The other reason why this game was so special was the NHL started out with six teams, (known as the Original 6: Montreal, Detroit, Chicago, Toronto, New York, and Boston Bruins) so it was a historical game in additon to being outside. Both teams has custom jerseys for the game and after the game was over the jerseys were auctioned off for charity. Even the goalies had specialized helmets for the game. Yes seeing the Wings win did make the experience better, I wouldn't trade it for anything. A few months later I got a surprise. I knew some photographers took photos of Brandon and I with my signs. One day of facebook the NHL.com website made an online magazine called Impact. Well they did an article on the Winter Classic and a photo of me popped up in there. The Detroit Red Wings have an "Inside Hockeytown" magazine and a much larger photo appeared.
I was completely shocked and excited at the same time. Probably my only claim to fame. I called my dad while at work and he looked at it. We called to order more issues of the magazine and bought one for my friend Brandon. He was excited too! So besides my photos, ticket I framed, program guide, etc I had more proof I was there. What a great way to start the New Year with my Red Wings!
For 2010 another Original six team hosted the Winter Classic: Boston Bruins. They played against the Philadelphia Flyers (whom my one friend Leanne was living there at the time so I was actually rooting for Philly). Boston won in OT 2-1 with 38,112 fans.
Each Winter Classic the games are played in football or baseball stadiums so the attendance can vary with the number of seats available.
When I was a senior at Michigan State I heard rumors about another outdoor college hockey game with Michigan State and the University of Michigan. After a lot of planning they did make a second outdoor hockey game for the rival teams this time in Ann Arbor. I knew I was going to go to the game no matter what being one of the teams my alma mater. On December 11, 2009 the University of Michigan hosted The Big Chill at the Big House. I had never been inside that stadium so I was excited. The final score: U of M beat MSU 5-0. The actual attendance record was 104,173 fans which broke the Guinness Book of World Records so I can always remember I was a part of history. That game was so much colder than the Winter Classic I had attended. Our seats were in the lower level and good view of the whole game. It was a good experience despite my team losing.
This year the Winter Classic had the Pittsburgh Penguins play the Washington Capitals. Many people boycotted the game because the Penguins were playing in a second outdoor game before other teams got the chance. The Capitals have Alex Ovechkin which the NHL is marketing him too. Most recently they are coining the term Ovechtrick (9 goals) in a commercial. Every year NBC broadcasts at least one game with Pittsburgh vs. Washington because they know fans want to see those two faceoff. I understand why they picked those two teams in the Winter Classic, but they need to have other teams play to market all the NHL teams and get fans across the country interested. I almost missed the game, but decided to watch it. The game was originally scheduled to play in the afternoon, but with the rain (melt the ice) they had to push the game to 8pm. I was amused by that. A few years ago in 2004-2005 the NHL had a lockout because the commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive Bob Goodenow could not reach an agreement because of the salary cap. The NHL has suffered from the smaller fan base. Sidney Crosby because the poster boy for the NHL and being a Detroit fan I refuse to root for him. Even if I wasn't a Wings fan, they marketed him too soon. This year he finally had a good year being on top for many stats. It was a mistake to make him out as the best player in the NHL when he was only a rookie. All things aside it was a good hockey game. The Capitals beat the Penguins 3-1 with 68,111 fans at the game.
Hockey players love playing outside. The pond was a place where most of the players first started playing the game so it means so much to them. I'll be watching the 2011 Heritage Classic in February and hope they continue having outdoor games because the fans have a great time too! Minnesota and Colorado would be my next choices for 2012 and beyond. I would go just for the atmosphere and being out with other hockey fans!
No comments:
Post a Comment