WINTER CLASSIC 2009

With today's unveiling of the complete 2008/2009 league schedules, the NHL made official what had been reported unofficially for a few weeks now - the 2009 NHL Winter Classic will take place at Wrigley Field in Chicago on January 1st. Two original 6 teams, Chicago and Detroit, will take part.

Coming off one of their better seasons in years, with a talented young nucleus of players and some eye opening free agent signings - Brian Campbell and Cristobal Huet, for example - fortunes are looking up for the Blackhawk faithful. Many of the early prognosticators look for the Hawks to contend in the Central Division this year. The awarding of the Winter Classic seems to be the icing on the cake in an eventful offseason for Blackhawks fans.

Long time rivals, the Blackhawks and the Red Wings have played 701 times in their storied histories, more than any other two teams in the NHL.

2008's inaugural Winter Classic was met with some skepticism when it was first announced, but turned out to be a ratings and PR bonanza. The Buffalo Sabres (natch, Banana Slugs) and Pittsburgh Penguins (natch, Chosen Ones) played to a shootout in the snow in front of a record crowd of over 71,000 fans at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium, with the NHL's golden boy Sidney Crosby scoring the game winner for Pittsburgh. Afterwards, the reviews were raves as skeptical media members who attended or (more likely) watched the game on TV, suddenly forgot their complaints about the folly of the NHL trying to stage such an event on the Hallowed Day of big college football bowl games (seemingly these same folks forgot that the silly BCS bowl system has led to most "big" college bowl games - with the exception of the Rose Bowl, which by law has to be referred to as "the grandaddy of them all - being moved away from New Year's Day). The NHL had seemingly scored a coup, despite itself. And besides, those snowflakes looked pretty on TV.

Anytime you commit to playing a hockey game outdoors south of the U.S./Canadian border, your biggest concern is the weather and how well the ice will hold up (don't look for this game to be held at Carter Findley Stadium or in Phoenix anytime soon). In Buffalo, the ice held up relatively well, but the snow became a bit of a problem. But all in all things went well. Chicago in January promises average temperatures between 18 and 32 degrees (fahrenheit), which if it holds true, should be just about perfect for the ice. Of course, there's always the chance of snow, but the more likely to have a possible adverse effect on the conditions in Chicago are the winds howling off of Lake Michigan. But that's part of what makes these sort of things fun - for the fans at least.

Wrigley Field is a bit more intimate ("the friendly confines") at around 40,000 seats, than Ralph Wilson Stadium, but obviously has a bit more character and history than most NFL stadiums. Overall I think this is a good choice. I know I will be watching.

Most of all, I'm very glad that this tradition is continuing as I think it's a fun thing to do for the fans, both those who attend the game and those watching from the warmth of their homes while nursing a hangover. If this Winter Classic concept was originally Gary Bettman's idea (which I somehow doubt), it has to be the best one he has had in his reign as commissioner - not that there's a lot of competition. Let's just hope they don't try to cash in on a good thing and start scheduling a whole slate of these games every season. Sometimes novelty is a good thing.

NOTES:

- Bettman, ever the (slimy?) politician, tried to make nice with the folks in NYC who had also been bidding to host the game at either Yankee Stadium or The Meadowlands. He was quick to "acknowledge the interest and efforts of the New York Yankees and the City of New York throughout the NHL Winter Classic 2009 site selection process. We look forward to continuing discussions regarding the possibility of a future Winter Classic game at the new Yankee Stadium." Thanks Gary. Now what about that All Star Game you promised to the Hurricanes? Gary? Hello. Gary? You still there?

- Brian Campbell of the Blackhawks will be playing in his second straight Winter Classic having taken the ice for Buffalo on New Years Day 2008. Maybe if the Rangers want to host the 2010 Classic they should look at a trade deadline deal. Campbell gave a thumbs up to NHL.com in regards to taking part in last January's festivities:

"The city was all wrapped up in it. It was, 'How do you get tickets?' 'What are you doing to get prepared?' 'What's your tailgate going to be like?' It was mayhem, a lot of fun, and something you take a lot of pride in."

"I was on the ice for a goal against (21 seconds into the game) because my defensive partner tried to pass it and there was too much snow on the ice and it wasn't going anywhere. I personally did not like the game at that point. Then I scored and the game was the best thing ever."



-m

The Inevitable

Well, it has finally come to pass.

The Detroit Red Wings are Stanley Cup Champions again, proving that not much has changed post-lockout afterall. (Just kidding, but with next year's league salary cap creeping towards $60 million...). Once again, Hockey Town is the center of the NHL universe. And I have to admit, they definitely deserve it.

The Penguins gave the desperate last second comeback one more try, but came up just short, as Marian Hossa's lunging stab at a rebound trickled just parallel to the goal line as time expired. Pittsburgh took advantage of a power play with under 2:00 minutes to play (so much for the refs swallowing their whistles, eh) to pull within one. But as it turns out Henik Zetterberg's shot that trickled slow-mo like through the legs of Marc-Andre Fluery's legs early in the third turned out to be the game winner. Zetterberg got the Con Smythe, as much for his stellar defense as his offense, even though he tallied more playoff points than any Red Wing in history. And that's saying something.

All in all it was a game effort by the Pens, but the Wings were obviously the better team. Exceptionally skilled both offensively and defensively and exceptionally deep as well. They once again dominated the third period, managing to escape the last second heroics this time around. It was not as dominating as their Game 6 win over Dallas on road ice in the conference finals, but it was impressive nonetheless. Once again the only thing standing between the Wings and a blowout was Fluery, who seems to have taken giant steps towards the greatness that has been expected of him for so long.

An exciting series over all, and I hope a lot of people got to see it. Guess we can take a look at the overall TV numbers tomorrow or Friday. Either way I think the NHL got the showcase they were looking for. And I don't think there's much doubt that the Pens, with their core of ridiculously young stars (Fluery is long in the tooth with this bunch and he's only 24), will be a force for years to come in the East.

I'm a little sad to see the year come to a close, and am already looking forward to September. Until then I guess we can have fun with all the speculation and craziness of the off season and free agency to come.

Man, I love this game.

Go Canes!

-m

For The Love Of The Game...

I was not born and raised a hockey fan. Far from it. I was raised on baseball and college hoops on Tobacco Road.

Youth hockey did not exist for me. And if it had, I nor the adults at the Eden Boy's Club, would not have known what to do with it (I remember being taught soccer by a coach who was reading out of a book at practice). It's hard to pinpoint exactly when I was first exposed to hockey and when I officially "became a fan". I vaguely remember the Montreal Canadians from the mid-seventies, and perhaps a little more clearly the Islanders run of 4 straight Cups in the late 70's (for some reason I cannot quite pinpoint now, I pulled against them every time). Then there was the Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid, where I vividly remember me and my Dad (who was never a hockey fan at all and now only holds a passing interest) cheering loudly in our living room as Al Michaels asked "Do you believe in miracles?" Yes! Perhaps that was the moment.

Or perhaps it came when some kids named Messier and Gretzky from a Canadian oil town finally vanquished the Isles and started an amazing dynastic run of their own? I remember that those Oilers teams were the first that I followed regularly and it was through them that I became a "fan". I also pulled for the Rangers because they were the hard-luck kids (similar to my beloved Red Sox), and because they were the Islander's rivals (again, I'm not sure what it was that turned me off about the Isles - maybe their brutish physical play, or just their run of dominance that turned me towards the underdogs). In college I would attend minor league games in Greensboro and Raleigh but did not have a team of "my own". But my fan hood grew and when Peter Karmanos came calling from Connecticut, I felt bad for the fans in Hartford, but ecstatic that I would finally have a team to call my own.

But through it all something was happening that was almost imperceptible. I was falling in love with the game. It was starting to tug at my allegiances that had always fallen solidly with baseball and basketball.

Today, I would have to say that I am a hockey fan above all else. When the Red Sox won the World Series, especially coming from behind to beat the Yankees in historic fashion it was an amazing feeling. But it was more a feeling of deliverance and relief. Like a weight being lifted. When they did it again last year it was almost like ho-hum. I was happy, but I was no longer emotionally invested. And in neither case did it come close to the feeling of Game 7 of the 2006 finals and watching Rod Brind A'mour lift that Cup above his head and jump around like a little kid.

I no longer get (as) upset when the Yankees beat the Red Sox or Duke loses to UNC. But the Hurricanes missing the playoffs can send me into a funk that lasts for weeks. I know it doesn't make any sense. But I know that it makes me a hockey fan. First and foremost.

And as a hockey fan tonight's EPIC Game 5 between the Red Wings and Penguins was absolutely amazing. I don't have a rooting interest. I'm not pulling for or against either team. I just want to see good hockey on TV for a little while longer. And it does not get much better than this.

I don't think anyone expected Pittsburgh to win this game. As talented as they are, Detroit has just been too good this playoff season. But the Pens jumped out to a two goal lead and suddenly things got interesting again. However, by the third period, the Wings were absolutely dominating the play and the Pens' lead quickly disappeared. The Cup was in the house and I fully expected it to be skated around the ice by the guys in Red. But then we were all reminded of how truly great this game can be.
It was a joy to watch - the skill, the stamina, the determination, the desperation.
And in the end the sheer jubilation of a Penguins team that after 5 1/2 periods of elimination hockey will live to fight at least one more day.

I'm sure the game will be analyzed and lionized by folks far more eloquent than I.
But all I know is that it's after 1am and I'm jubilant and exhausted. And I did not even have a dog in this fight. I can only imagine what the fans in Detroit and Pittsburgh are feeling.

And that's why we love this game.

-m