Winter Classic 4

[dsjunior1388 81]

You want to know who's gonna play in this game? Just keep an eye out for where Ty Conklin gets traded in the off season.

Odd that a career backup has been the starter for all three. I smell conspiracy...

[Nightcast 0]

lol and hasn't he won all 3?

Either way I hate seeing these games in baseball fields. I wish they would come to the big house(ann arbor) and set a record.

[furlanitalia 1]

Conklin lost the first but won the second two. I agree with the baseball field thought, while it looks good on tv the view didn't look great from the seats.

[Bill_CIA 0]

Penguins and Flyers at Beaver Stadium.

Yeah, I don't care that the Penguins already had a winter classic a year ago. I want Pens/Flyers at State College. 120,000 screaming hockey fans? It couldn't be beaten.

[fawn111 0]

Toronto?

[top_shelf_24 0]

I doubt the league will want to throw in a team that has just kicked off the rebuilding process. That, and every reason chadd mentioned why it wouldnt be a canadian team. The other thing I'm thinking is that if toronto is going to participate in a winter classic, odds are they will be hosting it because of the fan base and historic presence here.

[JR Boucicaut 3799]

Heard from a reliable source but keeping it quiet for now. Will be interesting for sure...

[armada 0]

Duuuuuude... You can't just be dropping bombs like that without backing them up.

Heard from a reliable source but keeping it quiet for now. Will be interesting for sure...

[JR Boucicaut 3799]

Sure I can.

[furlanitalia 1]

At this point I've kind of gotten use to JR doing that lol. Honestly don't care where its played. It'll be a long time until (if ever) they have one in vancouver, so as long as its on tv I'll watch it.

[cptjeff 0]

Heard from a reliable source but keeping it quiet for now. Will be interesting for sure...

Can we take that to mean that it's not what people are expecting?

[shooter27 116]

Heard from a reliable source but keeping it quiet for now. Will be interesting for sure...

Coyotes vs. Panthers on South Beach?

That would be a game to see - get a bunch of hungover southbeachers in their bikinis and I'm there.

[Jason Harris 31]

From the Boston Globe's Sunday Notes:

Don Renzulli, the NHL's senior vice president for events and entertainment, walked Fenway Park's green lawn Thursday, measuring and visualizing where the league will drop its sheet for the Jan. 1 'Winter Classic" (opponent to be announced). If they follow the Patriots model (mid-1960s), the rink will run parallel to the left-field wall, with temporary bleachers against the Monster. If they follow the Wrigley Field model, the rink will stretch between the foul lines, with the center ice faceoff circle slightly behind second base.

[Dr. Dangles 0]

I think as long as its an exciting game the Winter CLassic will be a success but no one wants to watch a blowout so hopefully the NHL will schedule a good matchup. Eventhough I'm a Philly fan I would rather watch the Caps play Boston, much more exciting (and marketable) matchup IMO.

Hopefully the Bruins will get to the rock the old vintage uni's!

[dcdot377 0]

the bruins need to bust out the yellow B. thoes unis were classic

[Larry54 243]

the bruins need to bust out the yellow B. thoes unis were classic

You mean this?

[li7039 0]

If winter classic 5 is in NYC i would personally prefer it to be at Citi Field over NYS since there are seats in multiple levels that run around the whole field. But it is smaller than NYS

[Jason Harris 31]

From the Boston Globe's Sunday Notes:

Yes, there will be a sheet of ice in Fenway Park for a Jan. 1 Winter Classic. It's a done deal, Bruins vs. either the Capitals or Flyers. The league will make it official at the start of July, with a splashy media event in the old ballpark. NHL free agency begins July 1, which grabs headlines around league cities (except for Phoenix, of course) for 2-3 days. The Sox play at home July 3-12. If the league wants the day for full media attention, it likely will wait for July 13-14 to make official all details, including how to purchase tickets.

[Jason Harris 31]

From today's Boston Globe:

Jeremy Jacobs (owner of the Bruins) said he expects the 2009-10 Winter Classic to be played at Fenway Park, although the league will not confirm it until July. "Everything I've seen acts like and smells like it's going to be in Boston," said Jacobs. "I don't know anybody else that's gone through the process like we've gone through. Traditionally, the league announces it in July. It's probably going to be the biggest Classic." Jacobs said the organization would only be able to accommodate season ticket holders for the outdoor game.

[hockeysc23 0]

Hopefully Caps get it ... do any Chicago or Detroit fans know if Season ticket holders from both fan bases get any sort of pre-order?

[cptjeff 0]

Hopefully Caps get it ... do any Chicago or Detroit fans know if Season ticket holders from both fan bases get any sort of pre-order?

They did in Buffalo, and I think there were some set aside for Chicago as well. However, Boston STH and possibly fenway STH are going to get a crack at them as well, and the league holds back tickets for it's sponsors, so it'll probably be a lottery type deal like in Chicago. And if you're general public, virtually no chance.

[Jason Harris 31]

From today's Boston Globe:

NHL officials in Detroit last weekend for the start of the finals would not confirm the Jan. 1 Winter Classic game at Fenway Park. However, a source inside Fenway Park during the NHL's recent visit to study the property, noted that league reps staked out a mock rink similar to the layout used this year at Wrigley Field. Based on that template, the rink would be centered just behind second base with nets placed in the direction of the foul lines. A couple of sources have said to expect a different wrinkle or two at this Classic, which has raised suspicions around town that at least two of the Beanpot competitors could lace 'em up for a game in the old ballyard. The Wrigley Wrink had public skating, too, which would work well at Fenway, provided it did not interfere with offseason ballpark renovations.

[the_game 452]

From today's Boston Globe:

NHL officials in Detroit last weekend for the start of the finals would not confirm the Jan. 1 Winter Classic game at Fenway Park. However, a source inside Fenway Park during the NHL's recent visit to study the property, noted that league reps staked out a mock rink similar to the layout used this year at Wrigley Field. Based on that template, the rink would be centered just behind second base with nets placed in the direction of the foul lines. A couple of sources have said to expect a different wrinkle or two at this Classic, which has raised suspicions around town that at least two of the Beanpot competitors could lace 'em up for a game in the old ballyard. The Wrigley Wrink had public skating, too, which would work well at Fenway, provided it did not interfere with offseason ballpark renovations.

Umm...that 'wrinkle or two' that they are mentioning might be something more then a college game. I'm not at liberty to say much else, but judging from what I have heard things could get busy for the winter classic.

[Chadd 916]

From today's Boston Globe:

NHL officials in Detroit last weekend for the start of the finals would not confirm the Jan. 1 Winter Classic game at Fenway Park. However, a source inside Fenway Park during the NHL's recent visit to study the property, noted that league reps staked out a mock rink similar to the layout used this year at Wrigley Field. Based on that template, the rink would be centered just behind second base with nets placed in the direction of the foul lines. A couple of sources have said to expect a different wrinkle or two at this Classic, which has raised suspicions around town that at least two of the Beanpot competitors could lace 'em up for a game in the old ballyard. The Wrigley Wrink had public skating, too, which would work well at Fenway, provided it did not interfere with offseason ballpark renovations.

Umm...that 'wrinkle or two' that they are mentioning might be something more then a college game. I'm not at liberty to say much else, but judging from what I have heard things could get busy for the winter classic.

I don't bash the league like a lot of people here do, but I seriously doubt their ability to get the "wrinkles" right.

[Jason Harris 31]

More from the Boston Globe:

If all the details get nailed down, the Winter Classic, set to be staged at Fenway Park on Jan. 1, 2010, promises to be more of a protracted extravaganza than those played in Orchard Park, N.Y., in 2008 and Chicago in 2009.

According to a source familiar with the plans, the NHL's portable ice sheet and high-tech refrigeration system will be kept in place inside the lyric little bandbox for some three weeks. The featured game, on New Year's Day, will have the Bruins most likely opposing the Washington Capitals.

The same source said another game, held on a separate date, ideally will have members of Boston's 1970 and '72 Stanley Cup teams facing off against a collection of Bruins alumni. A college tournament is also in the works, according to the source.

Look for the league to make a formal announcement at Fenway next month, most likely toward the end of a long Red Sox homestand that wraps up July 12.

Meanwhile, outdoor fever for hockey is not limited to cities of the Original 30. To kick off next year's World Championships, Germany will face Team USA on May 7, 2010, at the soccer stadium in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, which seats 75,976 for soccer. If they fill the place, it will be the biggest crowd ever to witness a hockey game, edging the 74,554 when Michigan State faced Michigan at East Lansing, Mich., in 2001