Winter Classic 2012

[skyscrape 5]

So jealous! Watching the players being announced gave me goose bumps for the same reasons! These guys were the ones that got me into the sport in the first place! They put on quite a show! I thoroughly enjoyed the game! Me and my dad were cracking up at Cotsie and all the players! I bet the stadium was electric!

[puckhoggy 0]

Don't want to sound like a newb, but what was the reason for the classic to be played on Monday and not on new years day?

I assumed this whole time is was today until I saw the tv schedule...

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

The NFL. Since NYD falls on a Sunday, it forced the WC to be moved to Jan 2.

The WC would have bad ratings if it went up against the NFL.

[5 Minute Major 1]

Yeah, the Alumni Game was an amazing experience! Bernie making saves! Lindros to Leclair! Mark Howe and Samuellson on D! Evrything about it was awesome! So happy I had the chance to experience that in person! Now on to Mondays big game to end my 3 day weekend.

If you haven't heard.. Bob is starting...

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/winter-classic/Bryzgalov-drops-2012-bombshell.html?ref=facebook.com

[Steve_v3 289]

Don't want to sound like a newb, but what was the reason for the classic to be played on Monday and not on new years day?

I assumed this whole time is was today until I saw the tv schedule...

The NFL. Since NYD falls on a Sunday, it forced the WC to be moved to Jan 2.

The WC would have bad ratings if it went up against the NFL.

I wish they were playing at night though. I think it would be better at night.

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

vs Giants/Cowboys?

Nah, even if it weren't NFL weekend, it's 1pm for a reason (Gator/CapitalONE bowls). A night start competes against the Fiesta Bowl.

[Fury of One 6]

Start time moved to 3 pm.

[steelnation248 101]

Yeah, the Alumni Game was an amazing experience! Bernie making saves! Lindros to Leclair! Mark Howe and Samuellson on D! Evrything about it was awesome! So happy I had the chance to experience that in person! Now on to Mondays big game to end my 3 day weekend.

If you haven't heard.. Bob is starting...

http://www.philly.co...ef=facebook.com

Just an aside, but man I wish they had all of this stuff during the Wings vs Hawks WC game. They had some behind the scenes stuff but a 24/7 series would've been awesome. An alumni game between those two teams would have been just fantastic.

Either way, I'm excited for the game tomorrow. The alumni game was fun yesterday but Monday will be very exciting to watch. For the record, I'm rooting for the Flyers. Haha

[puckhoggy 0]

The NFL. Since NYD falls on a Sunday, it forced the WC to be moved to Jan 2.

The WC would have bad ratings if it went up against the NFL.

Ohhh, I wasn't thinking of the NFL. Darn. I was looking forward to the game.

[MLSman 22]

Those Rangers practice WC jerseys are filthy. I'm sure those won't be showing up on ebay for cheap.

[5 Minute Major 1]

record, I'm rooting for the Flyers. Haha

There ya go! hahahaha Go Flyers!

[jrhky36 1]

the winter classic is a great game but being in detroit i would think that there would be more western teams in it. its the winter classic not the eastern conferecnce classic. i'm am sick and tired of seeing pitt, phil and the rest of the eastern teams in it. it was reported that the wings could get it next year. i hope so. maybe they could play at the big house in ann arbor. but if not it should be no problem getting in comerica park seeing as illich owns that stadium, along with the tigers.

[Krev 86]

Been loosely reported that it'd be Detroit vs Toronto. Can't remember who reported it, but I do remember watching it on TSN.

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

@ Comerica, not Michigan Stadium. Which probably means I'm going to have to go. I've turned down a couple of them (was holding out for Yankee Stadium) but I'm sure my chick is going to want to go.

The NHL prefers to do it in baseball stadiums; seats are closer and they have more time to prep (college stadiums wouldn't be a problem as pro ones are)

[jrhky36 1]

@ Comerica, not Michigan Stadium. Which probably means I'm going to have to go. I've turned down a couple of them (was holding out for Yankee Stadium) but I'm sure my chick is going to want to go.

The NHL prefers to do it in baseball stadiums; seats are closer and they have more time to prep (college stadiums wouldn't be a problem as pro ones are)

the folks at mich put in a olympic rink for big chill at the big house last year, drew over 114,000 people. the hockey community has hosted more outdoor games in hte last 10 years. alot of high schools played at mich stadium last year. here is a list that i can remember:

2001 mich v msu at msu stadium

2004 the froaen four at ford feild

2011 mich v msu at the big house

alot of high school games the last couple of years

didn't buf and pit play at ralph wilson stadium. didn't wash play pit in hienz feild. buf i could see using the ralph wilson, but heinz feild last year were three rivers was open? i do agree that it would be at comerica seeing as illich owns that place as well, so he wouldn't have to pay a usage fee. it makes more sense.

were ever they play i hope the league starts using more western teams.

[chikinpotpie 137]

If its at comerica, you can count me in. Had the line on tix since I went to the one in Chicago. Will take advantage of that one fo sho.

[Les213 1]

Anyone know why the Canadian anthem was played/sang between two American teams? Not that I'm complaining... just curious

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

the folks at mich put in a olympic rink for big chill at the big house last year, drew over 114,000 people. the hockey community has hosted more outdoor games in hte last 10 years. alot of high schools played at mich stadium last year. here is a list that i can remember:

2001 mich v msu at msu stadium

2004 the froaen four at ford feild

2011 mich v msu at the big house

alot of high school games the last couple of years

didn't buf and pit play at ralph wilson stadium. didn't wash play pit in hienz feild. buf i could see using the ralph wilson, but heinz feild last year were three rivers was open? i do agree that it would be at comerica seeing as illich owns that place as well, so he wouldn't have to pay a usage fee. it makes more sense.

were ever they play i hope the league starts using more western teams.

Three Rivers was torn down after Heinz Field was built, and PNC Park in PIT was just too small. That's why it was at Heinz Field, and despite all that, they had issues with icemaking because there was a Steelers game and had to start later than expected.

I'm not an idiot. I know it's been hosted at Michigan Stadium. But downtown Detroit is a better story than Ann Arbor.

[puckhoggy 0]

For those who have attended past winter classics, honestly, how was the view?

Were you able to see the game properly? Jw

[Chadd 916]

didn't buf and pit play at ralph wilson stadium. didn't wash play pit in hienz feild. buf i could see using the ralph wilson, but heinz feild last year were three rivers was open? i do agree that it would be at comerica seeing as illich owns that place as well, so he wouldn't have to pay a usage fee. it makes more sense.

were ever they play i hope the league starts using more western teams.

The football fields have had more pronounced crowning and that has caused more problems with the ice. As JR mentioned, the NHL wants to have access to the facility longer than is usually available where the NFL plays. They will compromise on the facility in order to get more marketable players, that comes first in every situation.

[Chadd 916]

Terrible officiating all game long and absolutely atrocious in the third.

[mirm 0]

For those who have attended past winter classics, honestly, how was the view?

Were you able to see the game properly? Jw

I was at last years WC. I honestly didn't think there was that much of a difference between the view at Consol and the view Heinz field, and I was pretty far up at Heinz.

My cousin was closer to field level & she said she couldn't see anything.

My view:

[#96 0]

It became brutally clear that the refs had an agenda late in the game. They made BS calls late when there were other chances to make calls that weren't earlier in the game. How awesomely marketable would the game have been if it went to OT and/or shootout.

As a purist hockey fan, Im disgusted. Stop trying to sell our game to fans that cant wait to switch the channel to college football anyway.

[jds 20]

Anyone know why the Canadian anthem was played/sang between two American teams? Not that I'm complaining... just curious

NHL keeping everyone happy . Seemed odd to as well me and I'm Canadian. Have to say I prefer when both teams are from either country since we only have to have one anthem.

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

They did that last year too. Sorry, but it doesn't make any sense if there's two US-based teams.