SOUTHBEND, IN — The Winter Classic this past Tuesday is just too cool to not talk about.
Not only was it an Original Six matchup, it was held at one of the most iconic sports venues in the nation—Notre Dame Stadium. The sheer amount of history between the two teams, the field the ice was laid on and the stadium itself is amazing. You have two teams that have played in the NHL for over 90 years together, two teams that have multiple Stanley Cups under their belts (each team has six), and two teams that celebrate every tiny bit of their history.
Then, you have Notre Dame—with Touchdown Jesus overlooking the stadium, the iconic “PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY” sign, the enthusiastic and immediately recognizable fight song—it would be remiss to say that this venue was just another stadium. And I’m so glad this was where the NHL decided to play the Winter Classic this year.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t go to this one--though I’d definitely planned it out a couple of times while daydreaming--but watching it from home still gave me chills.
Both teams used uniforms from the 1930s, symbolic of when the teams won Stanley Cups. The Bruins donned their gold, brown and white jerseys with a big ‘B’ in the center, which the Hawks rocked classic white and black striped sweaters with a new take on the old crest in the center. From an aesthetic perspective, those jerseys were slick—I know the Blackhawks are wearing them for three upcoming games, but I hope the Bruins break theirs out again for a couple games, too.
Unfortunately, it rained the day before the game, so neither team could practice out on the ice in the stadium and instead practiced in the same building where the Notre Dame hockey team plays. But, the next morning, they followed through on a really, really cool tradition.
The Blackhawks walked from iconic Hesburgh Library to the stadium, just like the football players do, passing by hundreds of not thousands of fans that showed up on the cold morning to catch even a glimpse of them before the game. The boys all looked great, and it was so cool to see them walk the same route to the stadium as the football players do before games, per tradition.
Not to mention, the conditions were perfect. There was little to no wind, which is an odd problem that outdoor games sometimes face--wind messes with the puck more than you'd think. On top of that, it was overcast the entirety of the game, meaning there wasn't a glare on the ice surface at all, which helps both teams keep an eye on the puck. On top of that, the temperature hovered around a chilly 35 degrees most of the afternoon. The conditions couldn't have been more perfect.
Even though the game didn't end up quite the way I wanted it to go, it was still a fantastic game--the Hawks looked great until they took those three consecutive penalties in the third period that ultimately killed them. The game was close most of the way, and I must say, it was one of their more impressive outdoor games to-date. I'll definitely remember this one, as it's been my favorite of any outdoor game thus far.
Still, the Blackhawks' record stands as 1-5 in outdoor games, and a meager 0-4 in the Winter Classic.
As cool as all of this was, I'm definitely in the camp of 'no more outdoor games for the Blackhawks.' I love these games, and I think it's awesome for guys to play outside, where the game originated and found its beginnings, but I also think it's time for other teams to get this awesome chance to play in a really special and spectacular game. This also goes for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals--you guys have all had a couple recently, it's time to bring the outdoors to some different teams.
I'm excited to see Dallas getting the Winter Classic next year--TBD on how the ice fares in 50-to-60-degree weather as per the January average down there. It'll be interesting to see who the Stars and the NHL select as the opponent--I'm hoping it's either Nashville or Minnesota, personally, since I think the NHL could really make those into rivalries.
I'd love to see other teams get a shot at this, as I think there are a lot of franchises that would really benefit and grow the sport with an outdoor game. The first team that comes to mind is the Carolina Hurricanes--they would suit an outdoor game very well, but I'm not sure if the NHL thinks the market is big enough down here.
Long story short, I love the Winter Classic and the other outdoor games that we see throughout the season. It's a great idea, and I know it can certainly help grow the league to new heights.
So, how 'bout them Hawks? I thought they looked pretty good against Colorado on Saturday, pulling out an overtime win in the Mile-High City, and I really thought they stuck with it throughout the game. I know the Avalanche are in a bit of a slump right now, but I'll take wins and points where I can, folks, and the Hawks should, too.
They looked less impressive against the New York Islanders last night, and to be honest, didn't really deserve the point they received with the overtime loss. I thought Collin Delia looked spectacular, and obviously Patrick Kane's goal was a beauty, but, yeah, not their best outing. Too many late penalties, again.
Either way, they're not sitting at the very, very bottom of the league anymore, so that's a nice little silver lining for your lovely Friday. It looks like, at the very least, the Hawks are maybe, just maybe, starting to trend up.
Might take a while to get back to where they're used to being, but baby steps.
Are you in?
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