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Posts Tagged Winter Classic

Are We Getting Cosby-Ovechkin’d Out?

May 28

Posted by Eddie in Soap Box | 1 Comment

The NHL is finally releasing one of its’ worse kept secrets. As Chris reported in late-March that the next NHL Winter Classic will be between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals. The big question was where would it he held at. Potential sites pretty much came down to Heinz Field, FedEx Field, and Nationals Ballpark. I believe the NHL did a good job in going back to the football stadium because after going to Wrigley Field and Fenway Park the last two seasons, the prestige of going to a baseball stadium was getting played-out. In addition, the Fenway Park classic didn’t do so well in the ratings because it lacked (at the time) contending teams, and big names. That’s what you need to get the casual fan to watch the game amongst the buffet of college football bowl games on January 1. The Winter Classic isn’t for the die-hards like myself or the readers of HWB. The Winter Classic is for the casual “I only know about hockey when they show it on SportsCenter” type of fan. Big, sexy, marketable names and contending teams is what Bettman wants in the Winter Classic to get the viewership NBC wants and needs.

Speaking of NBC, I’d be willing to bet they had a hand in this as they only recognize eight teams: Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Washington, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Boston.

Sidney and Alex will get the chance to duke it out at the Winter Classic in Pittsburgh.

Sidney and Alex will get the chance to duke it out at the Winter Classic in Pittsburgh.

I am kinda happy/kinda upset about this. We knew a Crosby-Ovechkin Winter Classic was on the horizon. This game has everything you need in a “one game showcase” of the NHL: recognizable names of Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin, and Green. I’m actually more inclined to watch because I know Michigan State won’t be playing on New Year’s Day.  But how can the Penguins get to play in a second outdoor game before Original Six franchises New York and Toronto? Those fan bases, as well as perhaps the Canucks have legitimate beef of why they are being left out of the mix. It could perhaps be because those franchises don’t have marketable players (even Vancouver- Roberto Lulongo doesn’t count. You can’t see his face through a goalie mask) or because they simply aren’t good enough to contend on a year-to-year basis.

If you do want to put money on the Caps playing for the Stanley Cup next season, you should do so. Each season of the Winter Classic, the road participant has played for the Stanley Cup that season. Just ask the Penguins, Red Wings, and now Flyers. In addition, TSN is reporting there will be a second Winter Classic next season. Montreal will travel to Calgary in February to take on the Flames at McMahon Stadium.

 

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Sutherland sports dress on Letterman

Jan 30

Posted by Chris in Media | No Comments

6a00d8341c630a53ef012876d33e19970cActor Kiefer Sutherland has done a lot in his storied Hollywood career, but wearing a dress on national television certainly seems like a first.

Sutherland, who currently stars as action hero Jack Bauer on the hit television series 24, came out for his appearance on the Late Show with david Letterman sporting a green dress that looked more like wallpaper than an item of clothing. The reason for his ensamble?

“I lost a bet,” Sutherland admitted to Letterman at the start of the interview, stating that he bet that New England would win their NFL playoff game. And who did Sutherland lose the bet to? None other than former NHL All-Star and Stanley Cup winner Dave Andreychuck.

Andreychuck played in the NHL for 26 seasons and amassed 640 goals and 698 assists during his career. He won the Stanley Cup as captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2003-04 after playing in the NHL for 22 seasons without winning a Cup. Subsequently, that victory would be the only Stanley Cup victory of his career. Andreychuck holds the record for most career power play goals with 270 and sits at 5th on the all-time games played list with 1,639.

Sutherland has also starred in movies such as The Three Musketeers, A Time to Kill, L.A. Confidential, A Few Good Men and Phone Booth. He is known to be a big hockey fan and even plays hockey himself. On Late Night with Jimmy Fallon a few weeks back, Sutherland spoke about how he played in a charity hockey game on the outdoor rink built at Fenway Park for the Winter Classic. The event was organized by former NHL superstar Cam Neely and fellow actor Dennis Leary and raised over $500,000. Sutherland is also close friends with former NHL great Wayne Gretzky.

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It’s outta here!

Dec 31

Posted by EB in News | 4 Comments

Fenway Park will play host to the 3rd annual Winter Classic at 1 p.m. on New Year’s Day. The 37-foot-high Green Monster will look down upon the clashing of two gritty teams: The Boston Bruins and the visiting Philadelphia Flyers.

Bridgestone's Winter Classic Green Monster scoreboard.

Bridgestone's Winter Classic Green Monster scoreboard.

The spectacle’s NHL roots started in 2003 with the Heritage classic, where the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Montreal Canadiens. In 2008, the Winter Classic as we know it was born with the Pittsburgh Penguins taking on the Buffalo Sabers in an outdoor game in Buffalo. Ratings soared and the following year the Detroit Red Wings faced off against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wrigley Field. What was once a day of rest and relaxation, or more so torture with the absence of hockey, has turned into the thing to watch.

Although I was unable to watch my home team in person last year, in 2001 I was fortunate enough to be in attendance for the Cold War between college hockey teams Michigan Wolverines vs. Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing. I sat nearly in the highest row of Spartan Football Stadium, bundled up, huddled up against the stranger next to me and sitting on my hands for warmth, and loved every minute of it. The numbness of my body, the loud roars and the sport I love – hockey. The teams ended in a 3-3 tie. I could only imagine the excitement of the shootout at such an event. The memory will never be forgotten.

Snow flurries and an expected temperature in the mid-30s will surely make this an excellent game to watch. The Philadelphia Flyers have gone up and down this season resulting in the firing and hiring of a new head coach. Despite all of this, they are currently in 8th place within the Eastern Conference and are coming off of 4-game winning streak, the most recent win a 6 – 0 romp over the New York Rangers. Let’s hope they have not used up all their scoring. The home team, the Boston Bruins, are currently sitting 5th within the Eastern Conference and are playing consistent hockey. With the Green Monster looking down upon the team, the Bruins are hoping this is more of a home game than a road one, seeing their home record is considerably better at 12-6-3. Goalie Tim Thomas will be the key for the Bruins in this conference rivalry.

An outdoor game should be on the bucket list for any hockey fan. I look forward to this year’s excitement surrounding the event; the preparation, pre-game buildup, the special jerseys, and the game day itself. Both teams are not to fond of each other, and both teams need these points for a playoff chance. The only thing left to decide on is where to order the pizza from on gameday.

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Winter Classic Rink Construction Video

Dec 17

Posted by Eddie in Media | 3 Comments

With the Winter Classic only 2 weeks away in Boston, below is a time-lapse video from the construction of the rink at Fenway Park.

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