Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

NHL WINTER CLASSIC 2009 - WRIGLEY FIELD!
NHL.COM ^ | 7/16/08 | Dan Rosen

Posted on 07/17/2008 6:22:57 AM PDT by airborne

'Blackhawks, Red Wings meet in the great outdoors'

There will be no talk of curses allowed. Goats aren't welcome. If somebody wants to call his shot, well that's OK, but probably not recommended, because this is hockey and the goalie won't like it too much.

Oh yes, Wrigley Field is notorious for some of baseball's legendary -- and spookiest stories -- since it was built in 1914 around Clark and Addison Streets, and Sheffield and Waveland Avenues on the North Side of Chicago.

Jan. 1, 2009 figures to be another historic day for the venerable old ballpark when it opens its doors to the National Hockey League for NHL Winter Classic 2009, which this time features an Original Six matchup.

The host Chicago Blackhawks will square off against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Detroit Red Wings, in a 1 p.m. ET game that should not only capture the attention of the entire sports nation on arguably the greatest sports television day of the year, but could also be a key contest in what figures to be a tight Central Division race. It will be the 701st all-time meeting of the clubs. No NHL opponents have played more regular-season games against each other.

The game, the third in an outdoor venue put on by the NHL, will be televised live on NBC in the United States as well as CBC and RDS in Canada. NHL Radio will provide coverage across North America and NHL.com will provide extensive digital video coverage.

(Excerpt) Read more at nhl.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Sports
KEYWORDS: hockey; nhl
The defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Detroit Red Wings, will face the Chicago Blackhawks on New Years Day in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field!

After the incredible success of last year's Winter Classic, with Sidney Crosby's Penguins defeating the Buffalo Sabres with a shootout goal in the snow, this game promises to be a fantastic showcase for the NHL.

1 posted on 07/17/2008 6:22:57 AM PDT by airborne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Hat-Trick; SZonian; retrokitten; hollywood; Alberta's Child; 6323cd; Betis70; ColoCdn; k2afe; ...
HOCKEY PING!!


2 posted on 07/17/2008 6:25:13 AM PDT by airborne (God gives us countless opportunities! It's up to us to use them wisely!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: airborne
but could also be a key contest in what figures to be a tight Central Division race.

I think this is a great idea and will be very cool, but a 'key contest'? When was the last time the Black Hawks were a serious contender? Besides, this is a regular season. NHL regular season games have less meaning than any major sports, with the NBA the only one even coming anywhere close.

3 posted on 07/17/2008 6:28:31 AM PDT by Always Right (Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Always Right

It will be Brian Campbell’s second Winter Classic - sorry Blackhawks, you over-paid for the guy!


4 posted on 07/17/2008 6:31:54 AM PDT by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Always Right

Yeah, I think the writer is embelishing.

But after drawing over 74,000 fans in Buffalo, this one should be exciting. Chicago and Detroit hockey fans outside in the winter promises to be wild! Especially if it’s cold, windy and snowy!


5 posted on 07/17/2008 6:36:48 AM PDT by airborne (God gives us countless opportunities! It's up to us to use them wisely!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Always Right

For the past many years while the Blackhawks continue to have young players who show promise (then get traded away), they are pretty much out of the race at Christmas, especially in a division with the Wings.


6 posted on 07/17/2008 6:50:28 AM PDT by Hat-Trick (Do you trust a government that cannot trust you with guns?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: airborne

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t care what it costs, I am going!!!!!!!


7 posted on 07/17/2008 6:57:18 AM PDT by retrokitten (Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hat-Trick
I dunno, Chicago should be good this year and I don't see them trading their youth for a while.

As far as Campbell, nobody paid more than my SHARKS. I just hope a new coach can bring them to another level.
8 posted on 07/17/2008 7:00:25 AM PDT by glaseatr (Father of a Marine, Uncle of SGT Adam Estep. A Co. 2/5 Cav. KIA Thurs April 29, 2004 Baghdad Iraq)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: retrokitten

I’d love to go, but since you’ll be there, you can take lots of pictures for us all!

I think Wrigley will be an awesome place for an ice hockey rink!


9 posted on 07/17/2008 7:15:42 AM PDT by airborne (God gives us countless opportunities! It's up to us to use them wisely!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: airborne

I definitely will. I am sooooo excited already!


10 posted on 07/17/2008 7:30:14 AM PDT by retrokitten (Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: retrokitten

I envy you!!!


11 posted on 07/17/2008 7:55:19 AM PDT by airborne (God gives us countless opportunities! It's up to us to use them wisely!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: airborne

Won’t the Cubs still be using the field, wrapping up the World Series then?


12 posted on 07/17/2008 7:56:00 AM PDT by Former War Criminal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: airborne

The guy across the aisle from me at work says he won’t go, because it’s at Wrigley. He’s a Sox fan. I told him, “Good, more for me!” LOL


13 posted on 07/17/2008 7:57:12 AM PDT by retrokitten (Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Former War Criminal

LOL! If so they’re going to have to work around the big slab of ice!


14 posted on 07/17/2008 8:01:02 AM PDT by airborne (God gives us countless opportunities! It's up to us to use them wisely!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: retrokitten

He’s a knucklehead.


15 posted on 07/17/2008 8:01:55 AM PDT by airborne (God gives us countless opportunities! It's up to us to use them wisely!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: retrokitten

I’ll be at O’hare on Thursday and back through again on the following Wednesday.

I’ve been to Chi-Town many times, but never left the airport. 8^)


16 posted on 07/17/2008 8:03:48 AM PDT by airborne (God gives us countless opportunities! It's up to us to use them wisely!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Former War Criminal
Won’t the Cubs still be using the field, wrapping up the World Series then?

No, sorry, that's when Hell freezes over, not Wrigley. Though I'm sure some can't tell the difference.

17 posted on 07/17/2008 8:04:45 AM PDT by kevkrom ("This is not the [fill in the blank] that I knew" - Barack Obama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: airborne

LOL!! I think a lot of people have that experience.


18 posted on 07/17/2008 8:04:55 AM PDT by retrokitten (Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: retrokitten

Well, I’m off to the Boy Scout camp down the road to practice with my bow. Have a good day, or at least try!


19 posted on 07/17/2008 8:13:08 AM PDT by airborne (God gives us countless opportunities! It's up to us to use them wisely!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: airborne

Have a good one!


20 posted on 07/17/2008 8:14:24 AM PDT by retrokitten (Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: airborne
Jan. 1, 2009 figures to be another historic day

Perhaps, but not in TV viewership. Quite likely most folks will be watching one of the various bowl games........

21 posted on 07/17/2008 9:31:56 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: retrokitten

Have fun, bundle up! My Uni used to have an outdoor rink, and watching games outside (esp when the wind picked up) was always a test of the quality of my winter gear.

Of course we could sneak in ‘nips’ of warming liquid to make it tolerable.

Skating on the rink was often even more fun, with snow cascading over the boards and under the pavilion roof.


22 posted on 07/17/2008 9:40:19 AM PDT by Betis70
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: airborne
Thanks for the ping, Airborne.

I love these outdoor games. Anyone who has never played ice hockey has really missed out on something special . . . and skating outside in the cold winter air is the closest thing to heaven you'll ever find here on earth!

23 posted on 07/17/2008 10:58:34 AM PDT by Alberta's Child (I'm out on the outskirts of nowhere . . . with ghosts on my trail, chasing me there.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: airborne

“Well, I’m off to the Boy Scout camp down the road to practice with my bow.”

I didn’t realize the season had opened on Boy Scouts! What’s the per day bag limit?


24 posted on 07/17/2008 11:49:28 AM PDT by CSM (Hey if a small tax increase didn't work, a bigger tax increase should not work even BETTER!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: airborne

This will rule.


25 posted on 07/17/2008 3:03:19 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache (Peace Sucks. It means that somewhere there are terrorists that no one is shooting at.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hat-Trick

The Blackhawks have become the Florida Marlins of hockey.


26 posted on 07/17/2008 3:04:03 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache (Peace Sucks. It means that somewhere there are terrorists that no one is shooting at.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

I’ll drive all the way from SoCAl just to boo them no good Hawks.

Go Blues


27 posted on 07/20/2008 1:13:04 PM PDT by spectr17 (What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Betis70

Oh my goodness, I totally missed your ping! I just happened to click on this thread.

I’m going to have to invest in some women’s Under Armor. But Chicago weather that time of the year is strange. It can be -10 or +40, you just never know.

My brother works with Rocky Wirtz’s daughter. I talked to him (my brother, not Rocky ;-)) the other day and he said he’s going to see what he can do to hook us up with some tickets. That would be nice, but I’m sure everyone is hitting her up for some, so I’m not counting on anything. I’m sure the AmEx is going to stretched close to it’s limit.

They’ve made some great changes so far this summer and there is really starting to be a buzz here about hockey again. Judging from the anti-Hawks sentiment on this thread, we must be going the right direction! LOL!!


28 posted on 07/20/2008 1:26:23 PM PDT by retrokitten (Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. Mother Teresa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: airborne; All

if anyone wants in on a ‘08-’09 fantasy league let me know, its auction/keeper, point based, head-to-head on espn.


29 posted on 09/04/2008 10:17:27 PM PDT by Disciplinemisanthropy (III III IV)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Disciplinemisanthropy

We did a fantasy league last year. I forget who set it up.

They say the memory is the first thing to go... at least I think that’s what they say.

any whooo....I’m in!

The current hockey ping list is on my profile page. If you want I can ping everyone.


30 posted on 09/04/2008 10:33:14 PM PDT by airborne (Rudy is right! They would never treat a man like this!! DON'T MESS WITH A HOCKEY MOM!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: airborne

They had the last one at Rich Stadium, why wouldn’t they have it at Soldier Field?


31 posted on 09/04/2008 10:36:16 PM PDT by dfwgator (After Saturday, the Miami Hurricanes will be downgraded to a tropical depression)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Don’t ask me!

I would have had it at Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley!

Penguins versus Flyers!


32 posted on 09/04/2008 10:39:29 PM PDT by airborne (Rudy is right! They would never treat a man like this!! DON'T MESS WITH A HOCKEY MOM!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson