The Winter Classic

Even though it was a loss, the once-in-a-lifetimeevent known as the NHL Winter Classic, was an eventI will not forget.

The Red Wings came into the frozen friendly confineson Jan. 1, and beat the up and coming Blackhawks, 6-4,in a game that wasn’t as close as the score. This wasthe second annual Winter Classic, something the NHLhopes will become a long standing tradition. The event itself lived up to the hype. Walking toWrigley on a cold Thursday morning, after being outall of the night before celebrating the new year, wasexciting at the possibilities.
Before the game thosethat attended were given binoculars to look at whichplayer was not wearing the Reebok logo on the back. There were people “hosting” the event for those inattendance. Honestly I don’t remember anything thatone of them said because I wasn’t really listening tothem. Wrigley Field was transformed into all thingsHawks and Wings. Soon the players came on the ice towarm up then soon left the ice for more pregameceremonies. Once they hit the ice for warm-ups, everyone stood the entire time.
One of the ceremonies consisted of having former Cubs andBlackhawks players introduced on two stages right infront of home plate. Then the players came back out,walking on a ramp with fireworks and other explosives.
The Canadian National Anthem and the Star SpangledBanner were song, the Star Spangled Banner was song byJim Cornelison, who sings at most Hawks games at theUnited Center. I saw the replay of this on television,and it didn’t give it justice as to how loud it was at Wrigley while Jim Cornelison was singing. I wassitting close enough that you could tell Cornelisonreally enjoyed singing the song there and wasappreciative from the loud ovation he got before andafter singing the Anthem. The same Cubs and Hawks players who were announcedearlier to the crowd were again announced this timefor the television audience and the crowd on the ice.

The problem was I think each person got a louderovation the first time when it was not shown ontelevision. The first period started and it was mostly all Hawks,who played very tough, came out very aggressive andwere playing smart hockey. They went into the firstintermission with a 3-1 lead, and Chicago fans werepleased with the lead but wanted to see the level ofplay stay as intense through the next two periods.But as the second period went on you could see theswitch in the game. The Red Wings who had beat theHawks three times already at that point were playingmore physical, smarter, stronger and better than theHawks. By the time the third period came around theHawks found themselves in a deep whole. They got onegarbage goal at the end of the game, but it was toolittle to late. They had a nice lead but blew it tothe best team in the league. The experience was well worth it, it was fun to besitting in the stands watching an outdoor hockey game.

From what I saw it came across great on television.People from all over the country and Canada came toWrigley to watch the game.This is something the NHL needs to continue to do,make the Winter Classic a New Years Day tradition.Outdoor hockey in huge arenas that can hold about40,000 plus people. The only thing the NHL did wrong was the first threeWinter Classics like this year should have been withOriginal Six teams. From there go expand to otherteams, but start with the original six to bring moreexcitement to the game. At the game, the Hawks announced they would play aregular season game in Europe next year.

This was a great showcase for the city of Chicago toshow how much this franchise, which just two years agowas voted one of the worst in sports has been revivedto a popular team among the city that is being builtto be an elite team for years to come. The Hawks are back, and although they lost, they showed the world that Chicago is once again a goodsuccessful team.