Detroit Wins 2009 Winter Classic

ESTERO , FL – New Year’s Day 2009 provided near perfect conditions for a phenomenal outdoor hockey game.   Jim Cantore, of the Weather Channel, was on hand to personally describe the conditions.   Very cold and windy.   The temperature hovered around the 30 degree mark with the equivalent of 5 degrees with the wind chill factored in.   The sun stayed hidden for most the game behind a winter cloud cover.
 
The Winter Classic 2009 flags flapped loudly as they flew over Chicago’s Wrigley Field.   The history, the hype and the fireworks all added to the excitement of the players and the 41,000 fans braving the cold.
 
Nick Lidstrom, Captain of the Detroit Red Wings said his team needed to stay focused on the game while they had fun because of the very tight race in the Central Division.   Chicago Blackhawk’s Captain, Jonathan Toews, thought this match up would be pretty cool having the home crowd advantage.
 
The weekend before this historic game the weather was threatening to cause big problems.   The set-up team battled thunderstorms, high winds, flash flooding, temperature fluctuations and a tornado watch.   The ice wouldn’t cooperate as it had air pockets that had to be drilled out to allow the water to seep in and fill up the hole.
 
In order to keep the ice in optimum condition, at a temperature of 22 degrees, they used a mechanism called “Eye on the Ice”.   This is a wireless environmental monitor that gives live updates, using eight probes, to measure temperature, humidity, air flow, etc.
 
Wrigley Field looked totally different today from when I used to attend the Cub games when I was a child.   I expected the hear Harry Carry sing “Take me out to the Ballgame”.   The dignitaries at today’s game sang their own version.
 
The only other time Wrigley Field hosted an athletic event, besides baseball, was back in 1944 when they hosted the Norge Ski Club tournament.
 
Chicago native, Chris Chelios, of the Red Wings, has played for both teams.   He was with the Blackhawk’s for nine seasons and is starting his tenth season with the Wings.   Chelios will celebrate his 47^th birthday in January and is currently the oldest NHL player.
 
Detroit ’s Goalie, Ty Conklin, has played in all three outdoor games: 2003 Heritage Classic in Edmonton, 2008 Winter Classic in Buffalo, and the 2009 Winter Classic in Chicago.   Conkin will be the starter for the Red Wings.
 
One of the most exciting moments was seeing the dignitaries out at center ice for the ceremonial puck drop with the current respective captains, Toews and Lidstrom.   Present at the event were Tony Esposito, Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull of the Blackhawk’s. Baseball heroes Ryne Sandburg, Billy Williams and Fergie Jenkins were there.   Ted Lindsay, who played for both teams and former Blackhawk’s Coach, Denny Savard, rounded out the group.
The game started with the Blackhawk’s coming out strong and taking control.   Less than four minutes into the game, Kris Versteeg opened the scoring for the Hawks, with a solid power play goal.
 
Detroit ’s Mikael Samuelsson tied the score midway through the period on his own power play chance.
 
The first period offered a number of power play opportunities and Chicago’s Martin Havlat scored 17 minutes into the period.
 
Ben Eager teamed with Versteeg to finish the period with an even strength goal giving Chicago a 3-1 lead going into the locker room.   Versteeg set up a perfect feed to Eager as he swung around Conklin at the back of the net.
 
Although the first period play went to Chicago, the rest of the game was all Detroit.   It seemed like they were toying with the Hawks during the first period, allowing them
the luxury of having a lead and giving them false confidence.
 
Detroit struck quickly in the third with Jiri Hudler scoring two goals.   The first a minute into the period and his second about 11 minutes later.   Hudler scored both goals by patiently waiting on Huet’s glove side and being ready for the feed.
 
Pavel Datsyuk added his own goal towards the end of the period.   Detroit led at the end of two by a score of 4-3.
 
Detroit kept up the intensity and never looked back.   Brian Rafalski added his power play goal at 3:07 of the third.   Brett Lebda added his even strength goal 17 seconds later at 3:24.   Lebda’s goal was reviewed but was obviously a good one as it hit the net behind the crossbar and bounced back out.
 
Cristobal Huet was replaced on the ice by net minder Nikolai Khabibulin with 16 minutes left to play.   Towards the end of the period, Hull, Mikita, Esposito and a few others, treated the crowd to their rendition of “Take me out to the hockey game”.
 
Detroit ’s late third period penalty allowed Chicago’s Duncan Keith the ability to give the fans one final thrill with a power play goal at 19:50.
 
Detroit out shot Chicago 43-37.   The final score: Detroit Red Wings 6, Chicago Blackhawks 4.
 
Ty Conklin earned the win, stopping 33 of 37 shots.   Cristobal Huet got the loss stopping 24 of 30.   He was pulled in the third period with Nikolai Khabibulin coming in to stop the bleed, turning away 13 of 13.
 
If you didn’t see the 2009 Winter Classic game on New Year’s Day, you missed an important piece of hockey history.   It was fascinating to see grown men excited to be playing outdoor hockey, laughing like they were kids.  
 
But, make no mistake, fun s it was, the warm and fuzzy memories that it brought back, this was serious hockey at it’s finest.
 
Two original six teams, fierce forever rivals fighting for position, honor and pride.   
 
Contact the author at: sharon.weatherhead@prohockeynews.com