CHICAGO, Ill. – It has been three weeks since the ice equipment came in to Wrigley Field and almost every type of weather rained down in the city of Chicago. Temperatures ranged from negative 9 to 60 degrees came in with every type of precipitation from snow to rain fell. As game time came it was almost ideal for outdoor hockey, overcast and 27 degrees with gusty winds giving a windchill of negative 5. The weather didn’t matter as the players and fans were ready. Vision gear was the only thing that the players we concerned about especially during practice the day before where the sun shined brightly through the light fixtures above. The action didn’t only happen in Wrigley, but outside the stadium as well. Not only at the local pubs, but on the rooftops were some would say had the perfect view of the entire ice surface. Also, the NHL has set up an area for those who couldn’t make it into the game called Spectator Plaza where there were tons of activities going on from live music, to a big screen TV to watch the game. The outfield wall was fitted with tarp all around with ivy print all over. The rink was built between first and third base, while the outside of the boards were covered to match the brick that surrounds the classic baseball cathedral. The game definitely has a more of a heritage feel to it. The game really took the players back to the grassroots of hockey. Many of the players and coaches on the ice started playing hockey on a pond or had a backyard rink that their fathers built to hone their son’s game. Even though Wrigley Field doesn’t have the size of last years event in Buffalo, the 41,000 plus in house, and the closeness to the field, made this a very intimate game that gave everyone a sense of awe that not many will ever experience again. Unfortunately for the local Chicago Blackhawks fans, the result did not complete this winter wonderland as the Detroit Red Wings dominated the second and third periods winning 6-4. “This event I think is another great step for the Chicago Blackhawks franchise and the dramatic re-connection that they have had with their fans,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman after the game. The players came out of the dugouts and met right behind the batters box. The teams marched toward the rink with some of the players tapping homeplate. Pregame ceremonies started with the introductions of the Blackhawk Ambassadors, Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito, and Denis Savard (who coached the team to start the season before being replaced by Joel Quenneville). Former Chicago Cubs Billy Williams, Ryne Sandberg, and Canadian born Ferguson Jenkins were also at center ice for the pregame ceremonies. Old-timers Ted Lindsay and Bobby Hull represented their teams for the honorary puck drop to Captains Jonathan Toews and Nicklas Lidstrom. After the Canadian national anthem came the rousing American national anthem that is known to Chicago Blackhawks fans as “The Roar” that shook all of Wrigley field. That was immediately followed by a flyby of two naval jets. “You should enjoy the moment, and then once the puck drops lets get playing,” said Detroit Red Wing Head Coach Mike Babcock on how his players should take in the game. “It was fantastic, just being involved with the event.” The hockey gods made sure there was going to be an extra edge to this game, on top of everything else going on, by scheduling a home-and-home series. The two teams played in Detroit two nights before with Detroit winning 4-0. That game was a little physical after Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane was beat up along the boards pretty badly all game long. Ty Conklin started in his third outdoor game as a pro, this time for the Red Wings. Cristobal Huet guarded the net for the Hawks. Dan Cleary was checked into the Chicago bench by Brent Seabrook as probable payback for the hit he took on Kane the previous game. The Detroit bench didn’t know what was going on and an extra player came on the ice and the team was penalized for a bench minor giving Chicago a two-man advantage. The Blackhawks took advantage Seabrook fired a shot on goal that rebounded out in front of the net where Dustin Byfuglien wiffed, but rookie Kris Versteeg was trailing the play and didn’t miss on the open net to strike first at the 3:24 mark. Detroit evened the game on their power play chance as they peppered Huet with shot after shot until Mikael Samuelsson found the back of the net. Close to three minutes later on special team play Chicago struck as Versteeg backhanded a pass to Martin Havlat who was in perfect position to get the puck in past Conklin. Just before the period ended, Ben Eager battled behind the net and tucked the puck in to give the Hawks a 3-1 lead. Detroit came out like gangbusters from there on and scored five unanswered goals across the final two periods. Jiri Hudler scored two straight while Pavel Datsyuk finished the scoring in the second with a beautiful break down the middle showing great hands and speed as he weaved in and out with the puck past three defenders from the red line and put the puck past Huet for a 4-3 lead. Than, 3:07 into the third, Brian Rafalski, on the near side of Huet, had great stick control and was able to control the puck around the defense and pressured his way for a push that went between the pads and in. Seventeen seconds later, Buffalo Grove, IL native Brian Lebda fired a shot that went up on the net, but was initially waved off by the referee after the puck bounced out. The puck went in and hit the webbing on the top of the net and bounced out. After the goal, Nikolai Khabibulin came in to replace Huet. During the break, those who came out for the pregame ceremonies were in the baseball announcers booth to sing the Blackhawks rendition of the seventh inning stretch by singing a hockey version of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” that was made famous by the late Cubs announcer Harry Caray. With 9.2 seconds left in the game, Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith something for the Chicago fans to celebrate by scoring the final goal of the game. After the game, both teams lined up and shook hands at center ice to put an end to a wonderful event for all hockey fans to cherish. Ty Conklin is now 2-1 in the outdoor games where he face 37 shots. Chicago netminders faced 43 with Huet taking 30. Nine of the ten goals scored were by different players with Hudler getting two. Havlat had a goal and two assists to lead the Hawks. Four players had three points a piece for the Red Wings. “There was a lot of excitement surrounding the game. It was a great experience for everybody,” said Chicago Blackhawks Head Coach Joel Quenneville. “You learned a lot and you might never get this opportunity, so things that you visit you like to do over, you might not get that chance. But it was great to be a part of it, the fans were great and building was excited and it was a special place to be and play and certainly we are not happy with the way it ended up. It was a privilege to be here today.” This was definitely THE event to watch. Now that the NHL has gained so much experience in creating these type of outdoor games, they now know that they don’t have to place the game in a football type stadium. Chicago’s Wrigley Field has now set a new standard in how the Winter Classic should be held. Contact the author at matt.chin@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.