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| (H/T Bucky's 5th Quarter) |
Okay, so we all know about how awesome the NHL's Winter Classic is. Since 2008, it's been a New Year's Day tradition, where two of the best NHL squads take on one another on an outdoor rink inside of a large stadium, whether it be a baseball stadium, or a football stadium. This year, the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will be held inside The Big House, Michigan Stadium, as the Detroit Red Wings will be taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs in a matchup pitting two of the most historic Original 6 franchises. The Big House is familiar with hockey games, as a couple of years ago, the Michigan Wolverines took on the Michigan State Spartans in front of a record-setting crowd. Now though, the outdoor game craze has flown across Lake Michigan.
That's what brings us here, to the Hockey City Classic, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. With the report coming from the guys over at Bucky's 5th Quarter, the Wisconsin Badgers, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Miami (OH) Redhawks, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish will all be taking part in a doubleheader on Sunday, February 17, 2013. Hated rivals Wisconsin and Minnesota will take on each other (for the final time as members of the WCHA) in the first part of the doubleheader, and Miami squares off with Notre Dame later on in the day, although the order has not yet been decided.
This is spectacular for the sport. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Miami (OH), and Notre Dame are four of the biggest national powers in the collegiate hockey landscape. The four of them have combined for 36 Frozen Four appearances, and 11 national championships (Wisconsin leads with six, with Minnesota having five) and have enjoyed recent success as well, with Minnesota making the last Frozen Four, Wisconsin making it in 2010 as well as Miami, and Notre Dame made it in 2011. These aren't old powerhouses that have not tasted success in a long time, they're at the top of their games and will bring their prowess along with them to Chicago this February.
You can expect them to get a lot of support at this mega event as well. All four colleges are well within the vicinity of Chicago, with the farthest school being Minnesota (407 mi), but the Golden Gophers fanbase, and the state of Minnesota, loves their hockey. They will show up in droves, especially with the fact that they'll be playing their hated rivals, the Badgers, whose fanbase is also bountiful in support for the sport of hockey. Miami (OH) and Notre Dame hockey fans are well respected as well, and given that South Bend is just 95.7 miles away, and Miami, Ohio is 306 miles away, the RedHawks and Fighting Irish fanbases should also make their presence felt in Chi-Town.
I personally cannot get more excited for this as a hockey fan. I love the Winter Classic, and I love this idea of the Hockey City Classic as well. Hopefully this becomes a regular occurrence, and frankly, I'd love to go to this too. February 17, in my mind, can't come soon enough.
This is spectacular for the sport. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Miami (OH), and Notre Dame are four of the biggest national powers in the collegiate hockey landscape. The four of them have combined for 36 Frozen Four appearances, and 11 national championships (Wisconsin leads with six, with Minnesota having five) and have enjoyed recent success as well, with Minnesota making the last Frozen Four, Wisconsin making it in 2010 as well as Miami, and Notre Dame made it in 2011. These aren't old powerhouses that have not tasted success in a long time, they're at the top of their games and will bring their prowess along with them to Chicago this February.
You can expect them to get a lot of support at this mega event as well. All four colleges are well within the vicinity of Chicago, with the farthest school being Minnesota (407 mi), but the Golden Gophers fanbase, and the state of Minnesota, loves their hockey. They will show up in droves, especially with the fact that they'll be playing their hated rivals, the Badgers, whose fanbase is also bountiful in support for the sport of hockey. Miami (OH) and Notre Dame hockey fans are well respected as well, and given that South Bend is just 95.7 miles away, and Miami, Ohio is 306 miles away, the RedHawks and Fighting Irish fanbases should also make their presence felt in Chi-Town.
I personally cannot get more excited for this as a hockey fan. I love the Winter Classic, and I love this idea of the Hockey City Classic as well. Hopefully this becomes a regular occurrence, and frankly, I'd love to go to this too. February 17, in my mind, can't come soon enough.
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