Winter Classic 2012 - The Colonel

Last year two days before the 2009 Winter Classic, On Goal Analysis posted a blog entitled “Winter Classic 2010.” Those recommendations were not followed, with Fenway park being the site chosen for this year’s event.

If rumors can be believed, Winter Classic 2011 will likely be held in Yankee Stadium between the Rangers and a team to be named later (the Islanders are a target of speculation!). Additionally, gossip indicates a Canadian outdoor game just might be played in conjunction with Hockey Day In Canada, quite possibly in Calgary.

This blog therefore concedes Winter Classic/Hockey Day In Canada 2011 and jumps ahead to recommendations for Winter Classic 2012.

The Frozen Pond in 2012

Simply put, what’s old is new again. Within that blog a year ago, the opinion was given that the 2010 Winter Classic should be conducted in Canada with a bent toward honoring our Hockey history. We say that needs to happen in 2012.

From that original post, suggestions included:

“…1. Percival Molson Field at McGill University in Montreal where the rules for Hockey were codified.

2. In Montreal, outdoors, and near the Bell Centre near where the first Stanley Cup was awarded.

3. Somewhere between Kingston and Hallifax, Ontario, in recognition of the possible beginnings of Hockey as games between British soldiers in the mid-1800's….”

(We also concede with all the talk of potential expansion/relocation to Quebec, the Canadian capitol is a non-historical, good choice if the NHL’s goal is to showcase a potential return to that city. Our recommendation, however, is to initially support a return to our Hockey roots.)

So for our Game 1 of Winter Classic day, we recommend playing in eastern Canada from one of the original, three choices above to honor both Canada and Hockey’s history. We further recommend the puck drops at 11:30am EST to allow for completion by about 2:30pm EST. It is not going to get much warmer for the frozen faithful that day than noon. And it is not lost on this observer that with a 4:21pm EST projected sunset that day, folks will be clearing the parking lot and just about home by sundown and the more severe temperatures.

The blinding flash of the obvious for who should play are the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. This is a rivalry that spans names of the League itself. That includes going all the way back to March 14, 1908 when the Montreal Wanderers of the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association defeated Toronto of the Ontario Professional Hockey League.

We would like to see the Canadiens and Maple Leafs in sweaters like below, with the old home white and road darks in vogue. For the Canadiens, The “W” inside the “C” is for ‘Wanderers,’ the green maple leaf is from Canadiens’ jerseys past and the Maroon color honors the old team nickname from the 1934-35 Stanley Cup winning team. The Toronto jersey honors the 1928-33 Leafs’ sweater that began the evolution to what is currently worn. Simply put, it is an awesome sweater that could be a favorite on the market for purchase with little marketing.



We also advocate a second game that same day. With a tip of the hat to Cole Jones’ great work at theother6seconds.com, we endorse his suggestion for a later afternoon tilt beginning at 2:30pm EST/1:30pm CST in The Minnesota Twins’ Target Field between the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars. This should be a grudge match because there sure was some when the North Stars left the Gopher State to become the Dallas Stars. We wouldn’t change a thing from his recommendation. (Great job Cole!)

Why two games in prime time on January 1st? It’s just about time to show some swagger in the NHL. There is no baseball to contend with, and last year’s Classic showed Hockey is primed for outpacing Basketball. Admittedly, New Year’s Day in 2012 falls on a Sunday which may make some direct competition with NFL playoffs. But the start times listed have both Hockey games complete by about 5:30pm EST, so late NFL playoff action and The Rose and Sugar Bowl games will not be bled over into much if at all. We say January 1 is the Winter season which Hockey was made for, so Hockey should step out and claim its rightful place of honor.

And don’t forget to demand from sponsors the kind of top commercials like they have been doing for years with the Super Bowl. These Winter Classic matchups deserve that kind of respect.

Conclusion

As a bottom line, the possibilities for Winter Classic games are endless. Honoring Canadian lineage in Hockey history simply needs to be done, however. And Minnesota, the State of Hockey and home to so many U.S. born players, is deserving of recognition as well for this great event.

Ah, the Winter Classic. The stuff dreams are made of…

The Curse of the Red Wings: An Epiphany

While watching the Hawks-Wings Winter Classic Warmup last night, I had an epiphany. Following the Stars for lo these many years, I've heard much about Dallas' (and Marty Turco's) "Red Wings Curse", in reference to their inability to beat Detroit. Watching Chicago fall, 4-0, to Detroit last night (taking them to 0-1-2 on the season against the Wings), I began to wonder whether the Blackhawks were now afflicted with The Curse. Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning...or maybe like that little bit of static electricity when you reach out for the doorknob...it hit me:

There ain't no stinkin' curse!

What's happened to Dallas over the last decade (until last season's Western Conference Finals, that is) may very well happen to Chicago now. Simply put, the Red Wings have the ability to find another gear when playing top-flight opponents (Exhibit A: DET 6, SJS 0). Last season, Detroit went 17-12-3 against the Central Division, but 39-7-4 against the rest of the NHL. Last season, Nashville was the only other Central Division team (Detroit aside) to make the playoffs, sliding into the 8th seed. In 08/09, the Wings' Central Division opponents are improved overall, with only St. Louis out of playoff contention at this time. So far this season, Detroit is 6-1-0 against the Central Division. Coincidence? I think not. The Wings see a threat, and rise to meet it.

Don't expect Detroit to sweep the season series with Chicago, though; I wouldn't bet on Ty Conklin putting up too many more 36-save shutouts against Toews, Kane & Co. Last night, the Hawks proved that they can dominate the Wings, as they outshot Detroit, 12-1, in the first ten minutes. Tomorrow, Chicago has the home ice advantage AND something to prove. Tomorrow, Ty Conklin becomes the answer to a trivia question: Which player has participated in all three of the NHL's outdoor games? If the Blackhawks have their way, Conklin will become the answer to another question: Who was the first goalie to be chased from the net in a Winter Classic game? Regardless, it's going to be must-see TV. DON'T MISS IT!

Too Cold for Hockey?, shop.nhl, and Death to the Shootout!

As I again attempt to put off Christmas shopping, I thought I'd throw down a few random hockey nuggets to ponder...

TOO COLD FOR HOCKEY?...A buddy of mine up in Chicago sent me a text message this morning, saying that the temperature was -6(F), with a wind chill of -33(F). I seem to recall reading somewhere, once upon a time, that the optimal ice temperature for skating is 19 degrees (F). If it's too cold, skate blades won't be able to cut/melt the ice, making skating extremely difficult. Naturally, this caused me to wonder about the skating conditions at Wrigley Field, and whether or not the ability to HEAT the ice exists. If not, and if it's that cold on 1 January, well...will the Blackhawks and Red Wings play broomball instead?

WHAT GIVES, SHOP.NHL?...I don't know about y'all (yes, I'm a Native Texan, and we say "y'all" down here), but I've done some of my Christmas shopping on shop.nhl.com, and I've noticed that several items - and not just the Winter Classic t-shirts - just don't stay in stock. For example, I was going to get a Dion Phaneuf t-shirt for Tex Jr., but it hasn't been in stock for over a week (not in adult sizes, anyway). Then, I was going to get him a Patrick Kane Winter Classic t-shirt, but that item has appeared in stock and disappeared again within hours, and was only available in just one or two sizes. My question is this: Is this due to A) Difficulty getting stock from suppliers, or B) Consumer demand far beyond the NHL's wildest expectations? As a fan, I hope the answer is (B).

HOT HOCKEY OPINION #1...At this time, I'd like to join the growing chorus of hockey bloggers calling for an untimely end to the Shootout. I liken shootouts to a newly-opened tub of Betty Crocker cake frosting (use your imagination, and pick the flavor of your choice). You stick a spoon in there, shovel it into your pie hole, and it's everything you hoped it would be...so you go back for another spoonful. Again, delicious...so you go for a third. Now, you're starting to realize that it's, well, really rich and sweet. Another spoonful, and you're wishing you had some cake to go with it. If you're foolish enough to go for a fifth spoonful, you begin to wish for some Saltines, or maybe a big hunk o' beef jerky...and so on, until you realize that the frosting is just too rich, too sweet, and lacking in substance. So it is with the Shootout, which was exciting and fun the first couple of seasons. On the surface, the Shootout would seem to be the perfect ending to a game, as it contains three key ingredients to exciting hockey: The Breakaway, The Goal, and/or The Great Save. The truth is, however, that we're deciding games played by opposing TEAMS with an INDIVIDUAL skills competition. It's just plain wrong, and in Year Four of the NHL Shootout, I find myself queasy and longing for a good, old-fashioned TIE. And don't even get me started on the fact that my fantasy league won't give me points for a shutout when my goalie loses, 1-0, in a Shootout...I'll save that rant for another day.

TOMORROW: HOT HOCKEY OPINION #2, in which I explain to the NHL the best way to put butts in seats, generate excitement and sell the game to The Unenlightened Masses.

Take me back to On Goal Analysis