In 2006, the National Hockey League (NHL) decided to try out the idea of televising an outdoor hockey game on New Years day and named it the “Winter Classic”.  The first Winter Classic was held on January 1, 2008 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.  This game featured the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabers.  The idea was an instant success.  That game’s attendance was 71,217 people, which at the time was an NHL record.  Since then, the tradition has continued and been held at Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Heinze Field, and Citizens Bank Park.

The morning of December 31, 2013, I wake up on a futon at the house of Brittany and Frank Butler.  It’s 7:00 AM and the house is buzzing with excitement for the day’s events. My good friends Brittany, Frankie, Paige, Will and Eddy are layering up and we are heading to Detroit, Michigan for the NHL Winter Classic Alumni games.  This match-up will feature alumni from the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings.

          

As we arrive in Detroit around 10:30 AM, I direct Eddie to my “secret” parking spot one block from Comerica Park.  After parking, I put on the final 3 layers of my outfit in attempts to battle the 15 degree weather.  We spent the next two hours in the Hockeytown Winter Festival Fan Zone playing bubble hockey, air hockey, and having a target shooting skills competition, which I just so happened to win!

It’s now 1 PM and game 1 of the alumni showdown is getting started.  Red Wing fan favorites Brian Rafalski & Jiri Fischer help the team to an early lead over the Maple Leafs alumni.  Both alumni games consist of two, 25 minute periods.  After the 1st period of game 1, the Wings alumni have the lead and we decide it’s time for us to get some food and drinks.  We walk across Woodward Avenue to the Hockeytown Cafe.  We’re soon disappointed to hear that there is a 1.5 hour wait so our next stop is the Town Pump Tavern.  After appetizers, drinks, and lunch we are warm and ready to head back to Comerica to watch game 2 of the alumni showdown.

The roster for game 2 looks more like an all-star game than an alumni game.  Yzerman, Lindstrom, Fedorov, Redmond, Kocur, Larionov, Domi, Andreychuk, Iafrate, and Joseph are just a few of the legends and hall of famers playing.  Getting the opportunity to see the players I grew up watching one more time was impossible to pass up.  As the players are introduced, Nicholas Lidstrom received the loudest ovation of all.  Steve Yzerman was a close second.  When the game begins we’re sitting in the second deck with a perfect view of the playing surface.

Only a few minutes later, the top layer of my beer is nearly frozen.  I soon realize that at 15 degrees I better drink quickly.  Similar to game 1, the Red Wings take an early lead after one period of play but during the second the Maple Leafs make their charge and tie the game with 2 seconds remaining in the game.  Now, it all comes down to the shootout.  One of my favorite players Tomas Holmstrom is the only player to score and is able to secure the victory for the Red Wings alumni.

The morning of January 1, 2014, I wake up on the same futon at the Butler household.  This morning the clock reads 6:30 AM.  Unlike any other morning, I’m excited to get out of bed and get dressed.  Today, Frankie and I are on our way to The Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan to watch the 2014 Winter Classic.  Every year on New Years day I turn on the television and wish I was at this game; this year my wish has come true.  On this morning, there is already 6 inches of snow on the ground and the forecast is calling for another 4 to 6 inches throughout the day.

After the truck is packed it’s time to head over to Eddie’s house and pick him up.  On the way, we attempt to call him to let him know we’re on the way.  His phone is off and Frankie looks at me and says, “Are you kidding me?  He better be awake.”  I shake my head and just hope that he is ready when we get to his house.  After knocking on the door several times we both realize he’s not home.  His phone is off, he’s not home and he’s not ready to go.  This is not the start to the morning I was looking for.  We now start calling friends who may be interested in going to this epic, once in a lifetime game that Eddie will now miss out on.  Needless to say, at 7:15 AM on New Years day there are not many people who will answer their phones let alone be interested in standing outside for the next 8 hours in snow and 10 degree weather to watch grown men chase a piece of rubber around an ice rink.  After we exhaust all of our options, the realization sets in that it’s just the two of us.  We then realize that we will have 3 seats for 2 people and the frustration of having to waste a ticket disappears as I think of the added space and extra seat cushion my butt will have on the metal stadium bench.

We pull into the parking lot of Pioneer High School, located 1/2 block from the stadium, and pay the exorbitant fee of $60 to park.  It’s time to suit up.  With 6 layers of clothing on, we drop the tailgate and set up our kitchen.  On today’s menu, chicken cordon bleu sliders, bacon cheddar sliders, chicken wings, potato salad and garlic dip.  With our first course cooking on the grill we wander a few cars down to meet our neighbors.  We walk right in to enemy territory.  We’re now surrounded by 10 Maple Leafs fans.  I soon realize that we have a common bond with our neighbors; the love for the game of hockey.  Two of our new friends, Ryan & Steve, played professional hockey in Europe and continue to play in 3 different adult leagues each week.  It was obvious that these guys loved hockey and their Toronto Maple Leafs.

After 3 hours of tailgating in the frigid Michigan wind, we make our way through the waves of people into the stadium.

We’re now on the hunt for Section 3, Row 58, Seats 14, 15, & 16.  With assistance from a very friendly usher, we are greeted with the spectacular view these seats are going to provide for the next 3 hours.

Soon after sitting down, the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs and home team Detroit Red Wings take the ice in front of  a record setting 105,491 screaming fans.  The national anthem is performed by Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band.  The atmosphere in the stadium is intoxicating.  For the next 3 hours all I want to do is lace up my skates and play hockey.  Even the cold weather and constant barrage of  snow could not change that feeling.  Unfortunately, I’m confined to the stands and must watch the professionals.

At the end of the game, the Maple Leafs have overcome the Red Wings in a shootout.  Even a loss for my favorite sports team can’t take away from the excitement of this day.  The entire way home, Frankie and I can’t stop talking about what we would do or give for a chance to get on that rink.  We both agree that it would be every hockey player’s dream to play on this outdoor rink at The Big House.