Philly is going to Fenway.
No, not the Phillies, although a World Series matchup between them and the Red Sox remains a distinct possibility.
I’m talking about the Flyers.
NHL boss Gary Bettman yesterday made official what had been rumored for a couple of months.
The Flyers and Bruins will be featured in what is now referred to as the “Winter Classic.” They’ll play on an outdoor rink at Fenway Park on New Year’s Day.
It’s something many of us can remember doing as kids. We called it “pond hockey.”
A lot of NHL stars likely first laced on their skates while shivering beside a frozen pond.
At yesterday’s press conference, several members of the Flyers and Bruins talked about just that.
“We’re lucky to have boards here, because back home we played outside and instead of boards we’d have bales of straw and hay to keep the puck from going too far off the ice,” said Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn.
I remember a different problem on the ponds we played on. Not all areas of the pond froze as solid as others. So there was always the problem of the puck sliding into an unfrozen section. Even worse would be if it slid toward the unfrozen end, but then sat there on the thin layer of ice daring some brave would to come and get it.
Conditions probably won’t be quite that stark come New Year’s Day. It’s unlikely there will be any bonfires roaring next to the ice. Players will still dress in the locker room and retreat there between periods.
We also didn’t have the Green Monster as a backdrop.
But they will be playing outside, regardless of the weather, on a rink constructed on the field at the hallowed home of the Red Sox.
Here’s hoping for snow.
No, not the Phillies, although a World Series matchup between them and the Red Sox remains a distinct possibility.
I’m talking about the Flyers.
NHL boss Gary Bettman yesterday made official what had been rumored for a couple of months.
The Flyers and Bruins will be featured in what is now referred to as the “Winter Classic.” They’ll play on an outdoor rink at Fenway Park on New Year’s Day.
It’s something many of us can remember doing as kids. We called it “pond hockey.”
A lot of NHL stars likely first laced on their skates while shivering beside a frozen pond.
At yesterday’s press conference, several members of the Flyers and Bruins talked about just that.
“We’re lucky to have boards here, because back home we played outside and instead of boards we’d have bales of straw and hay to keep the puck from going too far off the ice,” said Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn.
I remember a different problem on the ponds we played on. Not all areas of the pond froze as solid as others. So there was always the problem of the puck sliding into an unfrozen section. Even worse would be if it slid toward the unfrozen end, but then sat there on the thin layer of ice daring some brave would to come and get it.
Conditions probably won’t be quite that stark come New Year’s Day. It’s unlikely there will be any bonfires roaring next to the ice. Players will still dress in the locker room and retreat there between periods.
We also didn’t have the Green Monster as a backdrop.
But they will be playing outside, regardless of the weather, on a rink constructed on the field at the hallowed home of the Red Sox.
Here’s hoping for snow.
Comments