take me out to the hockey game

Evenkeel and AJ start the year off right.

As many of you know, I am a fan of this sport they call "hockey." Also, many of you may know that the NHL decided to hold it's second annual "Winter Classic" in Chicago, featuring the Blackhawks vs. the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field. Last year, the event was held in Buffalo and they sold something like 72,000 tickets. Wrigley holds about 42,000 or so. To say this was a tough ticket to get would be a bit of an understatement. Luckily, I have connections. Or, rather, my brother still has connections, and I was able to score two seats in the bleachers.

AJ and I had a blast at the game, even though it was a tad chilly. Sure, it would have been great if the Blackhawks had managed to win, but it was still very cool to be part of such a historic event. While half of Chicago will claim to have attended the game, we actually did.

Here are a few snapshots and even a video taken during the national anthem. For those not in the know, it's a Blackhawks tradition to cheer during the anthem. I never got to attend a game at the old Chicago Stadium, but apparently the place would absolutely shake when they did this.


AJ poses in front of the ice truck that brought the rink up from Alabama. Where, as we all know, they are the foremost experts in creating ice to skate on.

We're not really smiling. Our faces simply froze in that position.

Bob Costas stands on a snowbank for his broadcast. I love this guy. He makes me feel tall.

The players make their way out to the ice. It took the Red Wings over two minutes to walk from the guest clubhouse, through the bowels of Wrigley, and out to the ice. Gotta love that. If only it had made them more tired.

Check out the anthem and fly-by:



The first 20 minutes were actually action-packed and led by the 'Hawks. Too bad the game is 60 minutes long.

The final score. Still, I love looking up at the scoreboard and seeing hockey.

The post-game handshake. "So, um, sorry for running you into the boards from behind."

Now I can scratch "watch an outdoor professional hockey game at a major league ballpark" off my list. Whew.