Chicago Blackhawks to host next year's outdoor NHL game

[Asher]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=239172&lid=sublink01&lpos=headlines_nhl

REPORT: BLACKHAWKS TO HOST NEXT SEASON'S WINTER CLASSIC

It appears that NHL Winter Classic will be back and making a visit to the Windy City.

Comcast Sportsnet is reporting that the Chicago Blackhawks will take on the Detroit Red Wings next January in what has become the league's annual outdoor game.

However, sources tell TSN that while Chicago is most likely, if not certain, to be the site for the next Outdoor game, the venue and opposition details have not yet been finalized. Detroit is the likely opponent because it would make so much sense from a television perspective, but the NHL's deal to pull all this together is not close to finalized at this time.

Following the success of this season's Winter Classic in Buffalo, where a record 71,217 fans watched the Sabres take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium, a number of cities have been pushing for the right to hold the event.

There was talk that the New York Rangers were looking into the possibility of hosting a game at Yankee Stadium. With the baseball team moving into a new stadium next season, it would have been the final event held in the old ballpark.

It is not yet clear whether the game would be held at Wrigley Field, home of MLB's Cubs, or Soldier Field, home of the NFL Bears.

Neat

[Ming]

If they want 71k + again, it will have to be Soldier Field.

[-Jrabbit]

I suspect the heavily crowned field would be an issue at Soldier.

[SlowwHand]

I think it would add an interesting aspect to the game.
I think it would draw NASCAR fans.

[flash9286]

How many goals in hockey are scored by accident? Seems like a lot.

[snoopy369]

It's fairly hard to truly score a goal by accident. Usually you are trying to score in some form, even if it's just placing yourself in the right place for a rebound or a redirect. Good teams manage this, better teams knock their players away from these locations

[flash9286]

Originally posted by snoopy369


It's fairly hard to truly score a goal by accident. Usually you are trying to score in some form, even if it's just placing yourself in the right place for a rebound or a redirect. Good teams manage this, better teams knock their players away from these locations

Fair enough, maybe accident was the wrong word, but it seems to me that a lot of the goals in hockey games I have watched took little skill to score. Just getting a rebound off the goalie or another player and sticking your stick out.

[snoopy369]

A lot of the skill in hockey is in placing yourself in the right position to score

It's a lot like (american) Football... you can watch the running back hit a huge hole and gain twenty yards, and think it's easy, but the cuts and waiting for the hole to open and such are important.

Goals scored on really hard shots look impressive. Goals scored on rebound shots probably take more skill.

[Asher]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I think it would add an interesting aspect to the game.
I think it would draw NASCAR fans.

Last year's outdoor game was outstanding.

It was perfect -- snow, young superstars, close game. It was on New Years Day so I watched the game with friends and family drinking coffee. Warm memory.

[Asher]

Originally posted by snoopy369
A lot of the skill in hockey is in placing yourself in the right position to score

It's a lot like (american) Football... you can watch the running back hit a huge hole and gain twenty yards, and think it's easy, but the cuts and waiting for the hole to open and such are important.

Goals scored on really hard shots look impressive. Goals scored on rebound shots probably take more skill.

The reaction time and hand-eye coordination even for those quick "garbage goals" are pretty demanding.

Even taking an accurate shot, from close range, is a lot more difficult than most people think. If you ever get a chance, go out on the ice with a puck and a stick and try it out.

[flash9286]

Goals scored on really hard shots look impressive. Goals scored on rebound shots probably take more skill.

I don't see how this can be true. The guy that scores is the garbage goal is lucky 1)because he is in the right spot at the right time 2) the goalie will probably be out of position if it is a rebound. While the guy that a non garbage goal has deal with a goalie that is in position.

[Asher]

Originally posted by flash9286



I don't see how this can be true. The guy that scores is the garbage goal is lucky 1)because he is in the right spot at the right time 2) the goalie will probably be out of position if it is a rebound. While the guy that a non garbage goal has deal with a goalie that is in position.

It is not "luck" that usually determines where the player is. It's actually very hard to be in those positions because the defensemen constantly "clear out" the front of the net. You also need to be in a spot where, given the location of the puck currently, when it's shot it'd deflect to you. All while jostling with very strong defensemen.

Goalies are not out of position too often these days, even on rebounds. It's not unusual to see a goalie stop the initial shot then 3 rebounds within a couple seconds right after.