NHL’s Outdoor Game Scores Hat Trick

In the good old days, ice hockey players grew up playing on a frozen lake or pond outdoors. The National Hockey League recreated that feeling this week with an outdoor game, the Winter Classic, between Pittsburgh and Buffalo. The hockey may not have been the best, the conditions were a little dodgy, but the game scored the highest TV ratings in over a decade, and more than 73,000 attended the game.

Played at the Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, (where the NFL Buffalo Bills have their home games), the two sides skated to a draw at the end of regulation. In a shoot-out (a terrible innovation that turns the hour-long contest into a crap shoot), the Penguins won 2-1 with a goal from Sidney Crosby, the reigning NHL Most Valuable Player. Players said that the snow, sleet and wind made it hard to know where the puck was on occasion and what the other side could do with it. Goalies are always surprised when a shot comes out of a pile of snow.

However, Mr. Crosby summed up how the players felt. “Growing up, I played a lot outside. You see 70,000 people jammed into a stadium to watch hockey, it's a good sign. The atmosphere and environment, I don't think you can beat that.” And the coaches agreed. Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said, “'I’d love to do it again. I thought it was awesome. It was good for the game. It may not be the best hockey game because of the situation, because of the weather, because of the snow, but the atmosphere was incredible. The hell with the cynics.”

The NHL is still trying to recover from a season-preventing strike in 2004-2005. The league may just have found a new way to market itself. Higher TV ratings and a gate 6 to 7 times what arena hockey can earn, having each franchise play a few outdoor games each year would put more money in everyone’s pockets, and might excite a new generation to take up the game. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stated, “Based on the response, on our ability to execute, and the inquiries we're getting from other clubs for similar activities, this obviously is something we're going to look at again.”

Of course, there would be trouble in some places – LA, Miami, Dallas, where ice only forms in glasses of tea. Still, the NHL did put on an outdoor game once in Las Vegas in 1991 between LA and the New York Rangers. Having southern teams play in Canada may also help. And there are non-NHL places up north that could host a few games (Boise, Bismarck, Minneapolis, Duluth, Regina, Quebec City, etc.). Moreover, the use of football stadia in the winter would provide extra revenue for cities in need of extra cash. Outdoor hockey could be to NHL marketing and growth what Michael Jordan was to the NBA. Except MJ had to retire; as any kid in Saskatoon can attest, outdoor hockey goes on.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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