For the first time in the state of Texas, the NHL Winter Classic will take place. Playing on New Year’s Day, the Dallas Stars will be hosting the Nashville Predators. The Stars usually play their home games at the American Airlines Center but will be playing outside for the Winter Classic.
The venue will be the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park, the same place where Texas faces off against Oklahoma in the annual Red River Shootout. Before the game, the National Hockey League announced that former Texas running back Ricky Williams would be dropping the ceremonial puck.
Troy Aikman and Ricky Williams will drop the ceremonial puck at this year’s #WinterClassic!
The New Year's Day outdoor game will salute the iconic Cotton Bowl's history and Texas heritage.#GoStars https://t.co/thsGe95XRK
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) December 27, 2019
Williams played five career games at the Cotton Bowl, having a career 3-1-1 record in those games. Four of them came against Oklahoma, but the other was in the 1999 Cotton Bowl when the Longhorns played Mississippi State. He ran for 203 yards and two touchdowns on 30 attempts to secure a bowl win for Texas. Against Oklahoma, he ran for 465 yards and five touchdowns in four games.
While the stadium is nicknamed “The House that Doak Built”, Williams has put up some great performances in the Cotton Bowl. Dropping the puck before the game on New Year’s Day, Williams will help the hockey world learn about the history of the Cotton Bowl.
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