Tag: Winter Classic

Michigan State hockey to reportedly play outside in Chicago

MSU is set to be featured at the NHL’s Winter Classic, playing at Wrigley Field

The NHL has carried on a tradition known as the Winter Classic, an annual game played outside on New Year’s Day. A part of the NHL’s annual game is the outdoor ice is used for colleges, high schools and more to play games outside. Michigan State is set to be featured in 2025.

The 2025 Winter Classic matchup is set to feature the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

https://x.com/ToddMilewski/status/1800505617632887201

According to a report, MSU will be featured at Wrigley Field alongside Wisconsin, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State. NO exact opponent has been specified.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

11 photos of a picturesque 2024 NHL Winter Classic in Seattle

These scenes at the 2024 NHL Winter Classic in Seattle will be hard to beat.

It’s been 16 years since the first NHL Winter Classic and the views have yet to disappoint.

On Monday, with the calendar now officially moved to 2024, the NHL’s two newest teams in the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights faced off in the league’s annual Winter Classic. As the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Golden Knights went all out as they entered T-Mobile Park in Elvis costumes while the Kraken went with orange overalls in a reference to the workers of Pike Place Market.

While for some, the NHL’s Winter Classic might be a trite affair, their uniqueness washed away with time. However, for others — especially those with local ties to the game — the event is a fun celebration of the beauty of hockey. The Winter Classic itself might not be the most fun hockey to watch, but no one can deny the gorgeous vistas and unique aesthetics of the event.

With events underway in Seattle, here are the best photos of the gorgeous 2024 NHL Winter Classic in T-Mobile Park.

The Golden Knights arrived to the 2024 NHL Winter Classic dressed as Elvis in the most Vegas entrance

The Golden Knights brought a bit of Vegas with them to the Winter Classic.

The Vegas Golden Knights brought a little slice of their city with them to the 2024 NHL Winter Classic with the most extra entrance possible.

With the calendar now flipped to 2024, the annual NHL Winter Classic is here and this year, the league’s two newest teams — the Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken — are set to take center stage. The views during the Winter Classic always impress and Seattle should be no different this year, but the Golden Knights kicked things off early with a hilarious tribute to their home city.

Ahead of the game itself, the Golden Knights arrived to T-Mobile Park in Seattle dressed to the nines … in Elvis outfits!

Yes, even the King himself was able to make the trip to the 2024 NHL Winter Classic. Vegas no doubt wins the outfit battle here after the St. Louis Blues wore beach attire in frigid Minnesota a few years back.

Top 10 musical artists that need to perform at Notre Dame Stadium

Who do you want to see play in South Bend?

According to the website setlist.fm, Johnny Cash was the first artist to play at Notre Dame Stadium in 1977. That would be the last musical performance at the stadium until Chicago played at halftime of the Irish’s 2017 game against USC. Since then, Chicago has come back for one other game, and Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood have played there twice apiece. Weezer appeared there for the 2019 Winter Classic, and Billy Joel played a full show there in 2022.

Other than that, Notre Dame Stadium has a very paltry history when it comes to hosting big musical acts. I don’t know or care what’s behind that. I just want to see Notre Dame Stadium become a hot spot for concerts like most other stadiums around the world are when they don’t have games to host. Plus, such things only can be a boost to South Bend’s economy, and those shouldn’t have to happen only during football season.

Here are 10 artists I believe need to add Notre Dame Stadium to their next tour:

It’s so bitter cold at the 2022 NHL Winter Classic that players’ beards and mustaches have frozen over

It’s cold out there in Minnesota!!!

If you haven’t heard, it’s pretty cold at the 2022 NHL Winter Classic in Minnesota. So cold, in fact, that it’s broken league records for how frigid it is.

At puck drop between the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues, the weather hit at least minus-8 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the coldest outdoor game in NHL history. Not only that, before the game, the cold weather didn’t stop the Blues from showing up dressed to the nines… in beach gear.

So yeah, it’s pretty cold out there in Minnesota tonight. So cold, in fact, that players’ facial hair is collecting ice and freezing to their faces! Yes, seriously, players on both the Wild and Blues were seen with icicles on their beards and mustaches during warmups, which seemingly weren’t very warm at all.

Look, the NHL’s outdoor games may have overstayed their welcome, but you don’t get moments like these during regular games now do you?

[mm-video type=video id=01fpzrv2ypdrrp58jp1k playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fpzrv2ypdrrp58jp1k/01fpzrv2ypdrrp58jp1k-23441bbed1aa5d945f6f8b615bea8734.jpg]

[listicle id=1362584]

The Blues arrived at the NHL Winter Classic in beach gear and it was glorious

The Winter Classic more like the Summer Classic.

It’s going to be cold during the 2022 NHL Winter Classic in Minnesota. Likely historically so.

But do the St. Louis Blues care about such silly concepts as temperature and weather? Apparently not!

On Saturday, before puck drop at Target Field for the Winter Classic, the Blues arrived at the stadium wearing outfits that were more appropriate for a trip to the beach instead of the snowy, frigid climate of Minneapolis in winter. The Blues adorned themselves in baseball caps, sunglasses, swim trunks, polo shirts, and flip flops, uncaring of the minus-5 degree Fahrenheit temperature in which they were walking.

It’s a glorious sight to behold, if only for it’s absolute ridiculousness.

Look, I appreciate the commitment to the bit here from the Blues, but god that has to be cold. Thankfully, during the game St. Louis will be dressed more appropriately for skating around in such frosty weather.

[mm-video type=video id=01fpzrv2ypdrrp58jp1k playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fpzrv2ypdrrp58jp1k/01fpzrv2ypdrrp58jp1k-23441bbed1aa5d945f6f8b615bea8734.jpg]

[listicle id=1362584]

The 2022 NHL Winter Classic in Minnesota could be the coldest outdoor game in league history

It’s gonna be a cold one in Minnesota.

It’s going to be cold in Minnesota this weekend for the 2022 NHL Winter Classic. Possibly historically so.

Despite all the game postponements across the league due to COVID-19, the NHL’s marquee annual outdoor event is still scheduled to take place on New Year’s Day in the evening between the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues at Target Field. Previously, Minnesota hosted a 2016 Stadium Series game at TCF Bank Stadium between the Wild and Chicago Blackhawks, but this will be the first time the city has hosted the Winter Classic in full.

And, as expected of Minnesota winters, it’s going to be frigid cold on Saturday. As of Thursday’s forecast, the high for New Year’s Day will be minus-3 Fahrenheit with a low of minus-9, potentially making the 2022 Winter Classic the coldest outdoor game in NHL history.

It’s going to be so cold in Minnesota that the league will have to heat the ice to keep the rink in optimal condition. Not only that, the benches and penalty boxes will be heated as well to keep players comfortable. As for the fans, of which a full house of nearly 40,000 are expected to attend, hand warmers will be provided, alongside additional heated areas in Target Field.

The frigid temperatures in Minnesota this weekend could very well eclipse the NHL’s coldest outdoor game on record, the 2003 Heritage Classic between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens where temperatures dipped to zero degrees Fahrenheit.

Knowing local Minnesotans, however, Saturday’s game will be just another winter evening in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

[mm-video type=video id=01fqkzyfnmaev4mdaqnv playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fqkzyfnmaev4mdaqnv/01fqkzyfnmaev4mdaqnv-3c73017843487db2630ca649be82d19d.jpg]

[listicle id=1353792]

Stars, Predators players wear flashy, coordinated outfits to Winter Classic

Bring on the all black and bolo ties!

The NHL has an impressive slate of outdoor games that they play every year, but the Winter Classic, played on New Years Day, will always be the one that means the most to fans and players.

This year, the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars meet at the Cotton Bowl for an outdoor matchup that has all the fun and charm of a county fair. In the spirit of the game and venue, Dallas and Nashville players walked the Winter Classic red carpet in attire that pays homage to the history of their home cities.

Since Nashville is the country music capital, Predators players walked down the line like the Man in Black himself, Johnny Cash.

The Stars did a little Texas two-step in cowboy style, with Stetsons, bolo ties and shearling coats.

It’s not the Met Ball, but props to both the Stars and the Preds players for having fun with fashion. NHL red carpet style (with the exception of P.K. Subban) can sometimes lack a little originality and flair, but there’s none of that here. Both teams embraced the thematic dress code and went for it. As for who’s best dressed, it would have to be the Stars. You can’t go wrong with classic black, but bolo ties and the embroidered yokes are a gamble. Lucky for them, it paid off.

Winter Classic: Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Wednesday’s Winter Classic between the Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

The Nashville Predators (18-14-6) and Dallas Stars (22-14-4) drop the puck at the Cotton Bowl in the annual Winter Classic at 2 p.m. ET Wednesday.

It seems weird for hockey, but it is outdoors, so we take a look at the weather forecast. The forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies, little chance of precipitation and temperatures in the mid-50’s.

We analyze the Predators-Stars sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

Predators at Stars: Projected starting goalies

Pekka Rinne vs. Ben Bishop

Rinne puts his 13-7-3 record on the line, and he has a 3.02 goals-against average and .894 save percentage. He lost his only previous start on home ice against the Stars back on Dec. 14, coughing up four goals on 22 shots.

Bishop has been outstanding with a 2.34 GAA and .926 save percentage. While the results of his hard work don’t exactly show in his win-loss record at 13-9-3, it’s mostly a lack of offensive support which has led to his mediocre ledger. He hasn’t faced the Preds this season, as Anton Khudobin took that start in the second end of a back-to-back Dec. 14.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Predators at Stars: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 8:05 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Stars 3, Predators 2

Moneyline (ML)

The STARS (-143) are a better play because they have the better netminder in the crease. This will be a lower-scoring game, and that’s when Bishop is at his best. Taking Dallas is going a bit against the grain, as the home team is just 3-8 SU in the previous 11 Winter Classic battles.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Don’t even think about the puck line. The Stars (-1.5, +190) are an intriguing play, but six of the 11 previous Winter Classics have resulted in one-goal games.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 5.5 (-134) is the play here. While ice technology has improved amazingly over the past couple of decades, as no one would ever have imagined an outdoor game in Texas … even in Winter. The ice will likely still be sticky, but the fact there is no snowfall or precipitation in the forecast will likely mean the ice is better than we have seen in previous games in Buffalo, Pittsburgh, etc. … Still, with two outstanding netminders, the goals will be at a premium. Eight of the previous 11 Winter Classics have seen a total of 5 or fewer goals.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=2059]

Ricky Williams will drop the ceremonial puck at the NHL Winter Classic

Before the Winter Classic, the NHL announced that former Texas running back Ricky Williams would be dropping the ceremonial puck.

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.

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.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]