The Bruins and Flyers have taken their practice sessions today at Fenway Park and, just like the Blackhawks and Red Wings last year, they all look and sound as though today was a blast. Most players, if not every one of them, has family and friends here for the Winter Classic, and players lingered on the rink for a good hour after their respective practices to let their entourages get some skating in and to snap a few family pictures that will make great Christmas cards 11 months from now.
By the time the Flyers hit the ice this afternoon, the snow here in Boston had lightened considerably, but the Bruins practiced in the late morning in a heavy snowfall that was made for a postcard, if not quite for hockey. “You know how we get a little dusting of snow in the normal rinks when you play indoors,” Bruins defenseman and former Ranger Derek Morris said. “Today it piled up to an inch and a half before you knew it. Try stickhandling through that.”
But when the players talk about how playing on these outdoor rinks takes them back to their childhood, they’re really not kidding - right down to the snow shoveling the Bruins did during their practice: stick in one hand, shovel in the other. Still, weather is a touchy issue for the NHL: forecasts here call for 34 degrees and a 30% chance of precipitation at gametime. It was about 28 degrees and snowing into late afternoon today, and while maybe I’ve just frozen over, it feels to me as though it’s getting warmer here. Still, as of now, the game is on as scheduled for 1 p.m. tomorrow.
Every player I talked to said the ice surface is one of the best they’ve played on in a long time, hard and fast. Bruins backup goaltender Tuukka Rask said it was ideal for goalies because it was “really slippery” and he was able to slide side-to-side without sticking to the ice, as he finds he does in most NHL arenas.
Rask said he hasn’t adjusted his equipment for this game, although players will do what they can to keep warm. The Flyers were given a shipment of cold-weather gear - thicker undershirts and leggings - from the Philadelphia Eagles, who know about playing in this weather. Other than that, there were just a few tuques on top of helmets and smiles on a lot of faces.
“It’s a great experience for everybody,” said Boston’s Steve Begin, who played for Montreal in the 2003 Heritage Classic in Edmonton. “I had quite a blast in Edmonton, and this one here is going to be a lot different because it’s Fenway Park. It’s my first time here, actually - when I walked in this morning I felt like a kid. I was taking pictures, I went on the field. This is fun.”
Scott Hartnell of the Flyers has hopped a train from Philadelphia up to Boston to catch a Red Sox game in each of the past two summers, and probably never imagined he’d play a hockey game there. He bought a digital camera this morning to capture the day and was still trying to figure out how the thing works. “I think I had a smile on my face the entire practice,” Hartnell said.
As did Philly’s Simon Gagne, who must have been ultra-popular in school given that he was the only kid in his neighborhood with a rink in his backyard. Gagne grew up a Nordiques fan and honed his skating in that backyard wearing his Michel Goulet jersey, which was followed by a Joe Sakic jersey. He had his family with him at practice today and, thinking about it, said he probably hadn’t been on the ice with his dad since he was 15 skating in their backyard.
As did Boston’s Milan Lucic, who isn’t even expecting to play tomorrow because he’s still fighting his way back from an ankle sprain that has kept him out more than a month. Boston’s big man is dying to play in this game and probably wouldn’t be pushing it so much if it were just another home game under a roof. “Doubtful, but you never know,” said Lucic, who has missed all but 10 games this season. “the last thing I want to do is rehurt it and need more time, because it’s been a pretty tough year so far.”
One more thing on Rask: he had a special mask designed for the Winter Classic - not his own design, he said, but something tells me whoever did it for him is from around here. The helmet bears the logo the Bruins are using for the Classic (which is an overwrought, cartoonish version of the spoked B, something Mickey Mouse would wear in his early years), the word “RASK” written in frosty letters across the chin, and, covering the crown of the helmet, is the giant head of a bruin in mid chomp - with a tattered Yankees jersey hanging from his teeth. Yankee haters, you’re in good company at this Winter Classic.
We’ll have more as the game draws near - also, we’ll be posting the U.S. Olympic roster as soon as it is announced following tomorrow’s game, so be sure to check in then. In the meantime, Happy New Year to all!
COOL!