Winter Classic 2012: Skating into the New Year with Some Outdoor Hockey

I was born in Minnesota and have lived there twice, so I know all about the great games of pond hockey and broomball out on the ice. Everyone loves it. In 2008, the NHL had the crazy idea of playing a NHL game outdoors. Would it work? No one really knew for sure. Dan Craig, the man placed in charge of the game, didn't really know either. Craig said, "I was just going with my instincts."

The game gained so much success and recognition that the so called Winter Classic has now become an annual tradition. The game has taken place in Ralph Wilson Stadium (Orchard Park, NY), Wrigley Field (Chicago), Fenway Park (Boston), Heinz Field (Pittsburgh), and now this year the game is being played in Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Each year Craig and his crew have to figure out how to transform the outdoor stadium into a hockey rink fit for players to play on and for fans to easily watch. It's an elaborate project full of planning and preparation. You watch a time-lapse video of them transforming the stadium this year here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jBSAUOI3jA.

As I mentioned already, the game has garnished much interest from both the fanatical hockey fans and the curious onlooker. This has only increased due in large part to HBO. For the second consecutive year, the network is airing a four-part reality series entitled, "24/7: Road to the Winter Classic." The series looks into the lives of the NHL players involved and the game itself. Last year's series won an Emmy for outstanding edited sports special.

The point of the Winter Classic was to garnish this extra interest into the sport and gain viewership. Has this happened? While this is a complex question to answer, the answer does appear to be yes. According to Comcast, the Washington-Baltimore area experienced a significant 25% increase in viewership of the Capitals' home games they aired following the Winter Classic and corresponding HBO series.

Is this really a sustainable event? Is the NHL really committed to it? The answer to both of these questions appears to be yes as well. The NHL faced its biggest threat yet from Mother Nature when it rained during last year's much hyped game. Craig and his crew developed a plan to respond and were seen using large snow shovels to clear the water off during stoppages. In regards to this, Craig stated, "You can't control [the weather] but you can monitor it."

I fully support the Winter Classic. As a hockey fan, I think that it is great for the league. The increased viewership is important for the league. The more interest there is, the more money there is for improving the game. The increase in interest in the NHL is apparent in many ways. I have even seen it here on our blog. The blog post that has had by far (by about 100 views) the most views is my one on the NHL's future realignment. People are interested in the sport and the league.

I would encourage you to watch this year's game, which features the longstanding rivalry between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers. The game can be seen on January 2 (Monday) at 1:00 PM EST on NBC. Also, if you get HBO (I don't), check out the series. It is bound to be entertaining as NHL players tend to have interesting personalities. Help start your New Year's off right with some NHL hockey outdoors, the way the game used to always be played.

Happy New Year!

From Manthan and Josh to you! Thanks for following us on "Fire Away Sports"!

http://lssulakers.com/sports/m-hockey/2011-12/releases/LS-WO_Preview (URL link to photo)



Enjoy US College Hockey Online's selection of their best photos of the year!: http://www.uscho.com/photos/2011/12/31/our-best-shots-of-2011/

NFL Week 17 Preview & Predictions

Well this is it. Week 17. The playoffs are on the line. Which teams will make it in? In the NFC, the teams are pretty much set. The only open spot is the NFC East division champion. The AFC playoff picture is much more clouded. It was simpler for me to hear it explained. This Associated Press video helps explain it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxNC_VyB-sI&feature=player_embedded.

Here are the games with playoff implications and my predictions as to what I think will happen:

Dallas Cowboys (8-7) @ New York Giants (8-7) - Sunday 8:20 PM EST, NBC

• Breakdown: The Giants are coming off a game they had to win against the Jets, which they won. Quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Victor Cruz are really starting to click. Last week, the Cowboys lost to the Eagles. Tony Romo was injured in that game, but the team says he is ready to play. But how effective will be? If you are a Cowboys fan, you just better hope this game doesn't come down to a field goal attempt with time winding down.
• Prediction: Giants 20 Cowboys 17
• What this would mean: The Giants would be in, the Cowboys would be out

Baltimore Ravens (11-4) @ Cincinnati Bengals (9-6) - Sunday 4:15 PM EST, CBS

• Breakdown: The Baltimore Ravens have already clinched their playoff spot, but don't tell them this game shouldn't be important to them. They need a win Sunday to secure the division title and first-round bye. In the AFC North, divisional pride is a very important thing. Additionally, it is important for the Ravens because their home record is 8-0, while their away record is a lackluster 3-4 entering Sunday. For the Cincinnati Bengals, they know they control their own fate. If they win, there in the playoffs. If they lose, they could still make it, but they don't want to have to think about that. Rookie quarterback Andy Dalton has gotten the job done all year, but his team needs him to step up now.
• Prediction: Bengals 20 Ravens 16
• What this would mean: The Ravens and Bengals would get both AFC wild card spots

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4) @ Cleveland Browns (4-11) - Sunday 4:15 PM EST, CBS

• Breakdown: As was aforementioned, the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing for the division title. They would like that first-round bye to help heal quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben plans on playing, but how effective will he be and how long will he play. Backup Charlie Batch played well last week. The Cleveland Browns aren't going to give the Steelers' a yard more than they can help, let alone the win. The Browns would love to send their rival Steelers into the playoffs on a sour note and will be coming after Roethlisberger full throttle.
• Prediction: Steelers 20 Browns 6
• What this would mean: Steelers would be in line for the division title and first-round bye if the Ravens lost

Kansas City Chiefs (6-9) @ Denver Broncos (8-7) - Sunday 4:15 PM EST, CBS

• Breakdown: Hey Denver, do you remember Kyle Orton? Well guess what? He is going to be the starting quarterback of the team trying to knock your team out of the playoffs. The Denver Broncos decided to switch starting quarterbacks to Tim Tebow. They decided to give Orton a chance to start elsewhere, so they waived him. What the Broncos didn't expect, was that the Chiefs would claim him and that he would be playing against them with the playoffs on the line. For the Broncos to win, Tebow needs to limit his mistakes, especially turnovers, and the Broncos defense needs to step up and play well again.
• Prediction: Broncos 16 Chiefs 13
• What this would mean: Broncos would win the AFC West

San Diego Chargers (7-8) @ Oakland Raiders (8-7) - Sunday 4:15 PM EST, CBS

• Breakdown: Like the Chiefs, the San Diego Chargers can try to play spoiler to a divisional foe. This season didn't go like the Chargers had planned. It started great with a 4-1 record, but then they lost six games in a row. They simply couldn't recover from the losing streak. The Oakland Raiders have been a streaky team all year. They brought in quarterback Carson Palmer to lead them to the playoffs. Now, they need him to step up and make that happen. The Raiders defense will try and force turnovers, which the Chargers have been susceptible to giving up all year.
• Prediction: Raiders 20 Chargers 10
• What this would mean: The Raiders would be in line for a chance at winning the AFC West title or one of the wild card spots

Tennessee Titans (8-7) @ Houston Texans (10-5) - Sunday 1:00 PM EST, CBS

• Breakdown: The Houston Texans have already clinched their first playoff berth in franchise history. They will focus on getting players healthy and comfortable this week. Star wide receiver Andre Johnson returns to the lineup for the hosts. The Tennessee Titans are still alive for the last wild card spot in the playoffs. They need some help though to set up what would be a rematch with the Texans in the playoffs. If the Titans don't make the playoffs, they don't have anyone to blame but themselves, especially after they lost to the previously winless Indianapolis Colts.
• Prediction: Titans 20 Texans 17
• What this would mean: The Titans would have an outside shot at the last wild card spot

Pesky Piscataway Performance Pulls Upset Win in Double Overtime

Mike Rice is in his second year as the head coach of the Rutgers men's basketball team. In his first head coaching position, Rice led Robert Morris University to three regular season conference championships in three years. Two of the seasons, the Colonials made it to the NCAA tournament. These tournament appearances were the first for the university since 1992.

Coach Rice has been trying to bring that winning success to Piscataway, New Jersey. It has been an uphill climb for the team for the past two decades. The Scarlet Knights' last tournament appearance was in 1991. Their last tournament win dates back to 1983.

The #10 Florida Gators entered the game coming off a big win over in-state rival Florida State. The Gators controlled most of the game and seemed to be set to secure the win tonight when they got their lead up to seven points with 2:49 left in regulation. But the Scarlet Knights refused to give up. The team rallied to tie the score at 66 and even had a shot to win at the buzzer, but it went begging.

The game was headed to overtime. With 31 seconds left in overtime, Gator sophomore Patric Young made two free throws to give his team a three point lead. However, the night belonged to a freshman Scarlet Knight named Eli Carter. Carter came off a screen and made a contested three pointer to tie the score with 22 seconds left. Florida had a chance to win it, but some tough Rutgers defense forced a turnover.

This one had a date with double overtime. In double overtime, the Scarlet Knights gained their largest lead of the night, 82-78, when Carter made a jumper with 1:46 to go. The next possession, Florida freshman Bradley Beal answered with a three pointer. Carter drew the Gators' attention and then kicked out to Myles Mack for three. He made it. Erving Walker responded with a jumper to trim the Rutgers lead to two. Rutgers' next possession ended in a shot clock violation, which gave the Gators the chance to tie the score once more. Walker tried to drive into the lane, but some tough Scarlet Knights defense caused him to take a tough jump shot that rattled off the rim.

That was it. Rutgers had pulled the improbable upset. Freshman Eli Carter finished with a season-high 31 points and demonstrated spectacular, clutch leadership. After the game Carter said, "My teammates had confidence in me. I took the big shot and made it."

Coach Rice had been trying to get his players to buy into his system and believe in it. Tonight, he got the signature, non-conference upset he needed to get his players, community, and fan base to believe in him. The Scarlet Knights might finally be ready to climb out of the Big East cellar.

Game highlights: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:7402231

Post-game interview of Coach Rice and Eli Carter: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:7402273

Holiday Tournaments Allow Inter-Conference Battles

Momentum? Sure. Conference standings? Negative. Extra Christmas pudding? Go for it.

But holiday hockey tournaments certainly don't appear to hold much weight at first glance. Or second glance for that matter. But one of the most overlooked parts of college hockey during the holidays is the chance for each conference to make a statement for itself.

Much like its older and larger brother, NCAA football, collegiate-level hockey teams often do not get the privilege of playing out-of-conference games until right around the beginning of the new year. When that happens, it gives the conferences a chance to make statements about the quality of teams it hosts. The more well-known conferences play to prove themselves the best; the smaller conferences play for recognition; meanwhile, the middle-of-the-road collaboration of teams goes out to prove it is top-notch and not to be ignored.

During this opening Thursday night, sixteen teams representing five conferences faced off for inter-conference battles on the hockey rink (the exception being UConn and Army, who faced each other as fellow members of the American Hockey Athletic conference).

Below, you will find the scores of all tonight's eight games, along with the conferences each team represents:

      Maine (Hockey East) :      6                 Clarkson (ECAC) : 1
      Michigan State (CCHA) :  3                 Michigan Tech (WCHA): 1
      Lake Superior (CCHA)  :  5                 Vermont (Hockey East) : 3
      R.I.T. (AHA) :   3                                 Ferris State (CCHA) : 0
      U-Mass Lowell (Hockey East) : 7         R.P.I. (ECAC) : 2
      UConn (AHA) : 2                                Army (AHA) : 0
      Michigan (CCHA) : 4                           Boston College (Hockey East) : 2
      St. Cloud State (WCHA) : 4                Western Michigan (CCHA) : 2


Now. Here are the records for each conference thus far in the holiday tournaments:

     American Hockey Athletics (AHA) :                      2-1
     Hockey East:                                                      2-2
     Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA):     3-2
     East Coast Athletic Conference (ECAC):                0-2
     Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA):   1-1


At this point, strictly by mathematics, it's very close between the CCHA and AHA conferences. Going by percentages, AHA would lead with 66.7% success at this point in the tournaments. The CCHA would come in second with 60%. However, it should be noted that the CCHA has more overall wins than the AHA (as well as two additional teams playing); and also, two AHA teams played each other, automatically giving the conference a win and loss.

Based on scores and performance by the teams, I'd say the CCHA and Hockey East look to be the best teams out there in the tournaments. As far as championship games go, the CCHA will have both Michigan and Michigan State play each other, guaranteeing a tournament win. Lake Superior will play R.I.T., which hails from the AHA, for the Catamount Cup in Vermont. For Hockey East, both Maine and U-Mass Lowell will be in championship games on Friday night.

Things should get interesting over the weekend, as conferences battle each other in tournament hockey. Which team will come out with the most tournament titles? Who knows.

Just pass the chips, ring-in the end of the world, and catch some holiday hockey.

Two Unbeatens Fall, While One Rises to the Occasion

Three previously unbeaten teams entered play tonight, only one survived to remain as one of the final four unbeatens left.

As many of the top Big East teams found out, conference play is just as much of a battleground as ever. Pittsburgh got upset, Syracuse rolled in an easy game, and UConn survived a scare, but all eyes were really on the nationally televised matchup featuring the unbeaten Louisville Cardinals playing host to the Georgetown Hoyas. Louisville came in the favorites riding a 20 game home win streak. The Cardinals built a lead early, but a young Georgetown squad refused to get rattled by a frenzied hometown crowd. The Hoyas' roster features 10 freshman and sophomores. They took the lead in the second half and built it to as much as 11 points at one point. Louisville tried to rally, but Georgetown stood firm in a gritty three point win. The Hoyas were led by sophomore Markel Starks, who scored 16 of his career-high 20 points in the second half, and freshman Otto Porter, who was clutch down the stretch. The Cardinals were led by senior Kyle Kuric, who made five three pointers, and junior Peyton Siva, who added 15 points, 6 assists, and 5 steals. Louisville will need to bounce back from their first loss quickly though, as they play their in-state rival Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday.

A resurrected Indiana program came into the night as the only unbeaten Big Ten team left. The Hoosiers had a tough task though as they had to survive a trip to the Izzone to face Michigan State. The Spartans came out strong (18 point first half lead at one point) with the hometown crowd roaring, but Indiana answered with a run of their own (a 25-2 run) building a considerable second half lead (up to 9 points). Ultimately, this was a game of runs, as Michigan State closed out this one in convincing fashion. Spartan sophomore Keith Appling scored a career high 25 points. Junior Christian Watford had 26 points and 10 rebounds for the Hoosiers. Indiana will need to bounce back quickly from their first loss as well, as they face Jared Sullinger and the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday.

Baylor and Mississippi State met at a neutral location matchup in what was supposed to be a matchup of two premier post players, the Bears' Perry Jones III and the Bulldogs' Arnett Moultrie. The two players' defensive efforts against each other helped to limit both players to eight points each. However, the real matchup to watch turned out to be between these very similarly talented teams. Baylor led by one at halftime, and the second half tuned out to be much the same, as neither team led by more than four points the rest of the way. As time ran down, the game was tied at 52. Baylor junior Pierre Jackson had made many notable mistakes during the course of the game, but he made up for it when we came around Quincy Acy's screen and finished his layup with 28 seconds left. That proved to be the difference as the Bears remained undefeated, despite getting all they could handle and then some from the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

UConn Freshman Drummond Turns Down Scolarship and Becomes a Walk-On

Has the potential number one overall pick in the NBA draft ever been a walk-on? Probably never. But it might happen with the way UConn freshman center Andre Drummond is starting to play.

Drummond was the number #2 ranked recruit in the class of 2011, but didn't decide to come to UConn until a few days before classes began in August. The problem was that the Huskies didn't have a scholarship to offer him due to how late of notice it was and the fact that they lost one scholarship because of NCAA violations and two more because of a poor academic performance rating.

When this was realized, redshirt freshman Michael Bradley offered to give up his scholarship, so that Drummond could get one. Bradley had overcome a rough childhood, some of which was spent in the Tennessee Baptist Children's Home. This meant that he could likely receive some financial aid from the university.

This decision made for much uproar from many observers. They felt that while it was legal for a player to do this, it was wrong for a player to "volunteer" his scholarship just so a better player could get it.

However, Andre Drummond decided he wasn't going to take it. "I'm thankful for what Mike was trying to do for me," Drummond said Tuesday. "I told Mike, 'Don't do that, man. I'll pay my way and take a scholarship next year. You don't have to give up a scholarship for me.' "It was my decision. That's not fair to him. He worked hard to get that scholarship. I'm not going to take something from somebody that's not mine. It was my decision to come late."

This is good news all around for UConn. The Huskies are showing signs of playing well as a team both on and off the court. They enter Big East play tomorrow night with a record of 10-1. On Monday, Drummond earned Big East Rookie of the Week honors for the first of what will likely be many times this year. Last year's national champions look loaded and ready for a run at back-to-back titles.

Out of Luck: Notre Dame's Irish Shocked with Winless Streak

The Leprechaun was enjoying himself.

Notre Dame took an eleven-game undefeated streak from October 21 thru November 25th, the longest active streak in the nation. During that period, the Irish outscored their opponents 34-21, with goaltender Mike Johnson allowing more than two goals/game only once (Johnson had a .5 GAA during that span). Despite some close games, Notre Dame seemed destined to win, even rising to the #2 team in the country.

But finally, Lake Superior State found the magic they needed, ending Notre Dame's streak with a 5-2 victory in Sault, Michigan. And while LSSU celebrated their victory, the Irish boarded the bus back to South Bend to await their weekend against a no-name Northeastern University squad, in preparation for the "real" test against #11 Ferris State.

Perhaps that's only speculation. But it helps explain the next four games.

Because ever since then, the Irish have struggled. They showed up at Compton Ice Arena with a chip on their shoulder from the loss at Lake Superior. But as fans across the country looked up at the jumbo-trons in their respective arenas on Friday night, they blinked twice and rubbed their eyes as the final score from South Bend flashed up on the screen. 9-2 Northeastern.

Same story the next night. Just a little closer. Not that it mattered.
Northeastern wins, 2-1.

It wasn't exactly the prep weekend the Irish were hoping for. The practice weekend for Notre Dame turned into them surrendering their first sweep of the season. Just in time for a Ferris State team the came out blitzing the Irish, shutting down an offense led by Anders Lee and TJ Tynan. The Bulldogs took the first game 4-1.

The winless streak was something quite unforeseen just two weeks ago for Coach Jackson's Irish. Notre Dame is not supposed to lose four straight games, at least in the eyes of Irish Nation.
But that Saturday, Notre Dame rebounded. The Irish came out Saturday night and split the series with Ferris State with a reflection of Friday's game: 4-1, this time for Notre Dame.

With that win, the Irish hope to be propelled into their three games over Christmas break with as much momentum as they can. It won't be an easy break either; games for Notre Dame include Boston University, the Minnesota Golden Gophers, and an exhibition against the Russian Red Stars.

The losing streak may be over, but Notre Dame's work to regain momentum is not. Fortunately, they are still listed near the top of the nation (currently #6), and are coming off a solid road win against Ferris State. A tough Christmas break will tell the country a lot about the future of this team's season.

The Leprechaun is on his knees now. But he's getting back up.