2019 Winter Classic: Bruins vs. Blackhawks (NBC)
Winter Classic history
■ This will be the fourth Winter Classic for the Blackhawks, and their sixth time playing outdoors. The Bruins will be playing in their third Winter Classic, and first as the road team.
■ The first Bruins appearance was in 2010, when they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-1, in overtime at Fenway Park. The second was in 2016, when they lost to the Montreal Canadiens, 5-1, at Gillette Stadium.
■ The Winter Classic dates to 2008, when the Pittsburgh Penguins edged the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1, at the home of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, which was then known as Ralph Wilson Stadium. The game also has been played at iconic venues such as Michigan Stadium, Yankee Stadium, and Wrigley Field. The Blackhawks have the most previous appearances with three, and have yet to win.
What the Bruins will be wearing
■ The Bruins will wear brown and gold jerseys that pay homage to the team’s 1930s-era uniform. Highlighting the throwback look, the jersey features the classic “B” logo.
Additional design details include a list of the years that the team has won the Stanley Cup (1929, 1939, 1941, 1970, 1972, 2011).
Each championship year has been set within a shamrock as a nod to Notre Dame Stadium and is emblazoned onto the interior neckline.
The Blackhawks’ crest features a combination of felt letters and chain stitching. To complete the theme, player names and numbers feature single-layer felt materials.
Design details include the years the Blackhawks have won the Stanley Cup (1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013, 2015) emblazoned onto the interior neckline, paired with the classic hashmarks of Notre Dame Stadium as a nod to the end zone pattern.
Overcast. Dry. Less than three hours to puckdrop. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dv1erY4U8AAVVRw.jpg
Here’s what it looks like in South Bend, approx. 2 1/2 hours before puck drop. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dv1e27-X0AA_Ds4.jpg
Dome in the distance. Pucks below. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dv1fKK6V4AAgk2k.jpg
■ The Bruins and Blackhawks’ Original Six legacies will be recognized in the field décor inside Notre Dame Stadium, with eight Boston and Chicago players showcased on individual shamrocks surrounding the NHL regulation rink. Ray Bourque, Johnny Bucyk, Tony Esposito, Bobby Hull and Denis Savard, as well as a representative for the family of Stan Mikita, will be in attendance for a special pregame ceremony.
■ When Boston and Chicago make their way into the stadium for the first time, they also will be greeted by several Fighting Irish football greats, including 1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown.
■ When the Blackhawks arrive at approximately 10 a.m., the team will be escorted into the stadium by the Pipes & Drums of the Chicago Police Department. Weather permitting, Chicago will uphold Notre Dame’s game day tradition of greeting fans outside the Hesburgh Library Mall on the Notre Dame campus. Blackhawks fans are welcome to greet the team upon arrival.
■ The Jacks, a Southern California four-piece rock ’n’ roll band, will entertain fans inside Notre Dame during the Blackhawks’ and Bruins’ pregame skates.
■ The pregame festivities will begin with the introduction of the two teams, set to the Notre Dame fight song performed by the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. The teams will be escorted by members of Notre Dame’s men’s hockey team as well as The Notre Dame Leprechaun mascot.
■ The national anthem then will be performed by the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. The pregame festivities will conclude with a flyover featuring four A-10 Thunderbolt II planes flown by Blacksnakes of the 163rd Fighter Squadron from the Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station.
■ Grammy Award-winning band Weezer will headline the entertainment, performing during the first intermission, a portion of which will be broadcast live on NBC. Judah & the Lion, a band out of Nashville, will entertain fans in attendance during the second intermission.
■ The game pucks will feature thermochromic coatings that change from purple to clear when a puck’s temperature is above freezing, providing a visual indication to officials that the puck should be replaced. The coated pucks will be tested at NHL events during the 2018-19 season and will be further evaluated for broader use in the future.
Two guys who left South Florida to go home and cover hockey. @pbpost https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dv1qpFAXQAUio0R.jpg
Two guys who left South Florida to go home and cover hockey. @pbpost https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dv1qpFAXQAUio0R.jpg
Just a toque for Cassidy today. Won’t borrow a Peaky Blinders hat from his players. “We’ll let them be the fashionistas.” https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dv1yRWGXcAEJcpG.jpg
12:25–Bruins and Hawks first time on ND ice. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dv151JpVsAAdp_l.jpg
Reports: hockey about to be played https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dv16VBkWwAArfeL.jpg