The San Jose Sharks will have the biggest contingent of players at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Eight Sharks will take the ice next month when the Games begin. San Jose has four members of Team Canada -- linemates Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau, as well as defenseman Dan Boyle -- In addition, goalies Thomas Griess (Germany) and Evgeni Nabokov (Russia), as well as center Douglas Murray of Sweden and Team USA forward Joe Pavelski are headed to Vancouver.
All 30 NHL teams will be represented at the Winter Games, with representation ranging from the Sharks' high of eight to one member of the New York Islanders -- Swiss defenseman Mark Streit.
The naming of defenseman Brian Rafalski to Team USA following Boston's 2-1 OT win over Philadelphia in the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Friday gave the Detroit Red Wings a total of seven players headed for Vancouver. Four of them are Swedes -- Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall, and Tomas Holmstrom. In addition, Valtteri Filppula was named to Finland's Olympic team, while Pavel Datsyuk will play for Team Russia.
The Vancouver Canucks have seven players on six teams -- led by the Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel, who will play for Sweden. Other Canucks who will be playing in their home arena include Team USA forward Ryan Kesler, German defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, Canadian goalie Roberto Luongo, Finnish defenseman Sami Salo and Slovak forward Pavol Demitra.
Anaheim also has seven players, including defenseman Scott Niedermayer and linemates Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf (Canada), Finland's Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu, Swiss goaltender Jonas Hiller and Team USA forward Bobby Ryan.
Montreal and Toronto were among five teams with six players. Montreal's Olympians include the Kostitsyn brothers, Andrei and Sergei, of Belarus, plus Slovak goaltender Jaroslav Halak, Czech center Tomas Plekanec and defenseman Andrei Markov of Russia and Yannick Weber of Switzerland. Toronto's selections include two Americans -- center Phil Kessel and defenseman Mike Komisarek -- as well as Czech defenseman Tomas Kaberle, forwards Niklas Hagman of Finland and Mikhail Grabovski of Belarus, as well as Swiss netminder Jonas Gustavsson.
Chicago and Columbus also had six players. The Hawks' contingent included the defense pair of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook who will play for Team Canada along with center Jonathan Toews. Other Hawks making the Olympics include U.S. forward Patrick Kane and Slovak forwards Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopecky. Columbus' Olympians include Canada's Rick Nash and Swedes Samuel Pahlsson and Fredrik Modin.
Martin Brodeur, the likely starter in goal for Team Canada, was among six New Jersey Devils chosen. The Devils also had three players chosen for Team USA, tying Los Angeles (Dustin Brown, Jonathan Quick and Jack Johnson) for the most of any club.
Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and goalie Semyon Varlamov of Russia were among five Washington Capitals to make the Games; Canada's Sidney Crosby and Russia's Evgeni were among the five Pittsburgh Penguins selected by their nations.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Burke finally gets his message across
The setting for the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic was not lost on 2010 U.S. Olympic Team General Manager Brian Burke as he stood in center field just before noon Friday at historic Fenway Park.
But Burke's attention was not on the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins as the puck drop on the third annual NHL Winter Classic approached. Instead, his focus was making sure he was able to be in personal contact with each of his management team's selections for the U.S. squad that will compete in Vancouver next month at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The process had begun a couple of hours earlier in the day and as the clock in right field prepared to strike 12 (noon), Burke had two issues -- a cell phone that was getting sporadic reception and two players that he and his management colleague, Nashville Predators' GM David Poile, still had not been able to reach.
"You getting reception?" Burke asked NHL PR official Gary Meagher.
"Yah, four bars," Meagher responded.
As Burke paced around the spot that Fred Lynn had patrolled in center field for the Red Sox from 1974 to 80, the communications issue was resolved and the final calls were made.
"Bobby?" Burke said. "On behalf of USA Hockey, we would be honored to have you wear the Stars and Stripes at the Olympics next month."
The recipient of the call, Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks, had the exact same reaction that each of the 21 players who had who received calls earlier in the day.
"They are absolutely thrilled and honored to represent their country in what will be an unbelievable hockey stage," said Burke.
Twenty-two calls down and one still to go. The last player who still had not been contacted, defenseman Mike Komisarek of Burke's Toronto Maple Leafs, finally was tracked down as Burke drifted into left center field, steps from the Green Monster.
The 30-second conversation with Komisarek went exactly the same as the others. "We are honored to have you represent your country in Vancouver," Burke said.
A process that began more than four months earlier at the U.S. Olympic orientation camp in Chicago was finally complete. The 13 forwards, seven defenseman and three goaltenders who will represent the U.S. at the Olympic Winter Games were ready to be announced on the ice at Fenway in the area between the pitcher's mound and second base.
But Burke's attention was not on the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins as the puck drop on the third annual NHL Winter Classic approached. Instead, his focus was making sure he was able to be in personal contact with each of his management team's selections for the U.S. squad that will compete in Vancouver next month at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The process had begun a couple of hours earlier in the day and as the clock in right field prepared to strike 12 (noon), Burke had two issues -- a cell phone that was getting sporadic reception and two players that he and his management colleague, Nashville Predators' GM David Poile, still had not been able to reach.
"You getting reception?" Burke asked NHL PR official Gary Meagher.
"Yah, four bars," Meagher responded.
As Burke paced around the spot that Fred Lynn had patrolled in center field for the Red Sox from 1974 to 80, the communications issue was resolved and the final calls were made.
"Bobby?" Burke said. "On behalf of USA Hockey, we would be honored to have you wear the Stars and Stripes at the Olympics next month."
The recipient of the call, Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks, had the exact same reaction that each of the 21 players who had who received calls earlier in the day.
"They are absolutely thrilled and honored to represent their country in what will be an unbelievable hockey stage," said Burke.
Twenty-two calls down and one still to go. The last player who still had not been contacted, defenseman Mike Komisarek of Burke's Toronto Maple Leafs, finally was tracked down as Burke drifted into left center field, steps from the Green Monster.
The 30-second conversation with Komisarek went exactly the same as the others. "We are honored to have you represent your country in Vancouver," Burke said.
A process that began more than four months earlier at the U.S. Olympic orientation camp in Chicago was finally complete. The 13 forwards, seven defenseman and three goaltenders who will represent the U.S. at the Olympic Winter Games were ready to be announced on the ice at Fenway in the area between the pitcher's mound and second base.
NBC brought out its best for Classic telecast
NBC brought out its "A" team and its "A" game for hockey's premiere regular-season event, the 2010 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic.
In the prelude to Friday's game, host Bob Costas did a superb job weaving together the mystique of Fenway Park with the aura that surrounds the NHL's annual outdoor game, combining with Mike Milbury and Darren Pang to set the stage for play-by-play man Mike Emrick and analyst Ed Olczyk.
Costas narrated brief features on Fenway and the Red Sox, as well as the background of outdoor hockey in Boston -- including quick snippets with Philadelphia coach Peter Laviolette, a Boston-area native who noted that he grew up skating on the Charles River and had just taken his children to do so for the first time.
The pre-game show also went into some background on the Flyers-Bruins rivalry, dating to Philadelphia's win over Boston in the 1974 Stanley Cup Final, and featured interviews with the honorary captains -- Bobby Clarke of the Flyers and Bobby Orr of the Bruins. Seeing the two old rivals embrace at center ice, the battles of yesteryear now just warm memories, was a treat in itself.
So was the playing and singing of the U.S. National Anthem by New England native James Taylor, who accompanied himself on an acoustic guitar -- followed by a flyover by a B-2 bomber.
Then it was time for hockey -- and calling a game is a job few do better than Emrick, who not only describes the action in a manner that appeals to both hard-core hockey fans and those who might be watching hockey for the first time, but also does an excellent job giving his analysts space to work. Pang, working from ice level, noted early on that because of the lack of wind, there was no plan to have the teams switch ends midway through the third period as was done last year in Chicago. The camera also cut to Pang wearing football-style eye black strips as he recounted a conversation in which Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton said he was wearing the strips because he was having trouble tracking the puck.
In fact, with few scoring chances, much of the first period was a three-way discussion among Emrick, Olczyk and Pang on the condition of the ice ("pristine," according to Pang), some funny bounces (Emrick noted that the boards were the same ones used in 1997, when the NHL played games in Japan) and the goaltender's differing perspective in playing outdoors. One of Emrick's gifts is that he is able to keep such conversations going without detracting from the play-by-play.
Pang also brought a new touch to the usual between-periods player interview, talking to Philadelphia's Dan Carcillo about his first-period scrap with Boston's Scott Thornton (the first ever in an NHL outdoor game) as the two skated off the ice following the opening 20 minutes. He did the same with Boston's 6-foot-9 defenseman Zdeno Chara after the second period -- setting up one of the great height disparities in broadcast history.
Between the first two periods, NBC offered an interesting feature with no right answer: Which is the better sports city -- Boston or Philadelphia? Costas also talked with former Red Sox and Phillies pitcher Curt Schilling (wearing a Bruins jersey). Schilling wouldn't cast a vote either way, but noted that the cities "share a common bond -- their intense dislike of New York" and that the fans in both cities "eat, sleep and breathe their teams."
In discussing the first-period stats, which showed plenty of hits (27) but no goals and only 15 combined shots, Emrick noted accurately that, "when hits outnumber shots, it's Bruins-Flyers hockey."
When the Flyers opened the scoring on Danny Syvret's first NHL goal at 4:42, Olczyk and Pang jumped right on the fact that Boston goaltender Tim Thomas' move to push Philadelphia forward Scott Hartnell out of the way wound up costing him. "Clearly, Tim Thomas wasn't focused on the puck," noted Pang, a former goaltender. In viewing the replay, which showed Thomas eschewing the puck to take a whack at Hartnell, Olczyk said Thomas "tried to get even. That's not the time."
Between the second and third periods, NBC offered a feature honoring the 30th anniversary of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice," with Al Michaels (who made the famous "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" call) talking with Mike Eruzione and Jim Craig, followed by a live interview with Boston natives Craig, Jack O'Callahan and Dave Silk. "I think we had a lot better team than people thought," Craig said. When asked by Costas how many times Team USA could have beaten the 1980 Soviet squad in a 20-game series, Silk replied, "I don't think we could beat them at all. Luckily we didn't have to."
NBC's camera work, excellent all day, was sharp early in the third period when Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton misplayed an 80-foot shot by Marco Sturm, only to get a break when the puck trickled through his pads and pinged the post to his left. Fans got a good view on a couple of quick replays that didn't disrupt the flow of the telecast but combined with Pang's sharp-eyed analysis to show how lucky Leighton was.
Emrick was at his best in the final minutes as the Bruins scrambled for the tying goal. When they got it with 2:18 remaining, Emrick was quick to tell viewers "Recchi on a tip, and it's 1-1," after which Olczyk quickly and accurately broke down the play, showing Mark Recchi get a piece of Derek Morris' power-play shot to tie the game.
Emrick punctuated the game with his trademark "Score!" call when Marco Sturm's tip-in 1:57 into overtime won the game -- then went silent and let the crowd tell the story. After the noise subsided, Olczyk again quickly broke down the play that ended with Sturm tipping Patrice Bergeron's pass behind Leighton.
"I'm still shaking here," Sturm told Pang in a quick on-ice interview. "I hope I have a chance to do it again. Overall was a great experience."
That just about sums up the day for hockey fans, too.
In the prelude to Friday's game, host Bob Costas did a superb job weaving together the mystique of Fenway Park with the aura that surrounds the NHL's annual outdoor game, combining with Mike Milbury and Darren Pang to set the stage for play-by-play man Mike Emrick and analyst Ed Olczyk.
Costas narrated brief features on Fenway and the Red Sox, as well as the background of outdoor hockey in Boston -- including quick snippets with Philadelphia coach Peter Laviolette, a Boston-area native who noted that he grew up skating on the Charles River and had just taken his children to do so for the first time.
The pre-game show also went into some background on the Flyers-Bruins rivalry, dating to Philadelphia's win over Boston in the 1974 Stanley Cup Final, and featured interviews with the honorary captains -- Bobby Clarke of the Flyers and Bobby Orr of the Bruins. Seeing the two old rivals embrace at center ice, the battles of yesteryear now just warm memories, was a treat in itself.
So was the playing and singing of the U.S. National Anthem by New England native James Taylor, who accompanied himself on an acoustic guitar -- followed by a flyover by a B-2 bomber.
Then it was time for hockey -- and calling a game is a job few do better than Emrick, who not only describes the action in a manner that appeals to both hard-core hockey fans and those who might be watching hockey for the first time, but also does an excellent job giving his analysts space to work. Pang, working from ice level, noted early on that because of the lack of wind, there was no plan to have the teams switch ends midway through the third period as was done last year in Chicago. The camera also cut to Pang wearing football-style eye black strips as he recounted a conversation in which Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton said he was wearing the strips because he was having trouble tracking the puck.
In fact, with few scoring chances, much of the first period was a three-way discussion among Emrick, Olczyk and Pang on the condition of the ice ("pristine," according to Pang), some funny bounces (Emrick noted that the boards were the same ones used in 1997, when the NHL played games in Japan) and the goaltender's differing perspective in playing outdoors. One of Emrick's gifts is that he is able to keep such conversations going without detracting from the play-by-play.
Pang also brought a new touch to the usual between-periods player interview, talking to Philadelphia's Dan Carcillo about his first-period scrap with Boston's Scott Thornton (the first ever in an NHL outdoor game) as the two skated off the ice following the opening 20 minutes. He did the same with Boston's 6-foot-9 defenseman Zdeno Chara after the second period -- setting up one of the great height disparities in broadcast history.
Between the first two periods, NBC offered an interesting feature with no right answer: Which is the better sports city -- Boston or Philadelphia? Costas also talked with former Red Sox and Phillies pitcher Curt Schilling (wearing a Bruins jersey). Schilling wouldn't cast a vote either way, but noted that the cities "share a common bond -- their intense dislike of New York" and that the fans in both cities "eat, sleep and breathe their teams."
In discussing the first-period stats, which showed plenty of hits (27) but no goals and only 15 combined shots, Emrick noted accurately that, "when hits outnumber shots, it's Bruins-Flyers hockey."
When the Flyers opened the scoring on Danny Syvret's first NHL goal at 4:42, Olczyk and Pang jumped right on the fact that Boston goaltender Tim Thomas' move to push Philadelphia forward Scott Hartnell out of the way wound up costing him. "Clearly, Tim Thomas wasn't focused on the puck," noted Pang, a former goaltender. In viewing the replay, which showed Thomas eschewing the puck to take a whack at Hartnell, Olczyk said Thomas "tried to get even. That's not the time."
Between the second and third periods, NBC offered a feature honoring the 30th anniversary of the 1980 "Miracle on Ice," with Al Michaels (who made the famous "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" call) talking with Mike Eruzione and Jim Craig, followed by a live interview with Boston natives Craig, Jack O'Callahan and Dave Silk. "I think we had a lot better team than people thought," Craig said. When asked by Costas how many times Team USA could have beaten the 1980 Soviet squad in a 20-game series, Silk replied, "I don't think we could beat them at all. Luckily we didn't have to."
NBC's camera work, excellent all day, was sharp early in the third period when Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton misplayed an 80-foot shot by Marco Sturm, only to get a break when the puck trickled through his pads and pinged the post to his left. Fans got a good view on a couple of quick replays that didn't disrupt the flow of the telecast but combined with Pang's sharp-eyed analysis to show how lucky Leighton was.
Emrick was at his best in the final minutes as the Bruins scrambled for the tying goal. When they got it with 2:18 remaining, Emrick was quick to tell viewers "Recchi on a tip, and it's 1-1," after which Olczyk quickly and accurately broke down the play, showing Mark Recchi get a piece of Derek Morris' power-play shot to tie the game.
Emrick punctuated the game with his trademark "Score!" call when Marco Sturm's tip-in 1:57 into overtime won the game -- then went silent and let the crowd tell the story. After the noise subsided, Olczyk again quickly broke down the play that ended with Sturm tipping Patrice Bergeron's pass behind Leighton.
"I'm still shaking here," Sturm told Pang in a quick on-ice interview. "I hope I have a chance to do it again. Overall was a great experience."
That just about sums up the day for hockey fans, too.
Bruins walk off Fenway field a Classic winner
BOSTON -- The 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic turned out to be the equivalent of a walk-off grand slam over the Green Monster at famed Fenway Park.
Marco Sturm's goal at the 1:57 mark of overtime capped a furious rally by the Boston Bruins, who defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-1, on New Year's Day in the most memorable of the three editions of the Winter Classic.
"I've been here during baseball games when someone hits it over the Monster," Bruin Shawn Thornton said as he lounged in the locker of David "Big Papi" Ortiz, who holds the record for home runs in Fenway in a season. "It was like that."
Sturm's goal, on a sweet setup by Patrice Bergeron, set off a wild celebration among the 38,112 that packed the grand old ballpark to its seams for a New Year's Day afternoon few will soon forget.
"I'm sure this will stay with us for the rest of our lives," Boston captain Zdeno Chara said.
Chara started the winning-goal sequence, getting the puck to Bergeron, who found Sturm for a shot that beat Flyer goalie Michael Leighton to the left side and set off a celebration that continued well after the players had left the ice.
"That's, I think, what I probably dreamed of this morning," Sturm said. "I think every player (wants) to score in overtime -- especially in a game like this."
For Chara, it is that split-second moment when the red light above Leighton's head flashed through the gloaming is the picture that will remain etched in his mind.
"To have Sturmy jump around, all of us jumping around," Chara told NHL.com. "That's the best you can ask for. To see everybody hugging each other, it was almost like we won a (Stanley) Cup."
Hockey's biggest prize wasn't on offer on New Year's Day at Fenway Park, but the eyes of the sporting world -- not just the hockey world -- were on downtown Boston on this day.
Neither the Bruins, nor the Flyers frittered away the opportunity, seizing the day in much the same way their predecessors did in the first two Winter Classics. Pittsburgh won the inaugural Classic over Buffalo in a shootout and Detroit marched into Chicago's Wrigley Field and beat the host Blackhawks. Boston is the first home team to win a Classic game.
While the Flyers were angry to be on the losing end -- a result that ended a promising four-game winning streak that had bolstered the team's confidence after a sluggish start to the season -- they still had to acknowledge the special quality of the event.
"The experience is once-in-a-lifetime," said Flyer coach Peter Laviolette, who is a Boston-area boy himself. "It's not just being a cliché. Fenway Park. Bruins. Flyers. Forty-thousand people on a perfect day. You couldn't ask for anything better for the game of hockey.
"It was just unbelievable to be a part of it; for our organization, for our players, for the fans. It was a great day of hockey."
Amazingly it was a pair of little-known Flyers who owned Fenway Park for the first 57 minutes of the game.
Spare defenseman Danny Syvret gave Philadelphia the lead 4:42 into the second period when his point shot found its way past Boston goalie Tim Thomas, who was out of position after leaving his crease to cross-check Scott Hartnell in retaliation for a collision between the two earlier in the goal-scoring sequence.
It was the first NHL goal of Syvret's career.
Then Leighton -- claimed off waivers as insurance for injured starter Ray Emery -- allowed the lead to stand up for the next 33 minutes, running his own shutout streak to 154:07.
Recchi, though, put paid to both Leighton's glory and Philadelphia's dreams of escaping with a 1-0 victory when he parked himself at the top of the crease during a power play and re-directed a centering pass from Derek Morris with 2:08 left in the game.
"I was in my spot and was fortunate to bank it in," Recchi said. "It was pretty awesome, I'll tell you that. It was a pretty cool experience, I'll tell you that. It's definitely something you'll never forget."
Recchi's goal allowed the frustrated home half of the sold-out crowd to finally celebrate in the boisterous way that Red Sox fans have made famous. It was that explosion of emotion and noise that pushed Boston forward to get the game-winner in the extra session.
"You're feeding off those people," Chara said. "They all got up, they all danced, they all cheered. That energy in Fenway was unbelievable. We all felt the chills on our back and we said, 'Oh my God, let's get another one!' "
Sturm delivered on that challenge, occupying a place in Fenway lore not too far removed from retired Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, who hit the most famous home run this stadium has ever produced.
It was the perfect ending to a perfect day at one of baseball's most famous stadiums.
"You can talk about this forever," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "It's a great story and it's a lot easier to say it's a lot of fun because we won."
Marco Sturm's goal at the 1:57 mark of overtime capped a furious rally by the Boston Bruins, who defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-1, on New Year's Day in the most memorable of the three editions of the Winter Classic.
"I've been here during baseball games when someone hits it over the Monster," Bruin Shawn Thornton said as he lounged in the locker of David "Big Papi" Ortiz, who holds the record for home runs in Fenway in a season. "It was like that."
Sturm's goal, on a sweet setup by Patrice Bergeron, set off a wild celebration among the 38,112 that packed the grand old ballpark to its seams for a New Year's Day afternoon few will soon forget.
"I'm sure this will stay with us for the rest of our lives," Boston captain Zdeno Chara said.
Chara started the winning-goal sequence, getting the puck to Bergeron, who found Sturm for a shot that beat Flyer goalie Michael Leighton to the left side and set off a celebration that continued well after the players had left the ice.
"That's, I think, what I probably dreamed of this morning," Sturm said. "I think every player (wants) to score in overtime -- especially in a game like this."
For Chara, it is that split-second moment when the red light above Leighton's head flashed through the gloaming is the picture that will remain etched in his mind.
"To have Sturmy jump around, all of us jumping around," Chara told NHL.com. "That's the best you can ask for. To see everybody hugging each other, it was almost like we won a (Stanley) Cup."
Hockey's biggest prize wasn't on offer on New Year's Day at Fenway Park, but the eyes of the sporting world -- not just the hockey world -- were on downtown Boston on this day.
Neither the Bruins, nor the Flyers frittered away the opportunity, seizing the day in much the same way their predecessors did in the first two Winter Classics. Pittsburgh won the inaugural Classic over Buffalo in a shootout and Detroit marched into Chicago's Wrigley Field and beat the host Blackhawks. Boston is the first home team to win a Classic game.
While the Flyers were angry to be on the losing end -- a result that ended a promising four-game winning streak that had bolstered the team's confidence after a sluggish start to the season -- they still had to acknowledge the special quality of the event.
"The experience is once-in-a-lifetime," said Flyer coach Peter Laviolette, who is a Boston-area boy himself. "It's not just being a cliché. Fenway Park. Bruins. Flyers. Forty-thousand people on a perfect day. You couldn't ask for anything better for the game of hockey.
"It was just unbelievable to be a part of it; for our organization, for our players, for the fans. It was a great day of hockey."
Amazingly it was a pair of little-known Flyers who owned Fenway Park for the first 57 minutes of the game.
Spare defenseman Danny Syvret gave Philadelphia the lead 4:42 into the second period when his point shot found its way past Boston goalie Tim Thomas, who was out of position after leaving his crease to cross-check Scott Hartnell in retaliation for a collision between the two earlier in the goal-scoring sequence.
It was the first NHL goal of Syvret's career.
Then Leighton -- claimed off waivers as insurance for injured starter Ray Emery -- allowed the lead to stand up for the next 33 minutes, running his own shutout streak to 154:07.
Recchi, though, put paid to both Leighton's glory and Philadelphia's dreams of escaping with a 1-0 victory when he parked himself at the top of the crease during a power play and re-directed a centering pass from Derek Morris with 2:08 left in the game.
"I was in my spot and was fortunate to bank it in," Recchi said. "It was pretty awesome, I'll tell you that. It was a pretty cool experience, I'll tell you that. It's definitely something you'll never forget."
Recchi's goal allowed the frustrated home half of the sold-out crowd to finally celebrate in the boisterous way that Red Sox fans have made famous. It was that explosion of emotion and noise that pushed Boston forward to get the game-winner in the extra session.
"You're feeding off those people," Chara said. "They all got up, they all danced, they all cheered. That energy in Fenway was unbelievable. We all felt the chills on our back and we said, 'Oh my God, let's get another one!' "
Sturm delivered on that challenge, occupying a place in Fenway lore not too far removed from retired Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, who hit the most famous home run this stadium has ever produced.
It was the perfect ending to a perfect day at one of baseball's most famous stadiums.
"You can talk about this forever," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "It's a great story and it's a lot easier to say it's a lot of fun because we won."
Bettman: Practice makes perfect
BOSTON -- The NHL learned plenty the previous two seasons when it successfully pulled off back-to-back Winter Classic success stories with games in Buffalo and Chicago.
According to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, those lessons learned certainly paid dividends to producing an even greater product for the hockey world at famed Fenway Park on New Year's Day this time around.
"Based on what we are going to see (Friday), we learned a lot over those two Winter Classics and it will reflect in the quality of the ice and game presentation and everything we have done building up to it," Bettman said. "This has become a hallmark event for us. It is a cornerstone of the strategy we began over three years ago to build scale and connect with our fans in ways we haven't done before, using all of the platforms available to us."
Bettman also confirmed that the League is currently in the process of choosing the venue for the 2011 Classic.
"Obviously, we have to be in a place where we think the weather will be okay," Bettman said. "We actually have people studying the last four years of weather in a variety of markets and coming up with a statistical model as to what the likelihood is of a temperature being at a certain level and precipitation being rain or snow."
Bettman was glad to see the positive player reaction during Thursday's practice session, during which a light snowfall added to the festive mood. Despite the fact the snow forced players to pay attention to detail while stick-handling across a half-inch of the white stuff, they enjoyed the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"The player reaction (on Thursday) was great," Bettman said. "We didn't choreograph the snow fall as they were taking the ice, that just happened. But that's part of what makes this event so much fun.
"In terms of the economic impact in a local community, it's been great for the Bruins in terms of interest and fan support during the season," he continued. "I think I heard (on Thursday) that the head of the Chamber of Commerce in Boston pegged the economic impact somewhere around $36 million. This is a big event and we are proud that it's developed this quickly into this big a deal."
According to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, those lessons learned certainly paid dividends to producing an even greater product for the hockey world at famed Fenway Park on New Year's Day this time around.
"Based on what we are going to see (Friday), we learned a lot over those two Winter Classics and it will reflect in the quality of the ice and game presentation and everything we have done building up to it," Bettman said. "This has become a hallmark event for us. It is a cornerstone of the strategy we began over three years ago to build scale and connect with our fans in ways we haven't done before, using all of the platforms available to us."
Bettman also confirmed that the League is currently in the process of choosing the venue for the 2011 Classic.
"Obviously, we have to be in a place where we think the weather will be okay," Bettman said. "We actually have people studying the last four years of weather in a variety of markets and coming up with a statistical model as to what the likelihood is of a temperature being at a certain level and precipitation being rain or snow."
Bettman was glad to see the positive player reaction during Thursday's practice session, during which a light snowfall added to the festive mood. Despite the fact the snow forced players to pay attention to detail while stick-handling across a half-inch of the white stuff, they enjoyed the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"The player reaction (on Thursday) was great," Bettman said. "We didn't choreograph the snow fall as they were taking the ice, that just happened. But that's part of what makes this event so much fun.
"In terms of the economic impact in a local community, it's been great for the Bruins in terms of interest and fan support during the season," he continued. "I think I heard (on Thursday) that the head of the Chamber of Commerce in Boston pegged the economic impact somewhere around $36 million. This is a big event and we are proud that it's developed this quickly into this big a deal."
Pre-game ceremonies set the tone at Fenway
BOSTON -- Once again, the opening ceremonies for the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic proved well worth the price of admission.
Well before the opening faceoff for the 2010 outdoor classic, fans were given a pregame treat as the NHL unleashed yet another entertainment bonanza that had the place rocking as players from both the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers prepared for their 168th meeting.
With the temperature at a balmy 39.1 degrees, festivities began just outside the rink and on home plate when Boston's longest-serving mayor Thomas M. Menino, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman issued a proclamation that declared Jan. 1, 2010 as Winter Classic Day in the City of Boston.
After honoring numerous local organizations for their civic service to the City of Boston, including area members of five branches of the U.S. military, Boston's own Celtic punkers, the Dropkick Murphys, performed their signature song, "I'm Shipping Up to Boston," to the delight of the raucous capacity crowd. The band, incidentally, will go on tour Jan. 20 and will make a stop at Boston's House of Blues.
Fenway actually holds the Major League Baseball record for consecutive regular-season sellouts (550) through Oct. 4, 2009. Well, historians might as well make it 551 straight as major league's smallest and oldest venue never looked and sounded so good in the wintertime on New Year's Day.
The Bostonians offered one of their loudest ovations when Hockey Hall of Famers Bobby Orr and Bobby Clarke met at center ice for the ceremonial opening puck drop. The two shook hands and then each skated off as players from the Flyers and Bruins entered the surface. They returned to the center ice circle when U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Ryan R. LaFrance was ready to drop the puck between the two old combatants.
Orr won two Stanley Cups with the Bruins -- in 1970 and '72 -- and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP both seasons. His team was defeated in the 1974 Stanley Cup Final by Clarke's Flyers in six games.
The fans roared with approval and, quite honestly, disbelief at what was transpiring right before them. But it was only the beginning.
Singer-songwriter James Taylor performed the U.S. National Anthem and singer Daniel Powter performed the Canadian anthem -- both singers were joined by members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
"It was the first time I've been asked to sing the Canadian (anthem)," Powter said. "But for something like this, I'd have to be a village idiot to turn it down. I'm just really honored and happy to be involved, especially with the NHL because I'm a huge hockey fan."
Said Taylor -- "I never would have foreseen this, ever, in a million years, that I would be singing the Star Spangled Banner in Fenway in the snow (during his soundcheck Friday morning). It's made me think about the anthem a little bit. I've studied on it a little bit and it's really a great national anthem."
As the vocalists belted out their hymns, a United States Air Force B-2 Spirit flown by the 509th Bomb Wing of Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and the 131st Bomb Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard soared overhead. It was certainly a sight to behold as the cameras flickered amidst the fantastic backdrop of the 37-foot high, 231-foot long Green Monster.
Fireworks emanated from atop the stands behind home plate as players prepared for the opening face-off.
Let the game begin.
Well before the opening faceoff for the 2010 outdoor classic, fans were given a pregame treat as the NHL unleashed yet another entertainment bonanza that had the place rocking as players from both the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers prepared for their 168th meeting.
With the temperature at a balmy 39.1 degrees, festivities began just outside the rink and on home plate when Boston's longest-serving mayor Thomas M. Menino, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman issued a proclamation that declared Jan. 1, 2010 as Winter Classic Day in the City of Boston.
After honoring numerous local organizations for their civic service to the City of Boston, including area members of five branches of the U.S. military, Boston's own Celtic punkers, the Dropkick Murphys, performed their signature song, "I'm Shipping Up to Boston," to the delight of the raucous capacity crowd. The band, incidentally, will go on tour Jan. 20 and will make a stop at Boston's House of Blues.
Fenway actually holds the Major League Baseball record for consecutive regular-season sellouts (550) through Oct. 4, 2009. Well, historians might as well make it 551 straight as major league's smallest and oldest venue never looked and sounded so good in the wintertime on New Year's Day.
The Bostonians offered one of their loudest ovations when Hockey Hall of Famers Bobby Orr and Bobby Clarke met at center ice for the ceremonial opening puck drop. The two shook hands and then each skated off as players from the Flyers and Bruins entered the surface. They returned to the center ice circle when U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Ryan R. LaFrance was ready to drop the puck between the two old combatants.
Orr won two Stanley Cups with the Bruins -- in 1970 and '72 -- and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP both seasons. His team was defeated in the 1974 Stanley Cup Final by Clarke's Flyers in six games.
The fans roared with approval and, quite honestly, disbelief at what was transpiring right before them. But it was only the beginning.
Singer-songwriter James Taylor performed the U.S. National Anthem and singer Daniel Powter performed the Canadian anthem -- both singers were joined by members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
"It was the first time I've been asked to sing the Canadian (anthem)," Powter said. "But for something like this, I'd have to be a village idiot to turn it down. I'm just really honored and happy to be involved, especially with the NHL because I'm a huge hockey fan."
Said Taylor -- "I never would have foreseen this, ever, in a million years, that I would be singing the Star Spangled Banner in Fenway in the snow (during his soundcheck Friday morning). It's made me think about the anthem a little bit. I've studied on it a little bit and it's really a great national anthem."
As the vocalists belted out their hymns, a United States Air Force B-2 Spirit flown by the 509th Bomb Wing of Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri and the 131st Bomb Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard soared overhead. It was certainly a sight to behold as the cameras flickered amidst the fantastic backdrop of the 37-foot high, 231-foot long Green Monster.
Fireworks emanated from atop the stands behind home plate as players prepared for the opening face-off.
Let the game begin.
Unforgettable day for Fenway kids
BOSTON -- With smiles as wide as the outfield and feet that fly, dozens of youth-hockey players skated on a center field rink at Fenway Park Friday before and during the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins.
The young boys and girls belong to four organizations, including the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation of Philadelphia; SCORE Boston; the Boston Red Sox and Bruins FUNdamentals.
Defenseman Tracy Robinson, 10, from Philadelphia has been playing hockey for four years. His excitement was obvious.
"I think it's really great that we can get to play at Fenway Park and get to meet the players," Robinson said. "I'm having a great time."
ESYHF works closely with the Philadelphia Department of Recreation and the School District of Philadelphia. Less than one year ago, ESYHF came to the rescue of the City's public ice rinks by forging an agreement to fund, staff, and manage the five public ice rinks, three of which had been slated for closure due to budget restrictions.
Founded in 2005, the mission of the foundation is to use hockey to help educate young people on how to succeed in the game of life. ESYHF has grown to annually serve more than 2,500 children at 10 sites throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region, keeping its youngsters fully immersed in programs that uniquely blend healthy recreational activities with much-needed academic assistance and character building lessons that enable them to succeed both on the ice and in the classroom.
Robinson was joined by teammates Jasmine Martinez, Solomon Johnson, Grey Rumain and the twins, Solomon and Sammy Johnson. The team was coached by Jim Britt and Jan Koziara.
Sammy was busy in net as the players from SCORE Boston swarmed around him.
"I think it's great being here and having fun," he said.
"I love to make goals and it's fun to play after school. We play at the Simons rink in Philadelphia."
Superintendent Bruce Holloway, Boston's chief of detectives, started the Boston Urban Hockey Association SCORE Boston in 1995. The program provides inner-city youth with the opportunity to participate in the sport of hockey. The objectives of SCORE Boston are to use hockey programs as a platform to foster an environment for youth in which they can learn life skills that reflect the core values of the program: sportsmanship, character, opportunity, respect and education.
The not-for-profit organization is geared for girls and boys between the ages of 5-17 and is staffed by a highly motivated team of committed volunteers and coordinators with a vast array of hockey and educational experience. The program consists of on and off-ice instruction. The on-ice instruction teaches the basic and necessary skills associated with ice-skating and hockey.
Each weekly session ends with a scrimmage game where the players utilize their skills. Adolescent participants have leadership opportunities on the ice and in the classroom in SCORE's Jr. Coaches program.
Holloway said he gets more than he's given when former players approach him and tell him about their jobs and families. Holloway and his assistants have put in a lot of work over the years and this opportunity to skate during the Winter Classic is a highlight for the program.
"Imagine the memories they're going to have in 20 years," Holloway said. "They can tell their kids and grandkids they played hockey at Fenway Park."
"When my mom and dad told me I'd be playing at Fenway Park, I was really excited," said Kevin Swan, who has been playing at the Milton, Mass., rink for four years.
His teammates, Andrew Ervin, a fan of David "Big Papi" Ortiz, and Emma Tobin, who divides her loyalties between Zdeno Chara and Jonathan Papelbon, looked around at the nearly 40,000 fans in the broad expanse at the ballpark and said, "It's awesome. I could have never imagined this."
Swan was also joined by SCORE Boston teammates Ezekiel Santiago and Talia Bode Ward.
The Bruins FUNdamentals program was initiated by FMC Ice Sports and the Boston Bruins as a way to introduce new skaters to the sport and help them prepare for entry into youth-hockey programs. The program's goal is to teach the fundamentals of ice hockey through various drills, personalized instruction and game simulation, while ensuring that each and every skater is having as much fun as possible.
The Bruins FUNdamentals program operates at 25 rinks in Massachusetts, said Manager Lori DiGiacomo, who was joined by Tom Songin, a former Boston Bruins player.
Coaches Pat Kelleher, Paul Nahigian and Kevin Kavanagh brought a group that included Ty Lema, Nicholas Forbes, Ryan Affonso, Jacob Sanville, Hannah Marmor, Conor Belcher, Gavin Lessard, Ryan Skoczylas, T.J. McHugh, Aidan Walker, Nicholas Patterson, Jake Kelleher, Elsie Buckley, Marshall Meyer and Daniel Leger.
Red Sox Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Sam Kennedy has played a dual role in the preparations for the Winter Classic, as a team executive and coach of the Red Sox team. He was assisted by Tim Kelleher, one of the Boston College goalies, along with Scott Clemmensen, when they won the 2000 NCAA championship.
"We've watched with amazement the work the NHL has done in transforming this building," Kennedy said. "The Winter Classic is a wonderful idea."
Jimmy Kennedy is only 6 1/2 years old but he seemed to have a clear idea of the importance of this opportunity to skate on a rink in centerfield at Fenway Park.
"My dad told me I was going to skate on the little rink at the Winter Classic. I've been playing for three years and I'm on the Hartford Whalers team this year."
Kennedy was joined by teammates Jack Carroll, Brendan Monahan, and brothers Jack and Max Goodman.
The young boys and girls belong to four organizations, including the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation of Philadelphia; SCORE Boston; the Boston Red Sox and Bruins FUNdamentals.
Defenseman Tracy Robinson, 10, from Philadelphia has been playing hockey for four years. His excitement was obvious.
"I think it's really great that we can get to play at Fenway Park and get to meet the players," Robinson said. "I'm having a great time."
ESYHF works closely with the Philadelphia Department of Recreation and the School District of Philadelphia. Less than one year ago, ESYHF came to the rescue of the City's public ice rinks by forging an agreement to fund, staff, and manage the five public ice rinks, three of which had been slated for closure due to budget restrictions.
Founded in 2005, the mission of the foundation is to use hockey to help educate young people on how to succeed in the game of life. ESYHF has grown to annually serve more than 2,500 children at 10 sites throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region, keeping its youngsters fully immersed in programs that uniquely blend healthy recreational activities with much-needed academic assistance and character building lessons that enable them to succeed both on the ice and in the classroom.
Robinson was joined by teammates Jasmine Martinez, Solomon Johnson, Grey Rumain and the twins, Solomon and Sammy Johnson. The team was coached by Jim Britt and Jan Koziara.
Sammy was busy in net as the players from SCORE Boston swarmed around him.
"I think it's great being here and having fun," he said.
"I love to make goals and it's fun to play after school. We play at the Simons rink in Philadelphia."
Superintendent Bruce Holloway, Boston's chief of detectives, started the Boston Urban Hockey Association SCORE Boston in 1995. The program provides inner-city youth with the opportunity to participate in the sport of hockey. The objectives of SCORE Boston are to use hockey programs as a platform to foster an environment for youth in which they can learn life skills that reflect the core values of the program: sportsmanship, character, opportunity, respect and education.
The not-for-profit organization is geared for girls and boys between the ages of 5-17 and is staffed by a highly motivated team of committed volunteers and coordinators with a vast array of hockey and educational experience. The program consists of on and off-ice instruction. The on-ice instruction teaches the basic and necessary skills associated with ice-skating and hockey.
Each weekly session ends with a scrimmage game where the players utilize their skills. Adolescent participants have leadership opportunities on the ice and in the classroom in SCORE's Jr. Coaches program.
Holloway said he gets more than he's given when former players approach him and tell him about their jobs and families. Holloway and his assistants have put in a lot of work over the years and this opportunity to skate during the Winter Classic is a highlight for the program.
"Imagine the memories they're going to have in 20 years," Holloway said. "They can tell their kids and grandkids they played hockey at Fenway Park."
"When my mom and dad told me I'd be playing at Fenway Park, I was really excited," said Kevin Swan, who has been playing at the Milton, Mass., rink for four years.
His teammates, Andrew Ervin, a fan of David "Big Papi" Ortiz, and Emma Tobin, who divides her loyalties between Zdeno Chara and Jonathan Papelbon, looked around at the nearly 40,000 fans in the broad expanse at the ballpark and said, "It's awesome. I could have never imagined this."
Swan was also joined by SCORE Boston teammates Ezekiel Santiago and Talia Bode Ward.
The Bruins FUNdamentals program was initiated by FMC Ice Sports and the Boston Bruins as a way to introduce new skaters to the sport and help them prepare for entry into youth-hockey programs. The program's goal is to teach the fundamentals of ice hockey through various drills, personalized instruction and game simulation, while ensuring that each and every skater is having as much fun as possible.
The Bruins FUNdamentals program operates at 25 rinks in Massachusetts, said Manager Lori DiGiacomo, who was joined by Tom Songin, a former Boston Bruins player.
Coaches Pat Kelleher, Paul Nahigian and Kevin Kavanagh brought a group that included Ty Lema, Nicholas Forbes, Ryan Affonso, Jacob Sanville, Hannah Marmor, Conor Belcher, Gavin Lessard, Ryan Skoczylas, T.J. McHugh, Aidan Walker, Nicholas Patterson, Jake Kelleher, Elsie Buckley, Marshall Meyer and Daniel Leger.
Red Sox Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Sam Kennedy has played a dual role in the preparations for the Winter Classic, as a team executive and coach of the Red Sox team. He was assisted by Tim Kelleher, one of the Boston College goalies, along with Scott Clemmensen, when they won the 2000 NCAA championship.
"We've watched with amazement the work the NHL has done in transforming this building," Kennedy said. "The Winter Classic is a wonderful idea."
Jimmy Kennedy is only 6 1/2 years old but he seemed to have a clear idea of the importance of this opportunity to skate on a rink in centerfield at Fenway Park.
"My dad told me I was going to skate on the little rink at the Winter Classic. I've been playing for three years and I'm on the Hartford Whalers team this year."
Kennedy was joined by teammates Jack Carroll, Brendan Monahan, and brothers Jack and Max Goodman.
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