NHL COO John Collins yesterday said that in terms of ancillary activities around this year's '15 Blackhawks-Capitals Bridgestone Winter Classic at Nationals Park, he "does not anticipate any college games or an alumni game between former Capitals and Blackhawks, but said the venue will host public skates, youth games and a New Year’s eve party," according to Chuck Gormley of CSNWASHINGTON.com. Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis said of the Jan. 1 game, "We’ll do a lot to make this a spectacular event. Certainly, we want to invite our president to come. To me, having the military turn out in a big way would be a perfect tribute to our vets." It has "been more than six years" since Leonsis first e-mailed NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on the night of Jan. 1, 2008 and "pleaded with him to someday grant the Winter Classic to the nation’s capital." Bettman said of Leonsis, "He said, ‘If you can come to the nation’s capital and reward a fan base that is devoted, passionate and growing, what better opportunity could you have than to celebrate New Year’s Day in Washington, D.C.?'" Meanwhile, Bettman said that he "would have never imagined the Winter Classic blossoming into the popular event it has become in its seven years and seemed hesitant to change what he considers a good product" (CSNWASHINGTON.com, 9/23). Leonsis: "These events really are made for the fans, and our city deserves it. ... We’re just hoping for snow." In DC, Tom Schad notes the process of bringing the Winter Classic to the city "was a lengthy one" that "took the joint effort of not only Leonsis and Bettman but also" MLB, the Nationals and the city (WASHINGTON TIMES, 9/24).
SEA OF RED: In DC, Scott Allen noted the Capitals yesterday "unveiled the jerseys that they will wear" for the Winter Classic. The red sweaters "feature white shoulder stripes and a block blue W, which includes a silhouette of the Washington Monument and looks similar to the Washington Senators’ logo." The Capitals in a release said, "The stripes on the shoulders, waist and legs brings in elements of Washington professional hockey jerseys from the 1930’s, predating the Capitals’ formation in the 1970s" (
WASHINGTONPOST.com, 9/23). USA TODAY's Erik Brady notes Capitals RW Alex Ovechkin "showed off the special sweater that the team will wear for the game ... accessorized by a pair of borrowed Nationals baseball pants, a hybrid look that encapsulated the notion of playing hockey in a ballpark" (
USA TODAY, 9/24).
