Epix has begun filming the Capitals and Blackhawks for its "Road to the Winter Classic" series, and now over the "weeks leading up to the New Year's Day matchup," their "professional lives will be documented, and some personal aspects if they so choose, then aired in four hour-long episodes" beginning Dec. 16, according to Alex Prewitt of the WASHINGTON POST. The crew, "totaling roughly 15," had already visited the Capitals' practice facility in Arlington on Friday "to conduct preliminary interviews." Capitals RW Troy Brouwer said, “It’s no different than having postgame interviews . . . at all times. You may have a camera in your face when you’re tying your skates once in a while, but it’s a good thing. It gives fans a good opportunity to see what it’s like around the rink when we’re not on the ice.” Capitals coach Barry Trotz "has spoken before about the 'sacredness' of an NHL dressing room, but at some point the Capitals will reconcile their desire for privacy with their duty to the show." Capitals C Brooks Laich said, “There are still conversations we want kept private. There are emotions you want kept private. There are injuries, or nicks and bruises you want kept private. I think finding the balance of what you do expose and what you want to keep protected is something we’re going to be a lot more aware of this time.” Producer Ross Greenburg last week "offered a list of 'really interesting humanitarian stories' that included the following: Trotz and his son, Nolan, who has Down syndrome; [Capitals RW Alexander Ovechkin's] mentorship of young Russians Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov; the relationship between goaltending coach Mitch Korn and starting netminder Braden Holtby; and owner Ted Leonsis, whom Greenburg has known personally" since '99 (WASHINGTON POST, 12/6).
NOT-SO-EPIX CHANGES: In Chicago, Brian Sandalow reported Friday was the first day Epix crews were "embedded with the Hawks," and the "extra guests don't seem to bother" the team. Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews said, "It’s something we can embrace and enjoy and I think in the end it will be fun for the fans to see the whole lead-up to the Winter Classic game. It’s been fun to watch in previous years -- the two teams that kind of develop a storyline going into that game, so it definitely hypes it up quite a bit.” Sandalow noted that Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville "won’t be changing how he or the team operates." Quenneville: “Business as usual. We’re not going to change our approach, whether it’s preparation-wise or whatever" (SUNTIMES.com, 12/5).
