The Capitals face the Maple Leafs on Saturday in an NHL Stadium Series game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, and the setting "will be more intimate, to many players’ delight," than previous outdoor games, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of the WASHINGTON POST. Capitals G Braden Holtby said of the team's '15 Winter Classic at Nationals Park, “It was tough because the ice conditions were a little bit strange." He added this year's edition will "be different." Holtby: "Smaller and smaller stadium, kind of set up that the lights will be closer. So, it should be more favorable to the similarities of an arena.” Capitals D Brooks Orpik said of playing at Navy, “It’s definitely a huge privilege to play on a military campus. Something on a much smaller scale was when I was in Pittsburgh, we had training camp at West Point a few times and that was a really, really cool thing." Capitals coach Barry Trotz: “This one will be good. In a baseball stadium, you can be pretty far from the ice surface. This one, not so much. I think you’re going to have a really good seat in there, and it’s going to be fun" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/2).
WHO'S UP NEXT? In Toronto, Lance Hornby notes the NHL playing at Navy "might lead to future U.S. service academies joining the Stadium Series, such as Army’s home at West Point" with the Rangers nearby, and the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, "not far" from the Avalanche. At ice level, Navy-Marine Corps Stadium will be "decked out like a carrier, complete with a model fighter jet." About 500 Midshipmen in dress whites will "be at the railing as an honour guard and 5,000 of their number will be in the crowd." The game will be "broadcast on the U.S. Armed Forces Network." Capitals TV analyst Craig Laughlin said, “It’s a fantastic place for a game. Not at all like some of the big stadiums they’ve used outdoors, really not much bigger than the setting in the United Center in Chicago" (TORONTO SUN, 3/2). In Colorado Springs, Brent Briggeman writes Air Force "expects to get its turn to host an NHL game," but the details "haven’t been finalized." Air Force Associate AD/Communications Troy Garnhart said the academy is "in discussions with the NHL" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 3/2).
BEHIND THE SCENES: In DC, Adam Zielonka noted it took "about a week to make the ice that now sits in the middle of the stadium." The ice resurfacer the NHL will use was "designed to be slightly lighter than standard ones to avoid too much stress on the rink." That is even "considering that the ice is twice as thick as usual." NHL Senior Manager of Facility Operations Mike Craig said, “In a normal NHL rink, it’s only about an inch-and-a-quarter thick. Out here, because it’s temporary … right now we did a measurement first thing this morning and we’re about 2.5 inches thick.” The NHL “used 350 gallons of white paint on the ice, but took a different approach for the rink markings and the logos of sponsors like Dunkin’ Donuts.” Craig added, “In lots of rinks in the NHL, we actually paint it. But outside here, we found that it’s a little bit better to use a fabric, almost like a clothing cloth, that’s made that color. We lay it in and freeze it in” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 3/2).
REPRESENTING THEIR COLORS: In Toronto, Kevin McGran notes if there is a “military feel” to the Maple Leafs’ jerseys, it is “on purpose.” The team said that it is honoring the “flag of the Royal Canadian Navy, which has a white background with blue trim.” It is a “fitting tribute for a franchise whose ties to the military go back” to former Owner Conn Smythe, a major in the army who “served in both World Wars and renamed the St. Patricks for the Maple Leafs, a regiment Canadian soldiers served in.” MLSE Senior Dir of Marketing Jerry Ferguson said, “We want to celebrate the Navy and pay tribute to our relationship with the armed forces. It’s a really unique look for the club because this is a really unique game.” The Maple Leafs said that the jersey has been a “top seller since it was released Feb. 10.” Ferguson added, “When we look at people commenting on our social channels, it’s been overwhelmingly positive” (TORONTO STAR, 3/2).
HOMECOMING GAME: In Annapolis, Bill Wagner notes NBC Sports NHL Director Charlie Dammeyer, a native of the city, “literally will be calling the shots” for Saturday’s game. Dammeyer said, “It’s really special, really neat to be part of this event. This is a real showcase for the NHL. To be able to do this game in my hometown is very, very exciting.” NBC will have a “whopping 40 different cameras at its disposal on Saturday night.” The game “brings life full circle for Dammeyer, who sold programs at Navy football games while in elementary school.” Dammeyer: “I have fond memories of going to football and lacrosse games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium so this is going to be a real cool experience.” This is Dammeyer’s “second season of sitting in the lead director chair for the NHL on NBC” (Annapolis CAPITAL GAZETTE, 3/2).
