Flames/Habs Heritage Classic - Feb 20 2010

When the Calgary Flames host the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL's (and Habs) second Heritage Classic on February 20th, I will be watching the game from the comfort of my own home...maybe.

Firstly, sitting outside all day in mid February does not appeal to me. Calgary winters are mild compared to Saskatchewan (where I'm from originally), or even Edmonton for that matter. But I used to stand out at the train station here in Calgary and even after 5 minutes it wears thin. Plus I don't drink alcohol, which is how most of the people survive those outdoor games I think. And everyone is so far away from the ice that it almost doesn't even seem worthwhile. There are two places I sit when watching live NHL hockey...either in the lower bowl no higher than 6 rows up, or in the pressbox. (the pressbox hasn't happened since the 2009 season tho')...so sitting that high up in the stands for me is out of the question.

Secondly, the idea of regular season outdoor games, worth 4 points, does not appeal to me. The game played outside is far different than the NHL area. The ice is awful, the puck stops flat sometimes, and the players are exposed to conditions that their indoor conditioned NHL arena lungs are not used to. The entire game is different.

The Habs and Flames are notorious for barely making it in to the playoffs. The potential exists for either (or both) teams not make it in by two points. That two points could boil down to losing the Heritage Classic...on bad outdoor ice...

I think maybe the NHL should consider replacing the All Star weekend with outdoor games. They could have 15 outdoor games on the same weekend!! And make a brazillion dollars!! Oh, wait a second...even in the dead of winter, there's no ice in Florida...or California...or Texas...or Tennessee...or South Carolina...or even Vancouver...That means all of the teams without snow will not be able to host such an event. Hmmm...
And as far as I know, there NHL employs only one team of outdoor ice guys; I guess they don't have the resources. Okay, not the best thought-out idea I've ever had.
But I would still prefer the outdoor games to be exhibition games worth no points.

The Pens are hosting my Caps in the Winter Classic on January 1st. I wouldn't go to the game either even if it were an all expenses paid trip. I just don't support that kind of hockey.