2010 Winter Classic

April 9, 2009 - It was announced today that the Boston Bruins will host the 2010 Winter Classic on New Year's Day in Fenway Park.  The Bruins bid apparently beat out both the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers for the rights to host the annual outdoor hockey game on New Years Day. Boston had listed two possible sites for the event, with both the Boston Red Sox Fenway Park and the New England Patriots Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA (about 35 km southwest of Boston) as possibilities, but with the Winter Classic being scheduled around the same time as the NFL playoffs, Fenway Park seemed to the the more logical choice. 

The Winter Classic has seemed etch its place in the NHL's schedule on New Year's Day, and appears to be here for the foreseeable future as the event has gathered an enormous amount of success in the past. Fans continue to rave about the event and it continues to produce results as television ratings in the United States have been higher and revenues for the league seem to be up as well. After the experiment began back in 2003 with the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Montreal Canadiens in frigid temperatures at Commonwealth Stadium, it has become a regular on the NHL schedule on New Year's Day over the past few seasons after the Buffalo Sabres played the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2008 Winter Classic at the NFL's Buffalo Bills Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY and this past January with the Chicago Blackhawks entertaining the Detroit Red Wings at the MLB's Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field. 

Possible opponents for the 2010 Winter Classic have been listed as the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Washington Capitals.

Latest Steve Downie Suspension...

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So Steve Downie racked up his second 20 game suspension in 2 seasons, and third suspension in three different leagues in the past 3 years, eh? No real surprise here, as the guy is a nutcase who likes to play on the edge.  But when is he really going to learn?  Here is a  21-year old kid with all the talent and promise in the world, who only 3 years after his draft year has been sent packing by 2 different organizations (mind you in 2 different leagues, with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League for the hazing incident with Akim Aliu, and for a late his delivered to former Ottawa Senator Dean McAmmond while playing for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League) but is still some how remembered to be one of the great Canadian World Junior Hockey Players of recent memory.

Now I'll be the first to admit that Downie has taken quite a fall for his actions, and has more than likely been given harsher punishments than he deserved since turning pro.  This undoubtably is because of his actions and reputation he gained throughout his junior career, but this is not where is all started. Downie was always considered to be a "loose canon" throughout his minor hockey career, and will be remember by many former teammates, coaches and opposing players by this. He is and always has been the type of player who can be effective when he plays within the limits of the game, but it also doesn't take much to get him off his game.

But in the wake of this latest incident in the American Hockey League while playing for the Norfolk Admirals (the Tampa Bay Lightning affiliate), I am going to have to take Downie's side. Yes, It does look like he was taking a swipe at the ref dropping the puck, but in Downie's defense, after looking closely at the video I would have to say that he is most likely taking a swipe at the opposing players stick, as it is possible that there was some chirping being done between the two before the puck was dropped. But in the end he did strike the ref and from this the ref made a decision on the play from his own judgement.  All I'm saying is that Downie's reputation only made this one worse on himself.

Please someone, get this guy some counseling before his temperament ends his once promising NHL career.