Frozen Moments—Scenes From The Winter Classic.
In minus seven degree weather, tens of thousands of Minnesotans (and unwilling southern folks, as I heard shivering in the elevator of my hotel) gathered under the lights of the Target Field in Minneapolis this past weekend to watch the Wild take on the St. Louis Blues. I happened to be one of the few lucky enough to attend the NHL Winter Classic this Saturday. Does that make me Minnesota Strong, or Minnesota Crazy? I can’t tell, because I’m still defrosting.
Although the Wild lost to the Blues 6-4, there was still a lot to experience and see. In case you had the common sense to stay home and watch the game above your cozy fireplace, lucky for you I suited up and witnessed the Winter Classic in-person and lived to tell the tale. Here are just a few of the frozen moments that will stick with me:
The Huddled Masses Waiting to Get into the Stadium.
A three period Wild game is long enough to have to sit outside during one of the coldest days of the year, and the coldest NHL game in history. So, we tried to arrive at the game as close to puck drop as possible, limiting our outside exposure. Guess what? Literally everyone had the exact same idea, resulting in all of us stuck outside waiting in long lines to get through security. Despite the wait, there was something charming seeing the breath of thousands of people chanting “Let’s Go Wild!” in unison. Everyone was dressed like we were going to one large ice fishing tournament, as we waited outside huddled together for warmth. It took us a solid 30 minutes to enter the stadium, where things only got colder. But as we’re prone to say here in Minnesota, “It’s all part of the experience!”
The Sponsors: Trulys, Bud Lights, and Beer, Oh My!
Beer and hockey are like the bread and butter of Minnesota. So naturally, some of the prominent brands at the Winter Classic were Truly and Bud Light. I watched as people attempted to drink themselves another layer. I too tried this, however, my beer had different plans. As I would take a drink, the beer on the lip of the can would freeze over and eventually, so did the rest of the beer. But hey, I managed to drink $7 out of the $10 can, so let’s call that a win. My approach was a little different than the absolute legend on the jumbo screen that smashed two Bud Light cans together into his mouth, most of it falling down his coat. We might want to do a well-check on this guy—not sure he made it the duration.
Southern Boy, Thomas Rhett, And Those Finger-Less Gloves.
It’s fair to say, country singer Thomas Rhett was a long way away from his home in Tennessee, when he performed a few songs to the freezing cold audience between the first and second period. And even though it was a short set, Rhett did a heck of a job providing an excellent distraction from the dropping temperatures. Rhett cruised through a few of his top hits like “Crash and Burn,” and “Unforgettable,” under a red-lit stage with flames popping off behind him. Notably Rhett wore a Winter Classic hat and finger-less gloves so he could stay warm while picking. The way Rhett was dressed, most notably those glorious fingerless gloves, were a dead giveaway that this Nashville boy definitely got hooked up with a sweet indoor suite.
For anyone trying to film some of Rhett’s set, it was so cold outside it had cameras lagging and phones pleading to get back into pockets. So instead, I bopped my head and shook my legs to dance during his performance singing the lyrics I knew from under my face mask. Thomas, I hope they paid you well.
Announcement of the U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey Team.
Another memorable moment from the Winter Classic was the announcement of the women’s ice hockey team for the Beijing Olympics between the second and third period. As a woman, it’s always fun to see women in sports being represented and celebrated. Everyone in the stadium was equally as excited to see these world class hockey players be recognized.
Even more impressive, the amount of Minnesota representation on Team USA was astonishing with 6 Minnesotan-born women selected as well as players from the Gophers and the Bulldogs. As each player was announced, they stood and and waved in front of American flags and fireworks. Truly a patriotic moment, and a spectacular way to bring pride and excitement to women in sports.
And of course, the game itself.
A hockey game is a hockey game. I had a fantastic time watching some good old puck and getting to see the Wild play outdoors at home. Each team played with heart and grit. There was even some chippiness, which of course, we loved. And while the final score wasn’t the outcome we all wanted, it seemed like people were just happy to be with friends and family watching the Wild play at such an awesome event at the beautiful Target Field, regardless of the temperature.
I wish I could say that I had the time of my life at the Winter Classic, but we did leave after the second period, and I spent the rest of the night shivering in my long johns under the covers in my hotel. When you go to an outdoor game where they actually had to warm the ice, it’s not going to be the most comfortable time.
That said, I got to watch the Wild play in the NHL Winter Classic in the State of Hockey with a frozen beer in my hand. There isn’t much more a Minnesotan can ask for.
