It's a Hockey Festival!
Credit to Michigan Hockey's Twitter account.
We’ve known that the Wings are going to be in the Winter Classic at the big house for a while. What we haven’t known is what else exactly was in store for us.
Well, after today’s morning presser, we do. It won’t be just the Wings, I hope you’re ready for a buffet of hockey games next year around New Years. There will be hockey for everyone.
Hit the jump to hear the details and thoughts. It's pretty amazing.
The main event is obvious: the Classic at the Big House against Toronto. It doesn't get better than that.
But the side dishes are pretty incredible. Dubbed the Hockeytown Winter Festival, there will be plenty of additional games at Comerica. The most impressive is the fact that the next year’s Great Lakes Invitational (GLI) will be at Comerica. So expect to see Michigan, Michigan State, and Michigan Tech and Western Michigan compete for the championship.
But wait, there’s more.
The Grand Rapids Griffins and Toronto Marlies, both NHL’s team’s AHL affiliates, will play. Not only that, we’ll get a chance to see the greats on Detroit and Toronto play again in an alumni game. I can’t tell you how much that excites me.
Finally, there will be high school, sled hockey, and other minor hockey games as well. Plus, there will be open skating for those who just want to experience such a cool moment. That’s pretty amazing.
Illitch has done a pretty phenomenal thing here. He’s taken an event and made it into a state-wide festival. The Big House and Comerica are getting great action. We’re getting the best of all worlds here.
Nice work everyone (amazingly, that includes you Gary B.) Hockeytown indeed.
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Should also be pretty interesting to see the 24/7 series as well. Can you imagine getting to follow the guys around all the time? In interviews at the Big House today, Hank said Homer would need subtitles, and Pav said he would need to improve his English. haha.
I just put my deposit down for my season tickets. Tho this game will not be included, i will (or at least i was told) be guaranteed the opportunity to purchase as many tickets as I have for my season seats to this game. What're the odds that DET/TOR wear the Pats/Cougars jerseys they had for the first time the two teams met? So excited I cannot contain it.
@Reddy How many of you are from out of town (referring to our community here at NOHS)? And how many of you are going to make the trip?
@thebiglachovsky@Reddy I live in Houghton....way up there in the UP. some of you out state guys are probably closer than me.
@thebiglachovsky@Reddy Living in St. Louis. I'll be up there. Wouldn't miss it for the world.
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I can't wait to see the GLI at Comerica. Go Huskies!!
They also said they are working to have the Saginaw Spirit and the Windsor Spitfires play.
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That's pretty awesome. Illitch knows how to promote and advertise everything.
I'm definitely going to save some vacation days for this. And if things work like they're supposed to, I will be tailgating and attending the Classic.
I worked all of New Year's last year so it's my turn to have it off. I'll be there too. NOHS tailgate party?
