2011 NHL Winter Classic
Encyclopedia
The 2011 NHL Winter Classic
(known via corporate sponsorship as the Bridgestone
NHL Winter Classic) was the fourth edition of the annual outdoor ice hockey
game held by the National Hockey League
(NHL) as a regular season game. The Pittsburgh Penguins
hosted the Washington Capitals
at Heinz Field
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, USA
on January 1, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. US ET
, having originally been scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The game was telecast on NBC in the USA, CBC
(English) and RDS
(French) in Canada
. Pittsburgh native Jackie Evancho
performed the Star Spangled Banner and Pittsburgh sports legends Mario Lemieux
, Franco Harris
and Jerome Bettis
presided over the ceremonial dropping of the puck, and during the second intermission Harris and Bettis hosted a fan event at the outside rink.
The 2011 Winter Classic was the second time the Penguins participated in an outdoor NHL game. The Penguins visited the Buffalo Sabres
for the inaugural Winter Classic in 2008. Most notably, the Classic pitted two recent number-one draft picks against each other: Penguins center Sidney Crosby
(2005) and Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin
(2004); both players entered the league in the same year, 2005, due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout and have helped fuel the fire in a significant rivalry
between the two teams that had been growing since the early 1990s.
's "Edge" template. The visiting Capitals wore a replica of their inaugural 1974–75
white uniform which they wore through the 1994–95 season
. The Penguins wore new uniforms, based on those of their inaugural 1967–68 season; the navy and baby blue colors were reversed, and the jerseys featured a crest of their original skating penguin logo, in place of the diagonal letters.
games. If neither date had reasonable weather, the game would have been postponed and the matchup rescheduled indoors at Consol Energy Center later in the season. New Year's Weekend was the only time the Steelers
would have allowed Heinz Field to be available, since they needed time to get it ready for any postseason home game (which could have been as early as January 8).
As New Year's Day approached weather forecasts solidified that by late afternoon the Pittsburgh region would be cooling to the 40s and eventually 30s, and major precipitation would be over by early evening for the duration of the weekend. As it turned out, the few fast-moving bands of light rain in the area had no effect on the surface, and no problems were reported.
, the seven hour delay on the broadcast schedule caused the classic to be completely preempted in the province of Ontario
. The network's coverage of the NHL that night began with the Battle of Ontario
at Scotiabank Place
in Ottawa
at 7pm ET, and broke away to the Classic outside Ontario. The CBC truncated the broadcast after two hours in Alberta
to show the Battle of Alberta
at Rexall Place
in Edmonton
in its entirety.
sang "O Canada
" and Pittsburgh native Jackie Evancho
sang the Star Spangled Banner before Pittsburgh Sports legends Franco Harris
, Jerome Bettis
and Mario Lemieux
joined U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Bradley T. Tinstman for the ceremonial puck drop.
games in Ralph Wilson Stadium
and Wrigley Field
, the NHL announced a rule change to account for any adverse weather conditions that could give either team an unfair advantage. Due to high winds, the teams changed sides an additional time, at the first whistle after the halfway point of the third period. This was done at exactly the halfway point of the third period in 2008 because of falling snow and again in 2009 due to high winds.
Penalty summary
Shots
Power play opportunities
Three star selections
-Rerun on DVRs and program guides). Pittsburgh and Washington led the ratings, with Baltimore, which is part of the Capitals' territory, in third. Buffalo, New York
was the highest-rated outside market, despite a Buffalo Sabres
game playing opposite the Winter Classic.
The Penguins alumni wore the 1968–72 styled powder blue third jerseys, Pittsburgh's current third that was introduced in the 2008 Winter Classic. The Capitals alumni wore Washington's current red jerseys.
Several complaints were made by the fans in attendance. Prior to the game starting, there were complaints regarding the sale of the tickets to game, which went on sale at 10:00 a.m. on December 17, 2010 for $25 a piece. Only 10,000 tickets were available for sale by the NHL, while Heinz Field has a capacity of over 68,111 seats for hockey. Many fans who tried to obtain tickets from Ticketmaster
at exactly 10:00 a.m., either via the internet or by telephone could not get access to the company. Many of the locked-out fans complained that most of the people who got tickets were ticket scalpers or people trying to sell them online. By 10:14 a.m., the first two tickets showed up for sale on the Pittsburgh craigslist
website for $250 a piece. Throughout the day, there were several entries on eBay
and craigslist seeking as much as $699.99 for two tickets and $1,380 for a set of four.
The most vocal complaints were reserved for the time it took for many fans to get inside the stadium. Well into the first period of the two-period game, people reportedly still were entering Heinz Field. This was due to the stadium having only one open gate that morning, Gate B. Several fans further stated that not all the turnstiles were being used, a claim disputed by the Steelers, who spoke on behalf of stadium operations. Some confused fans also waited for other gates to open, which never happened.
Some spectators also complained that the game ended in a 5–5 tie with no overtime or shootout. Penguins alumnus Phil Bourque said after the game that
"I think everybody's a little disappointed that we didn't get to the shootout, because it would have been great to see Mario. Pittsburgh would have gone with all Hall of Famers, of course, in our shootout group." Penguins alumni coach Eddie Johnston later stated that his shootout plan consisted of having Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis, Larry Murphy, Paul Coffey and Bryan Trottier participating in that order.
Coaches: Granny Grant, Joe Reekie
and Bucky Gallagher
Pittsburgh Penguins
Coaches: Eddie Johnston
, Randy Hillier
and Pierre Larouche
.
Honorary GM was Jack Riley
.
. The first episode aired on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 10 p.m. ET, with three additional episodes following each subsequent Wednesday. The series chronicled each team's seasons leading up to the Winter Classic, and emphasized the rivalry between Crosby and Ovechkin and between the Penguins and Capitals.
and the RIT Tigers
men's varsity hockey teams met at the Consol Energy Center in downtown Pittsburgh for an Atlantic Hockey
league match. The college game was followed that evening by an American Hockey League
matchup between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
and the Hershey Bears
, the top minor-league affiliates of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals, respectively.
NHL Winter Classic
The NHL Winter Classic is an annual event held by the National Hockey League on New Year's Day where regular-season games are played outdoors, in areas hosted by NHL teams. Though largely derived from the Heritage Classic outdoor game held in Edmonton in 2003, the Winter Classic has so far only...
(known via corporate sponsorship as the Bridgestone
Bridgestone
The is a multinational rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese....
NHL Winter Classic) was the fourth edition of the annual outdoor ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
game held by the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) as a regular season game. The Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
hosted the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
at Heinz Field
Heinz Field
Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on January 1, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. US ET
North American Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
, having originally been scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The game was telecast on NBC in the USA, CBC
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
(English) and RDS
Réseau des sports
Réseau des sports , is a Canadian French language Category C specialty channel showing sports and sport-related shows. It is available in 2.5 million homes, and is owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc....
(French) in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Pittsburgh native Jackie Evancho
Jackie Evancho
Jacqueline Marie "Jackie" Evancho is an American child singer described as a classical crossover artist. After entering some talent competitions, issuing an independent album, Prelude to a Dream, and attracting interest on YouTube, she gained wider popularity in 2010 with her performances in the...
performed the Star Spangled Banner and Pittsburgh sports legends Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
, Franco Harris
Franco Harris
Franco Harris is a former American football player. He played his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.In the 1972 NFL Draft he was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round, the 13th selection overall...
and Jerome Bettis
Jerome Bettis
Jerome Abram "The Bus" Bettis is a retired American football halfback who played for the NFL's Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers. Bettis is considered one of the best big backs ever because his footwork and power, and is currently fifth on the National Football League's all-time...
presided over the ceremonial dropping of the puck, and during the second intermission Harris and Bettis hosted a fan event at the outside rink.
The 2011 Winter Classic was the second time the Penguins participated in an outdoor NHL game. The Penguins visited the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
for the inaugural Winter Classic in 2008. Most notably, the Classic pitted two recent number-one draft picks against each other: Penguins center Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby
Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . Crosby was drafted first overall by the Penguins out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League...
(2005) and Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin
Alexander Ovechkin
Alexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger and captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...
(2004); both players entered the league in the same year, 2005, due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout and have helped fuel the fire in a significant rivalry
National Hockey League rivalries
Rivalries in the National Hockey League have occurred between many teams and cities. Rivalries have arisen for many different reasons, the primary ones including geographic proximity, familiarity with opponents, on-ice incidents , and cultural, linguistic, or national pride.The importance of...
between the two teams that had been growing since the early 1990s.
Uniforms
At the event, the teams wore vintage uniforms based on ReebokReebok
Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
's "Edge" template. The visiting Capitals wore a replica of their inaugural 1974–75
1974–75 Washington Capitals season
The 1974–75 Washington Capitals season was the first in Capitals history. Along with the Kansas City Scouts, the Capitals joined the National Hockey League as an expansion team for the 1974–75 season. The team was owned by Abe Pollin, owner of the NBA's Washington Bullets...
white uniform which they wore through the 1994–95 season
1994–95 Washington Capitals season
The 1994–95 Washington Capitals season was the team's twenty-first season of play. After stumbling to a 3-10-5 record by February 28, the Capitals caught a break in bringing up 20-year-old rookie goaltender Jim Carey from the Portland Pirates for their March 2 game against the New York Islanders....
. The Penguins wore new uniforms, based on those of their inaugural 1967–68 season; the navy and baby blue colors were reversed, and the jerseys featured a crest of their original skating penguin logo, in place of the diagonal letters.
Delayed start time
The game had originally been scheduled for 1:00 p.m., but due to concerns about rain, on December 31 the game was shifted to an 8:00 p.m. start. A few weeks prior, the possibility was raised that the Winter Classic might be postponed or canceled altogether. All major weather outlets forecast unseasonably warm temperatures for the day of the game, with the possibility of rain. Heavy or constant rain was the greater concern for the NHL, as it could eventually make the ice surface unplayable. Light rain would have frozen on contact and made the surface uneven, while hard rain could have possibly flooded the rink. Early on the NHL had contingency plans to push the game back to January 2 if necessary, but preferred not to do so since this would have conflicted with telecasts of NFLNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
games. If neither date had reasonable weather, the game would have been postponed and the matchup rescheduled indoors at Consol Energy Center later in the season. New Year's Weekend was the only time the Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
would have allowed Heinz Field to be available, since they needed time to get it ready for any postseason home game (which could have been as early as January 8).
As New Year's Day approached weather forecasts solidified that by late afternoon the Pittsburgh region would be cooling to the 40s and eventually 30s, and major precipitation would be over by early evening for the duration of the weekend. As it turned out, the few fast-moving bands of light rain in the area had no effect on the surface, and no problems were reported.
Effect on CBC broadcast schedule
For Hockey Night in CanadaHockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
, the seven hour delay on the broadcast schedule caused the classic to be completely preempted in the province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The network's coverage of the NHL that night began with the Battle of Ontario
Battle of Ontario
The Battle of Ontario is a rivalry between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League, often described as one of the top NHL rivalries. The teams both compete in the Northeast Division and with current NHL scheduling meet 6 times per season...
at Scotiabank Place
Scotiabank Place
Scotiabank Place is a multi-purpose arena, located in Kanata, a suburban district of Ottawa, Ontario. It is home to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League. It has also hosted the Canadian University Men's Basketball Championship...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
at 7pm ET, and broke away to the Classic outside Ontario. The CBC truncated the broadcast after two hours in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
to show the Battle of Alberta
Battle of Alberta
The Battle of Alberta is a term applied to the intense rivalry between the Canadian cities of Edmonton, the capital of the province of Alberta, and Calgary, the province's largest city...
at Rexall Place
Rexall Place
Rexall Place is an indoor arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada situated on the north side of Northlands. It is currently the home to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League and the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL...
in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
in its entirety.
Pregame
Canadian singer Steven PageSteven Page
Steven Jay Page , is a Canadian musician. Along with Ed Robertson, he was a founding member, lead singer, guitarist, and a primary songwriter of the music group Barenaked Ladies ; he left the band in 2009 to pursue a solo career....
sang "O Canada
O Canada
It has been noted that the opening theme of "O Canada" bears a strong resemblance to the "Marsch der Priester" , from the opera Die Zauberflöte , composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and that Lavallée's melody was inspired by Mozart's tune...
" and Pittsburgh native Jackie Evancho
Jackie Evancho
Jacqueline Marie "Jackie" Evancho is an American child singer described as a classical crossover artist. After entering some talent competitions, issuing an independent album, Prelude to a Dream, and attracting interest on YouTube, she gained wider popularity in 2010 with her performances in the...
sang the Star Spangled Banner before Pittsburgh Sports legends Franco Harris
Franco Harris
Franco Harris is a former American football player. He played his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.In the 1972 NFL Draft he was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round, the 13th selection overall...
, Jerome Bettis
Jerome Bettis
Jerome Abram "The Bus" Bettis is a retired American football halfback who played for the NFL's Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers. Bettis is considered one of the best big backs ever because his footwork and power, and is currently fifth on the National Football League's all-time...
and Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
joined U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Bradley T. Tinstman for the ceremonial puck drop.
Rule changes
As with the 2008 and 20092009 NHL Winter Classic
The 2009 NHL Winter Classic, also known as the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic 2009, was a specially staged National Hockey League regular-season game played outdoors on January 1, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. CST at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois...
games in Ralph Wilson Stadium
Ralph Wilson Stadium
Ralph Wilson Stadium is a football stadium, located in the town of Orchard Park, a suburb of Buffalo, New York. It is the home for the Buffalo Bills, of the NFL...
and Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
, the NHL announced a rule change to account for any adverse weather conditions that could give either team an unfair advantage. Due to high winds, the teams changed sides an additional time, at the first whistle after the halfway point of the third period. This was done at exactly the halfway point of the third period in 2008 because of falling snow and again in 2009 due to high winds.
Game summary
Scoring summary| Period | Team | Goal | Assist(s) | Time | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | No scoring | ||||
| 2nd | PIT | Evgeni Malkin Evgeni Malkin Evgeni "Geno" Vladimirovich Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League .... (14) |
Kris Letang (27), Marc-Andre Fleury Marc-Andre Fleury Marc-André Fleury is a French Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League... (1) |
2:13 | 1–0 PIT |
| WSH | Mike Knuble Mike Knuble Michael Rudolph Knuble is a Canadian American professional ice hockey right winger and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... (9) (PP Power play (sport) "Power play" is a sporting term used in various games.*In ice hockey, a team is said to be on a power play when at least one opposing player is serving a penalty, and the team has a numerical advantage on the ice... ) |
Nicklas Backstrom Nicklas Bäckström Lars Nicklas Bäckström is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Early life:... (26), Mike Green (11) |
6:54 | 1–1 TIE | |
| WSH | Eric Fehr Eric Fehr Eric Fehr is a Canadian ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. Fehr was a first-round draft pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals, chosen 18th overall.... (6) |
Marcus Johansson Marcus Johansson Marcus Johansson is a Swedish ice hockey player currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League... (4) |
14:45 | 2–1 WSH | |
| 3rd | WSH | Eric Fehr Eric Fehr Eric Fehr is a Canadian ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. Fehr was a first-round draft pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals, chosen 18th overall.... (7) |
Jason Chimera Jason Chimera Jason Chimera is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Pre-NHL:Chimera played his junior career in the WHL, for Medicine Hat and Brandon... (7), John Erskine (6) |
11:59 | 3–1 WSH |
- Number in parenthesis represents the player's total in goals or assists to that point of the season
Penalty summary
| Period | Team | Player | Penalty Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
Time | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | PIT | Paul Martin | Hooking | 4:40 | 2:00 |
| WSH | Mike Green | Holding | 8:21 | 2:00 | |
| WSH | John Erskine | Fighting | 11:52 | 5:00 | |
| PIT | Michael Rupp Michael Rupp Michael Francis Rupp is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... |
Fighting | 11:52 | 5:00 | |
| 2nd | WSH | Brooks Laich Brooks Laich Evan Brooks Laich is a Canadian ice hockey player with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Laich was originally drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, and was later traded to the Capitals as part of the package for Peter Bondra... |
Interference | 2:59 | 2:00 |
| PIT | Maxime Talbot Maxime Talbot Maxime Talbot is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . Drafted out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League , Talbot led the Hull/Gatineau Olympiques to back-to-back President's Cups while earning the Guy Lafleur... |
Holding | 5:56 | 2:00 | |
| WSH | John Erskine | Hooking | 15:37 | 2:00 | |
| 3rd | WSH | Mike Knuble | Delay of game Delay of game (ice hockey) Delay of game is a penalty in ice hockey. It results in the offending player spending two minutes in the penalty box. Delay of game is usually called under six circumstances:... |
7:28 | 2:00 |
Shots
| Period | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 12 | 16 | 4 | 32 |
| Pittsburgh | 16 | 8 | 9 | 33 |
Power play opportunities
| Goals/Opportunities | |
|---|---|
| Washington | 1/2 |
| Pittsburgh | 0/4 |
Three star selections
| Team | Player | Statistics | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | WSH | Semyon Varlamov | 32 Saves (.970) |
| 2nd | WSH | Eric Fehr Eric Fehr Eric Fehr is a Canadian ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. Fehr was a first-round draft pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals, chosen 18th overall.... |
2 Goals |
| 3rd | PIT | Evgeni Malkin Evgeni Malkin Evgeni "Geno" Vladimirovich Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League .... |
1 Goal |
Team rosters
| Washington Capitals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Player | Position | ||
| 1 |  |
Semyon Varlamov | G | |
| 4 |  |
John Erskine | D | |
| 8 | |
Alexander Ovechkin Alexander Ovechkin Alexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger and captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League... (C) |
LW | |
| 16 | |
Eric Fehr Eric Fehr Eric Fehr is a Canadian ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. Fehr was a first-round draft pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals, chosen 18th overall.... |
RW | |
| 19 |  |
Nicklas Backstrom Nicklas Bäckström Lars Nicklas Bäckström is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Early life:... (A) |
C | |
| 21 | |
Brooks Laich Brooks Laich Evan Brooks Laich is a Canadian ice hockey player with the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Laich was originally drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, and was later traded to the Capitals as part of the package for Peter Bondra... |
C | |
| 22 |  |
Mike Knuble Mike Knuble Michael Rudolph Knuble is a Canadian American professional ice hockey right winger and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... (A) |
RW | |
| 23 | |
Scott Hannan Scott Hannan -External links:... |
D | |
| 25 | |
Jason Chimera Jason Chimera Jason Chimera is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Pre-NHL:Chimera played his junior career in the WHL, for Medicine Hat and Brandon... (A) |
LW | |
| 26 | |
Matt Hendricks Matt Hendricks Matthew J. Hendricks is an American ice hockey forward who is currently playing with the Washington Capitals of the NHL.-Playing career:... |
LW | |
| 27 | |
Karl Alzner Karl Alzner Karl Alzner is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman, currently playing for the Washington Capitals. He was drafted in the first round, 5th overall, by the Capitals in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft... |
D | |
| 28 | |
Alexander Semin Alexander Semin Alexander Valerievich Semin , also known by fans as The Great 28, The Other Alex, or most commonly known as Sasha, is a Russian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League .... |
LW | |
| 30 |  |
Michal Neuvirth Michal Neuvirth Michal Neuvirth is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Washington Capitals after spending time with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League... |
G | |
| 39 | |
Dave Steckel Dave Steckel David Steckel is an American professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:... |
C | |
| 52 | |
Mike Green | D | |
| 55 | |
Jeff Schultz Jeff Schultz Jeff Schultz is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:... |
D | |
| 74 | |
John Carlson John Carlson (ice hockey) John Carlson is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League... |
D | |
| 83 | |
Jay Beagle Jay Beagle Jay Beagle is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:Beagle played for the Calgary Royals of the AJHL in 2003–04 and 2004–05... |
RW | |
| 85 | |
Mathieu Perreault Mathieu Perreault Mathieu Perreault is a Canadian ice hockey centre for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League.-Washington Capitals:... |
C | |
| 90 | |
Marcus Johansson Marcus Johansson Marcus Johansson is a Swedish ice hockey player currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League... |
C | |
| |
Head coach: Bruce Boudreau Bruce Boudreau Bruce Allan Boudreau is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach and current head coach of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . As a player, Boudreau played professionally for 20 seasons, logging 141 games in the NHL and 30 games in the World Hockey Association... |
|||
| Pittsburgh Penguins | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Player | Position | ||
| 1 | |
Brent Johnson Brent Johnson Brent Johnson is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :... |
G | |
| 3 | |
Alex Goligoski Alex Goligoski Alexander Marcus Flint Goligoski is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:... |
D | |
| 4 | |
Zbynek Michalek Zbynek Michalek Zbyněk Michálek is a Czech professional ice hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League .-International career:... |
D | |
| 5 | |
Deryk Engelland Deryk Engelland Deryk Engelland is a professional ice hockey defenceman and forward currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:... |
D | |
| 7 | |
Paul Martin | D | |
| 9 | |
Pascal Dupuis Pascal Dupuis Pascal Dupuis is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... |
LW | |
| 10 | |
Mark Letestu Mark Letestu Mark Letestu is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization.Letestu played three season of junior hockey with the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, before playing one season at Western Michigan of the Central Collegiate... |
C | |
| 11 | |
Jordan Staal Jordan Staal Jordan Lee Staal is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League... (A) |
C | |
| 14 | |
Chris Kunitz Chris Kunitz Christopher Kunitz is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . He has previously played for the Atlanta Thrashers and Anaheim Ducks, the latter with whom he won a Stanley Cup in 2007... |
LW | |
| 17 | |
Michael Rupp Michael Rupp Michael Francis Rupp is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... |
LW/C | |
| 24 | |
Matt Cooke Matt Cooke Matthew David Cooke is a professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. His playing style has earned him a reputation of being a "pest" and he is known for his ability to aggravate opponents... |
LW | |
| 25 | |
Maxime Talbot Maxime Talbot Maxime Talbot is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . Drafted out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League , Talbot led the Hull/Gatineau Olympiques to back-to-back President's Cups while earning the Guy Lafleur... |
C | |
| 27 | |
Craig Adams | RW | |
| 29 | |
Marc-Andre Fleury Marc-Andre Fleury Marc-André Fleury is a French Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League... |
G | |
| 44 | |
Brooks Orpik Brooks Orpik Brooks Orpik is an American professional ice hockey defenseman, an alternate captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . His brother, Andrew, was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres organization and is also currently in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization... (A) |
D | |
| 45 | |
Arron Asham Arron Asham Arron Asham is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... |
RW | |
| 48 | |
Tyler Kennedy Tyler Kennedy Tyler Kennedy is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, currently with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:... |
RW | |
| 58 | |
Kristopher Letang Kristopher Letang Kristopher Allen Letang is a French Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . He played junior in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for three seasons, during which time he was selected 62nd overall by the Penguins... |
D | |
| 71 | |
Evgeni Malkin Evgeni Malkin Evgeni "Geno" Vladimirovich Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League .... (A) |
C | |
| 87 | |
Sidney Crosby Sidney Crosby Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . Crosby was drafted first overall by the Penguins out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League... (C) |
C | |
| |
Head coach: Dan Bylsma Dan Bylsma Dan Bylsma is the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League as of February 15, 2009, replacing Michel Therrien. Prior to coaching the Penguins, he played as a forward in the NHL and coached in the American Hockey League . He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1989... |
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- Brent Johnson dressed for the Pittsburgh Penguins as the back-up goalie and did not enter the game.
Michal Neuvirth dressed for the Washington Capitals as the back-up goalie and did not enter the game.
Scratches
- Washington Capitals: Tom PotiTom PotiThomas Emilio Poti is an ice hockey defenseman and an alternate captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. He attended Saint Peter-Marian High School for two years. A graduate of the Cushing Academy, Poti moved on to play for Boston University of Hockey East...
, Tyler SloanTyler SloanTyler Sloan is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman in the Nashville Predators organization in the National Hockey League... - Pittsburgh Penguins: Eric GodardEric GodardEric Godard is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Texas Stars.-Playing career:Godard played junior hockey with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League...
, Chris ConnerChris ConnerChris Ryan Conner is an American professional ice hockey winger, currently with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. He has also played professionally with the Dallas Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins. He grew up in Westland, MI and attended Churchill High School in Livonia, MI...
, Ben LovejoyBen LovejoyBenjamin N. Lovejoy is a professional ice hockey defenseman currently with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.-Playing career:...
Officials
- Referees — Paul DevorskiPaul DevorskiPaul Devorski is a National Hockey League referee, who wears uniform number 10 since the 1994–95 NHL season. He refereed his first NHL game on October 14, 1989, and has been wearing a helmet while refereeing NHL games since the 2005–06 NHL season...
, Stephen WalkomStephen WalkomStephen Walkom , is a professional National Hockey League referee and formerly served as vice president and director of officiating for the National Hockey League .... - Linesmen — Pierre Champoux, Derek Amell
Television ratings
The game garnered the highest ratings in Classic history on American television and a 22 percent increase in viewership compared to the previous year. Overall, the game was the most watched NHL contest in the United States since 1996, and the most watched regular season NHL game since 1975. Its overall ratings boost also helped NBC win the evening as the most watched network for January 1, 2011. These marks were achieved despite the seven-hour postponement of the game, which prevented network promotion of the new ad-hoc 8 p.m. start time (and subsequent program listings of Law & Order: Los AngelesLaw & Order: Los Angeles
Law & Order: LA, originally titled Law & Order: Los Angeles, is an American police procedural and legal drama television series set in Los Angeles, where it was produced...
-Rerun on DVRs and program guides). Pittsburgh and Washington led the ratings, with Baltimore, which is part of the Capitals' territory, in third. Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
was the highest-rated outside market, despite a Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
game playing opposite the Winter Classic.
Legends Game
The NHL Legends Game was played on December 31 in the morning. The game, which featured notable alumni from both the Penguins and the Capitals, was played in two 20-minute periods and ended in 5–5 tie. Penguins goals were scored by Rob Brown, Rod Buskas, Craig Simpson, Jay Caufield and Ron Francis. Mario Lemieux had two assists. Paul Mulvey of the Capitals had two goals, while Alan May, Mark Lofthouse and Peter Bondra scored one each. Bondra's goal tied the game with 45 seconds remaining. The game didn't have overtime or shootout.The Penguins alumni wore the 1968–72 styled powder blue third jerseys, Pittsburgh's current third that was introduced in the 2008 Winter Classic. The Capitals alumni wore Washington's current red jerseys.
Several complaints were made by the fans in attendance. Prior to the game starting, there were complaints regarding the sale of the tickets to game, which went on sale at 10:00 a.m. on December 17, 2010 for $25 a piece. Only 10,000 tickets were available for sale by the NHL, while Heinz Field has a capacity of over 68,111 seats for hockey. Many fans who tried to obtain tickets from Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. is an independent American ticket sales and distribution company based in West Hollywood, California, USA, with operations in many countries around the world. In 2010 it merged with Live Nation to become Live Nation Entertainment...
at exactly 10:00 a.m., either via the internet or by telephone could not get access to the company. Many of the locked-out fans complained that most of the people who got tickets were ticket scalpers or people trying to sell them online. By 10:14 a.m., the first two tickets showed up for sale on the Pittsburgh craigslist
Craigslist
Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities featuring free online classified advertisements, with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, gigs, résumés, and discussion forums....
website for $250 a piece. Throughout the day, there were several entries on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
and craigslist seeking as much as $699.99 for two tickets and $1,380 for a set of four.
The most vocal complaints were reserved for the time it took for many fans to get inside the stadium. Well into the first period of the two-period game, people reportedly still were entering Heinz Field. This was due to the stadium having only one open gate that morning, Gate B. Several fans further stated that not all the turnstiles were being used, a claim disputed by the Steelers, who spoke on behalf of stadium operations. Some confused fans also waited for other gates to open, which never happened.
Some spectators also complained that the game ended in a 5–5 tie with no overtime or shootout. Penguins alumnus Phil Bourque said after the game that
"I think everybody's a little disappointed that we didn't get to the shootout, because it would have been great to see Mario. Pittsburgh would have gone with all Hall of Famers, of course, in our shootout group." Penguins alumni coach Eddie Johnston later stated that his shootout plan consisted of having Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis, Larry Murphy, Paul Coffey and Bryan Trottier participating in that order.
Legends rosters
Washington CapitalsCoaches: Granny Grant, Joe Reekie
Joe Reekie
Joseph James Reekie is a retired Canadian ice hockey player.A stay-at-home defenceman renowned for his defensive skills, Reekie was originally drafted in 1983 by the Hartford Whalers; however, he never signed with the team and re-entered the NHL draft two years later where he was drafted this time...
and Bucky Gallagher
- Greg Adams
- Don BeaupreDon BeaupreDonald William Beaupre is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Beaupre in his 17 seasons in the NHL played for four teams: the Minnesota North Stars, Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.-Playing career:Beaupre emerged as a goaltender in the OHA for...
- Peter BondraPeter BondraPeter Bondra is a former Slovak professional ice hockey player. He was the general manager of the Slovak national team from 2007 to 2011...
- Dino CiccarelliDino Ciccarelli.Dino Ciccarelli is a Canadian former professional hockey player who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League, primarily with the Minnesota North Stars. He scored 1,200 points in his NHL career. His 608 career NHL goals are also the most goals scored by a draft-eligible player who was not...
- Sylvain CoteSylvain CoteSylvain Côté is a former professional ice hockey player who spent 19 seasons in the NHL, the majority of them with the Washington Capitals. He also played for the Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars...
- John DruceJohn DruceJohn W. Druce is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers-Playing career:...
- Dean EvasonDean EvasonDean C. Evason is a Canadian former National Hockey League player who is currently an assistant coach for the Washington Capitals.-Playing career:...
- Alan HangslebenAlan HangslebenAlan William "Al, Hank" Hangsleben is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman.Selected in 1973 by both the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League and the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association while still playing for the University of North Dakota men's ice...
- Nick KypreosNick KypreosNikos Kypreos is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger of Greek descent. He played eight seasons in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs...
- Yvon LabreYvon LabreYvon Jules Labre is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player.Labre was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins, but only played there a very short time before being selected by the Washington Capitals in the 1974 NHL Expansion Draft...
- Gord LaneGord LaneGordon Thomas Lawrence Lane is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman.Lane played junior in the WCHL, first with the Brandon Wheat Kings and after a trade with the New Westminster Bruins...
- Craig LaughlinCraig LaughlinCraig Alan Laughlin is a retired Canadian ice hockey right wing and color analyst for the Washington Capitals on CSN Washington.Laughlin was drafted in 1977 by the Montreal Canadiens...
- Mark LofthouseMark LofthouseMark Allen Lofthouse is a former Canadian ice hockey player. He was a goalscorer.Drafted in 1977 by both the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association, Lofthouse also played for the Detroit Red Wings.Lofthouse suited up for the Capitals...
- Dennis MarukDennis MarukDennis John Maruk is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League from 1975 to 1989, scoring a career high 60 goals for the Washington Capitals in 1981–82.-Career:...
- Alan MayAlan MayAlan Randy May is a retired Canadian ice hockey player. He is known for being the first player from the ECHL to play in the National Hockey League...
- Paul MulveyPaul MulveyJoseph Paul Mulvey is a retired Canadian ice hockey player.A hard-nosed right-winger, Mulvey played junior hockey with the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Portland Winter Hawks. He was selected in the 1978 NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals and played for parts of three seasons with the Capitals...
- Robert PicardRobert PicardRobert Rene Joseph Picard is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player.-Career:Robert Picard established himself as a highly regarded defensive prospect with the Montreal Juniors and Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge from 1973 to 1977...
- Michal PivonkaMichal PivonkaMichal Pivoňka is a retired National Hockey League player. He played his entire NHL career with the Washington Capitals. Selected by the Capitals in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Pivonka defected to the United States during the summer of 1986...
- Errol RausseErrol RausseErrol Attilio Rausse is a retired Canadian ice hockey player.Drafted in 1979 by the Washington Capitals, Rausse played parts of three seasons with the Capitals, spending most of his time in the minor leagues with the Hershey Bears...
- Pat RibblePat RibblePatrick Wayne Ribble is a retired Canadian ice hockey player.A defenceman, Ribble was selected in 1974 by both the Atlanta Flames of the National Hockey League and the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association. He also played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington...
- J.R. Reich
- Ken SabourinKen SabourinKen R. Sabourin is a former Canadian hockey player who played in the NHL for the Calgary Flames and Washington Capitals....
- Blair StewartBlair StewartBlair James Stewart is a retired Canadian ice hockey player.Drafted in 1973 by the Detroit Red Wings, Stewart also played for the Washington Capitals and Quebec Nordiques....
- Scott Walker
Pittsburgh Penguins
Coaches: Eddie Johnston
Eddie Johnston
Edward Joseph Johnston is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and former coach and general manager in the National Hockey League...
, Randy Hillier
Randy Hillier
Randall George Hillier is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman.Hillier was drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1980 while playing for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL. He served the Bruins during his first three NHL seasons, but was best known for his seven seasons with the Pittsburgh...
and Pierre Larouche
Pierre Larouche
Pierre "Lucky Pierre" Larouche is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, Hartford Whalers, and New York Rangers.-Hockey career:...
.
Honorary GM was Jack Riley
Jack Riley (ice hockey b. 1919)
John Patrick "Jack" Riley is a retired professional ice hockey player and executive. He was born in Toronto, Ontario.Riley played nine seasons of professional hockey, primarily in the Eastern Hockey League for the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Falcons and Washington Lions...
.
- Mario LemieuxMario LemieuxMario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
- Ron FrancisRon FrancisRonald Michael Francis, Jr. is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 23 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs...
- Paul CoffeyPaul CoffeyPaul Douglas Coffey is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey defenceman in the National Hockey League. Known for his speed and scoring prowess, Coffey ranks second all-time among NHL defencemen in career goals, assists, and points, behind Ray Bourque.-Playing career:Coffey was drafted 6th...
- Bryan TrottierBryan TrottierBryan John Trottier is a retired Canadian-American professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins. He won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders, two with the Penguins and one as an assistant coach with the...
- Larry Murphy
- Bill GuerinBill GuerinWilliam Robert Guerin is an American former professional ice hockey player and current player development coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Guerin played eighteen seasons in the National Hockey League winning two Stanley Cup championships with the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins teams...
- Phil BourquePhil BourquePhillipe Richard Bourque is a former American professional ice hockey player. He was never selected in the NHL Entry Draft; instead, he was signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 4, 1982.-Playing career:...
- Rob Brown
- Rod BuskasRod BuskasRod Dale Buskas is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who spent 11 seasons in the National Hockey League...
- Jay CaufieldJay CaufieldJohn Jay Caufield is a former NHL right winger. Jay was raised in the Towamencin Township, Pennsylvania, area about a mile outside of Lansdale borough. He graduated from North Penn High School.-Playing career:...
- Bob ErreyBob ErreyRobert Errey is a retired former professional ice hockey left wing who was drafted 15th overall in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft and played 895 NHL games over the course of his career...
- Dave HannanDave HannanDavid Patrick Hannan is a Canadian former professional hockey left winger who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche and Ottawa Senators...
- Francois LerouxFrancois LerouxFrançois Leroux is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. At 6'6" and over 240 pounds, Leroux was a physical, defensive-minded defenceman who amassed 577 penalty minutes in his NHL career...
- Troy LoneyTroy LoneyTroy Ayne Loney is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey Left Winger.-Career:Loney was a member of the 1991 and 1992 Pittsburgh Penguin Stanley Cup champions. He was the veteran forward who was claimed by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim at the Expansion Draft in June 1993, and was named the...
- Greg MaloneGreg Malone (ice hockey)William Gregory Malone is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey Centre who is currently a scout for the Tampa Bay Lightning.-Career:...
- Gilles MelocheGilles MelocheGilles Meloche is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, California Golden Seals, Cleveland Barons, Minnesota North Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins...
- Craig SimpsonCraig SimpsonCraig Andrew Simpson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres...
- Frank PietrangeloFrank PietrangeloFrank Pietrangelo is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender.Pietrangelo started his National Hockey League career with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1988, winning the Stanley Cup in 1991. He also played for the Hartford Whalers. He left the NHL after the 1994 season...
- Gary RisslingGary RisslingGary Daniel Rissling is a retired Canadian ice hockey player. Originally signed in 1978 as a free agent by the Washington Capitals, Rissling also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 1983 and 1984 he was awarded the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Good Guy Award.-External links:And now owns...
- Rick TocchetRick TocchetRichard Tocchet is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals and Phoenix Coyotes. He was most recently the head coach of the...
- Gary Roberts
- Kevin StevensKevin StevensKevin "Artie" Stevens is a retired ice hockey player and current NHL scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played left wing on a line with Mario Lemieux during the Penguins' Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992...
- Peter TaglianettiPeter TaglianettiPeter A. Taglianetti is a former NHL defenseman and former college hockey coach at Washington & Jefferson College. He is the father of Pittsburgh Panthers football player Andrew Taglianetti and is also a former Pittsburgh Penguins broadcaster.-Awards and achievements:*1991 Stanley Cup ...
- Warren YoungWarren YoungWarren Howard Young is a retired Canadian Professional Hockey Left Winger who played seven seasons in the National Hockey League for the Minnesota North Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings....
Documentary
HBO aired a four-part documentary chronicling the preparation of the two teams for the game as part of its award-winning sports series 24/724/7 (TV Series)
24/7 is an American reality television series that follows sportsmen, and sporting organizations, for a period of weeks in the lead-up to a major sporting event. The show premiered with episodes featuring pairs of boxers as they prepare for their upcoming boxing match against one another...
. The first episode aired on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 10 p.m. ET, with three additional episodes following each subsequent Wednesday. The series chronicled each team's seasons leading up to the Winter Classic, and emphasized the rivalry between Crosby and Ovechkin and between the Penguins and Capitals.
Associated games
The week leading up to the Winter Classic featured a number of hockey-related events. On Thursday, December 30, 2010, the Robert Morris ColonialsRobert Morris Colonials men's ice hockey
The Robert Morris Colonials men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Robert Morris University. The team plays its home games at the Island Sports Center in Neville Township, Pennsylvania. The Colonials are a member of...
and the RIT Tigers
RIT Tigers men's ice hockey
The RIT Tigers men's ice hockey team is one of two hockey teams representing Rochester Institute of Technology in suburban Rochester, New York. The school's men's team competes in the Division I Atlantic Hockey conference. The team has won two national championships, one each at the Division II and...
men's varsity hockey teams met at the Consol Energy Center in downtown Pittsburgh for an Atlantic Hockey
Atlantic Hockey
The Atlantic Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates primarily in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey–only conference. Unlike several other college athletic conferences, Atlantic Hockey has no women's...
league match. The college game was followed that evening by an American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
matchup between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
and the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
, the top minor-league affiliates of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals, respectively.
See also
- 2010–11 Pittsburgh Penguins season2010–11 Pittsburgh Penguins seasonThe 2010–11 Pittsburgh Penguins season is the 44th and current season of the franchise in the National Hockey League . The Penguins began the season in their new arena, CONSOL Energy Center, which is adjacent from their old facility, Mellon Arena, which had been the third smallest and oldest arena...
- 2010–11 Washington Capitals season2010–11 Washington Capitals seasonThe 2010–11 Washington Capitals season is the 37th season for the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League . Despite the Capitals' first round exit in the 2010 Playoffs, ticket prices for this season were increased between 13 and 50 percent....
- 2011 Heritage Classic2011 Heritage ClassicThe 2011 Heritage Classic was a regular season outdoor National Hockey League game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames. The game was played at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on February 20, 2011. The Flames defeated the Canadiens by a score of 4–0 before a crowd of...
- List of outdoor ice hockey games
- List of ice hockey games with highest attendance