My Personal Experiences At The 2012 Winter Classic | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

My Personal Experiences At The 2012 Winter Classic

Why the last week of 2011 and the first day of 2012 were some of the best days of my life.

15
My Personal Experiences At The 2012 Winter Classic

I remember Christmas Day of 2011 very vividly. Mostly because that was the day my dad gave me tickets to the NHL Winter Classic. For those of you who don't know, the Winter Classic is the annual outdoor hockey game played on New Year's Day. In 2012, it was scheduled to be in Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia. Our beloved Flyers were going to play the New York Rangers, and I was going to be there to see it.

But that wasn't all that was going on that week. A few days before the big game, there would also be an alumni game between former Flyers and Rangers players. There was also a game scheduled between the Flyers' and Rangers' minor league teams. They were all outdoor games, and my dad and I were going to all of those games.

First was the alumni game. Most of the players had been long retired before I started following hockey, but I knew most of them. My personal idol, Bernie Parent, was going to be the starting goalie at age 66. Some of my favorite players from my childhood, like John Leclair and Eric Lindros, also played in the game. For the first time in my life, I could watch players from the legendary Broad Street Bullies team that won the Stanley Cup in the 1970s play hockey. Even though I didn't feel the nostalgia that many of the older fans in the crowd felt, it was still a surreal experience for me. That the Flyers won, 3-2, was just the icing on the cake. It was a great start to a fantastic week.

The Flyers' minor league team, the Phantoms, hold a special place in my heart to this day. When the team was in Philadelphia, my dad took me to see them all the time. It was less expensive to go to Phantoms games as opposed to Flyers games, and the Phantoms were usually considered to be more kid-friendly. I loved going to Phantoms games. So when the city destroyed the Spectrum and the Phantoms relocated to Glen Falls, New York, I was devastated. It was certainly a great to see the Phantoms return to Philadelphia, let alone in an outdoor game. Early on, the game was not going the Phantoms' way, but they fought on and forced overtime, eventually winning 4-3 in overtime.

Then came the big game. Unlike the other two games, my dad and I sat in the lower level. We were a little far away from the ice, but we could still see the action. And it was a magical day. I got to see my favorite professional sports team in the world play outdoors. I remember seeing Brayden Schenn score his first career NHL goal; Schenn has gone on to be one of my favorite Flyers since. I remember snow beginning to fall during the intermission between the second and third periods. And, most of all, I remember that the Flyers blew a lead and lost the game, 3-2.

You might think that a loss would put a damper on my spirits, but it did not at all. I got to savor a once-in-a-lifetime experience with my dad. We got to see our favorite players, past and present, play a game we love. Sure, some fans didn't take the loss particularly well; it is Philly after all. But to me, the outcome of the game was secondary. January 1, 2012 is still one of the greatest days of my life. The week leading up to it wasn't too shabby either.

I bring this up now because of the news that the Flyers and Penguins will play a series of outdoor games in the coming years, one game in Pittsburgh and one game in Philadelphia. Even if it wouldn't be the first outdoor game that either team has played, it is still an event I am looking forward to. The atmosphere of that game in 2012 was magical beyond description. The Winter Classic is the single greatest thing created by the NHL, and it's a tradition I hope to see continue for many years to come.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

11 Confessions Of A Sleep-A-Holic

If your plans get cancelled, there is a 99.9% percent chance you are sleeping.

381
woman lying on bed
Photo by Kinga Howard on Unsplash

1. What are some of your hobbies? Does sleep count?

I'm so good at sleeping I can do it with my eyes closed

Keep Reading...Show less
one tree hill
Wikipedia Commons

If you need a new series to watch, I recommend One Tree Hill. I watched this series three times now and it only keeps getting better. If you need any more reasons beside the fact that all of the seasons are on Netflix for your binge-watching pleasure, here are seven more reasons to watch it.

Keep Reading...Show less
University of Mount Olive
University of Mount Olive

College is the most exciting time of a person's life. It really is. Exciting is not always a positive feeling though. Excited is a feeling that can be associated with nervousness, anxiety and more. Here are some real tips for college freshman that go beyond the typical, "Go to class," lecture.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

The 5 Pros and Cons Of Long Distance Friendships

Being friends with someone thousands of miles away has its drawbacks and perks.

1337
friends on the beach

True friendship is incredibly rare, and to find a friend that will be there for you through all of life's curveballs is something quite unique. To add distance into the equation, maintaining a real, true friendship can be a struggle. There are good and bad parts that come with long distance friendship.

Keep Reading...Show less
high school girls
Tori Horne

Friendship. It's defined as the state of being attached to another person by feelings of affection or personal regard, but what really is friendship? Is it that occasional hallway talk with that one person who always manages to cheer you up? Is it that relationship you have with someone where they can be gone for a long period of time, but when they come back, it's like they never left? Is it spending every waking hour with someone, and knowing every detail about their life? Is it the relationship that's filled with fighting, but filled with even more resolution? I've learned that it's all of these things, and every friendship is different. It's a beautifully dysfunctional mess that should always be cherished and never be taken for granted.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments