Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs Head Outdoors

By Taylor Bosley
Staff Writer

Two NHL teams will leave the rink and head outside to face-off the old fashion way at Michigan Stadium Jan. 1.  After being postponed due to the lockout last season, the popular tradition of the Bridgestone Winter Classic will continue this year featuring two of the Original Six rivals, the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
   
Fans across the NHL are quickly buying up all of the tickets available for the Winter Classic.  USA Today reported that all of the tickets are nearly sold out except for single seat tickets.  
   
“We’re looking forward to 107,000-plus people up there,” Red Wings president and CEO Tom Wilson said to USA Today.
   
Being two of the Original Six teams, the rivalry of the two teams has been apart of the NHL since the beginning.  The rivalry will surely be intensified due to the Winter Classic and also the recent welcoming of the Red Wings in the Eastern Conference.           

Since the two teams have past history between them, an alumni game featuring players that were previous members of the two teams is also set to be played.  
   
“I’m excited because it’s one of the biggest games and it’s so exciting to see all of the older players come back for the alumni game.” Senior and avid hockey fan Nicole Thivierge said about the upcoming Winter Classic.  

There is a possibility that previous Detroit Redwing player Steve Yzerman now the current Tampa Bay Lightning General Manager, will play in the alumni game.  If so, any alumni tickets are expected to sell out.
   
Although the Winter Classic has not been apart of the NHL for long, both members and fans of the NHL are excited to see the game played the old fashion way between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings.