The Blackhawks are hosting their second Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, having faced the Detroit Red Wings at the same venue on January 1, 2009, in a 6-4 Detroit win. This will be the second time the Winter Classic has returned to the same stadium. The 2010 and 2023 editions of the event were held at Fenway Park in Boston.
It is also the first Winter Classic to be played on New Year’s Eve.
Dempster, who played with the Cubs from 2004 to 2012, now serves as an analyst for Cubs games on television. A native of Gibsons, British Columbia, he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.
Dempster is very attached to the city of Chicago. He was at the 2009 Winter Classic and can’t wait for the next one.
“It’s so special,” he said. We were talking about it earlier. Playing hockey outside is life for these guys. They’ve all played on a frozen pond or outdoor rink somewhere. To go back to basics with an event like this, in a place like Wrigley Field, it’s awesome.
“I was here in 2009 for the game. I was sitting behind home plate and I can’t wait to relive that on New Year’s Eve. It’s special. Few places are as legendary as Wrigley Field, aside from Fenway Park. Playing this match here will be so enjoyable. »
For the moment, 3°C and cloudy skies are forecast for December 31 in Wrigleyville, the neighborhood surrounding the stadium. It would be a little warmer than Wednesday, when it was 0°C. That suits Vlasic.
“It’s perfect right now,” he said. I was just thinking that the temperature is perfect. I hope it stays like this. »
Wrigley Field has created many memories over the years. Foligno and Vlasic experienced the meeting between baseball and hockey on Wednesday. They’ll want to add to those memories right here in a Blackhawks uniform in about two weeks.
“Hockey brings a lot of memorable experiences, and this game was one of them,” Foligno said. I got to meet an athlete I loved and admired when I was younger in Ryan Dempster. It’s great that he showed us around the place he made famous and where he himself became famous.
“The Cubs are a historic franchise, like the Blackhawks. It’s great to bridge the gap between the two organizations with this event. We’re excited to be here. »
