September 27, 2011, NHL Winter Classic announcement news story for HockeyPrimeTime.com

Citizens Bank Park chosen as Winter Classic site

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Written by Denis Gorman

Monday, September 26, 2011 21:03

Rangers, Flyers, Gary Bettman and others gather at the Phillies' park to formally introduce the site of the 2012 Winter Classic. PHILADELPHIA — The worst-kept secret in hockey was finally made public Monday afternoon. The New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers will play in the Winter Classic on the afternoon of Jan. 2, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced in a press conference at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park. The Philadelphia Philles' home park will host the game. This will be the first Winter Classic appearance for the Rangers. The Flyers were selected to play in the league’s marquee regular-season game once, against the Bruins at Fenway Park in 2010. Bettman was joined by NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr, Bridgestone Vice President for Consumer Marketing Phil Pasci, HBO Sports Executive Producer Rick Bernstein, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Phillies President Dave Montgomery. The Flyers were represented by owner Ed Snider, team president Peter Luukko, head coach Peter Laviolette, captain Chris Pronger and teammates Matt Carle, Scott Hartnell and James Van Riemsdyk. General Manager Glen Sather, head coach John Tortorella, captain Ryan Callahan and teammates Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik were in attendance for the Rangers. Former Flyers forward and CSN broadcaster Keith Jones emceed the press conference. “This is the fifth time that I’ve had the pleasure of making one of these announcements and it’s still a very special feeling,” Bettman said. “We look forward to a few months ahead where it will be 40 to 50 degrees colder, clouds and snow. “There will be a hockey rink on this field. There will be two very excited teams playing in front of a sellout crowd.” The game will be broadcast by NBC in the United States, and CBC and RDS in Canada. As part of the game, HBO will air its ‘24/7’ four-part series. “Taking our reality series ‘24/7’ into the world of the National Hockey League proved to be a perfect fit," Bernstein said in a statement. "The ‘24/7’ franchise is fashioned on larger-than-life personalities, engaging storylines and unrestricted access. Clearly, we had all those ingredients last December and the New York-Philadelphia rivalry should spark another terrific series.” Luukko announced that its AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms, will play the Hershey Bears at Citizens Bank Park on Jan. 6. He said that there will be public skating and the possibility exists of college and high school games. There will also be a Rangers-Flyers Alumni game on New Year’s Eve. The Atlantic Division rivals have shared a storied rivalry dating back to Dave Schultz’s decimation of Dale Rolfe in Game 7 of the 1974 semifinals. The Rangers lead the regular season series 110-107-37-7, while the Flyers have won six of the 10 playoff series. Sather and Snider ratcheted up the rivalry with some good-natured ribbing. “We are going to come to Philadelphia and we are going to win,” Sather said. “I’m sorry we (the 1984-85 and 1986-87 Edmonton Oilers) kicked the hell out of you in the Stanley Cup and we’re going to do the same thing on (Jan. 2) and at the end of the year we will be carrying the Cup, just like the Yankees are going to have the World Championship.” “When he said ‘we kicked the hell out of the two Stanley Cups’ he wasn’t talking about the Rangers,” retorted Snider. “I remember kicking the hell out of the Rangers on the way to our Cups.” On Twitter: @HockeyPrimeTime and @DenisGorman

Last Updated on Monday, September 26, 2011 22:30

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