Blackhawks forward Patrick Maroon has outdoor game experience, playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2022 NHL Stadium Series game at the Nashville Predators, but he’s never participated in a Winter Classic.
“We get an opportunity to play at Wrigley field, it’s a Winter Classic game and a lot of these guys have never played in one,” said Maroon. “It’s a different feel than just a regular NHL game. There’s a lot of hype going into it, a lot of emotions. Guys are excited, there are big crowds. Crowds are going nuts, there’s a lot of people around, there are concerts going in during intermissions.
“There’s a lot of stuff going on. This isn’t just another NHL game.”
Most of the Blackhawks haven’t seen Wrigley during its transformation from baseball ballpark to hockey arena. Captain Nick Foligno and Vlasic were there Dec. 18 after the ice truck arrived. They went on a tour of the Cubs facilities, including their locker room and batting cages, with former Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster.
“I’m pumped,” Foligno said. “I’m most excited to see the fans in the stands. We obviously play in front of a lot of people, but you get into a ballpark and see the difference in stadium size and being outdoors with the lights, it brings you back to being a kid, too.”
This will be Foligno’s second Winter Classic. He played for the Boston Bruins in their 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 Winter Classic at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, on Jan. 2, 2023.
“You almost drown out the noise, and then you see the lights and the game and that’s really what hockey is. That’s the beautiful moment of hockey, right, is the outdoor aspect, the fresh air, the fog in the breath and two teams battling it out. It’s hockey in its purest and finest form. I’m excited to get back here.”
