By Brian Sabath
Just picture this: Some guys playing hockey. Outside. On the first day of the New Year. In the middle of a minor league baseball field.
Not a common sight for a baseball field in the middle of cold winter. But, leave it to the Saint Ignatius hockey team to not only play in such special circumstances, but also win 3-1 over the visiting St. John’s Jesuit hockey team.
The game came with lots of excitement as many of the players were used to playing pond hockey when they were younger (as many still do); plus, it was on the very same day the NHL Winter Classic was played. This event has grown in recent years to match the audience of the college football bowl games that are usually played on New Years Day. The Winter Classic is played on makeshift outdoor rinks placed inside outdoor sporting venues.
The game, while played with the exact OHSAA rules, was very different compared to your “average” hockey game.
Mr. Pat O’Rourke ‘90, head hockey coach, said “We didn’t grow up in Canada, but some of the boys played on backyard rinks when they were younger, so it definitely connects us with the roots of the game. It’s nothing but fun for the whole team”
With the new environment the team had to adapt to its surroundings. A light wind blew across the rink, and even dusty snow swept across the rink. The puck would blend in with things that are located around the stadium. Used to playing in their traditional gear, the hockey team was in for a surprise when the cold air buffeted them from all sides, forcing them into a few extra layers.
For hockey players and fans alike, it doesn’t get much better than an outdoor hockey game. Whether it be because of the natural setting, or the added intensity of the game, all would agree that the game is an exciting one to watch and play with a few friends.
