Winter Classic, etc.

Bobby Clarke and Bobby Orr meet up at center ice before the game.

Phew! Who isn't hockeyed out after the past few days' events, huh?

So in case you haven't heard, a few hockey games were played at Fenway. The first one was the Winter Classic, where the Bruins pulled it together in the final minutes to eke out a 2-1 OT win. Then Saturday featured the Legends Classic where Jay Miller displayed his nascent sniper abilities and scored a hat trick. Not occuring at Fenway, but equally entertaining has been the World Junior Championships - USA losing to the Hosers 5-4 in a shootout on New Year's Eve, then USA beating the Finns, then last night beating the Swedes. If you like fast, crazy-skilled hockey, check out the World Juniors. USA plays Canada for the gold tomorrow night at 8pm on the NHL Network.
Winter Classic random crap

• TOO MANY FLYERS FANS. What a bunch of rubes. I was half-expecting them to throw batteries on the ice when the B's scored.
  
• SCOTT HARTNELL. This guy is right up there with Avery as far as being an on-ice punk. His hair is obnoxious, he looks like Carrot Top out there. Lootch needs to come back so the B's won't get pushed around anymore.
• SHUT UP, we know that "it's like being a kid again" after seeing the footage/hype of the previous outdoor games.
• I can't believe they played "Sweet Caroline", the whole tradition at Sox games blows my mind, but there are those who say it galvanized the Bruins into scoring the goal, so my new fear is that they'll play this at the FleetGarden after Lootch beatdowns instead of "Seek & Destroy".
• That B-2 Stealth flyover was something else. You expect flyovers to be all loud and stuff, and this thing was quiet as a mouse. Definitely a "holy shit" moment.
• You call that "hot chocolate"???? Dude, it was brown water. HORRIBLE.
  

Legends Classic random crap

• How nice was it to see Cam Neely skating again?
• Charlie Jacobs scored a goal. As you would expect, the guy's 145lbs soaking wet, holding an anvil, so it's no surprise that Tom Werner (yes, that Tom Werner) beat him down in a "fight".
• Cload was out there, playing "defense".
• Middleton was awarded a penalty shot after being hooked down. He beat Peter Farrelly five-hole.
• Farrelly was actually pretty good in net. Not just a connoisseur of dick 'n fart jokes, that Farrelly. He got the MVP of the game.
• The attendance for this event was pretty good. The bleachers were kind of empty, but the Field Boxes & Grandstands were decently packed.
• Jack Edwards and some other guy did the play-by-play, which was broadcast over the Fenway PA.

The Final Cost of the Winter Classic

Yes, I know that ticket prices will be in the $50-$300 range for the actual game. I'm more worried about what our renewal price will be for 2010-2011. Currently, we have what I think is the best deal in the Garden: $800 give or take a few bucks gets you a seat to all 41 games on the end the Bruins shoot twice. You're in the building without breaking the bank. What has me worried is what ownership is doing with the winter classic. From what I've heard, new season ticket holders after the WC was announced were paying much higher rates for their season tickets. Also, this privileged pre-sale we were given access to yesterday? It was absurd. All I wanted were a pair of balcony seats to a couple of random games when I know friends and family would be in town. I go online for this presale and in most cases could not even get balcony seats (Loge seats were all that was available and they cost $300 each after fees) and when I did finally find some balcony seats available they cost $140!!!! I'm not paying that - that is above stubhub prices from last season to the big regular season games.

My overriding point here is, I think we're in trouble when it comes time to renew our season tickets for 2010-11. That will be the real cost of the winter classic. It better not get rained out. Ownership may milk the attention they get for all its worth. I'm all for paying a little more if they are putting a better product on the ice, but i can't stomach too much more and I'm sure a lot of season ticket holders are in the same boat.

By the way - I was born and raised in Minnesota (hence the nickname) and am a lifelong Vikings fan. Brett Favre is a disgrace. That's all I'm going to say...