The NHL does a great job hyping and promoting the Winter Classic and it is an excellent event, but today the Michigan Wolverines took on the Michigan State Spartans in the Big Chill outdoor hockey game at the Michigan football stadium in Ann-Arbor in front of a record crowd of 113,411, which NHL simply cannot match. The other thing that a game like this provides that the NHL cannot match no matter which rivalry it tries to use for the Winter Classic is the differential between a professional and a college rivalry as when the colleges that are bitter rivals get together you play for the honor and bragging rights of your school and the University as a whole pays attention not just the fans of the sport.
The game itself was dominated by the Wolverines and prospects that will play in the NY metro area when they become professionals in Jon Merrill the New Jersey Devils 2010 2nd round pick getting two goals and New York Rangers 2007 6th rounder Carl Hagelin added two goals and an assist to seal the game. Hagelin was excellent all game long controlling the play at multiple points especially on the power play and even better for Rangers fans he showed his willingness to play in the tough areas getting both of his goals off rebounds around the net.
