One of these years, an NHL Winter Classic will be postponed. This is the reality of holding an open-air hockey game in the United States on January 1 when the weather is unpredictable. As wonderful as these events have been -- the light snow in Buffalo, the glory of Wrigley Field -- the week leading up to the Winter Classic will never fail to cause Gary Bettman, NHL marketing executives and everyone involved to toss and turn in their sleep.This week in Boston is no exception. Like most of the East, Massachusetts had unseasonably warm weather the last two days. On Monday, the rains came. NHL ice man Dan Craig said his weather forecasters initially told him to expect a 50 percent chance of snow on New Year's Day. Now their projections have changed to rain.
Craig says he doesn't worry about what he cannot control. He has a job to do.
"We have three or four meetings a day," Craig said on Monday afternoon at Fenway Park. "The number one topic in all of them is the weather. We're still in good shape. The rain is supposed to stop soon. We'll start putting the logos on the ice at 6 PM. Should be done by 10 PM. Everything else, we'll wait and see until the day of the game."
The decision to play the 1 PM ET game on Friday between Boston and Philadelphia comes down to two factors, according to Craig. "Our focus is on player safety and fan safety."
Only four more sleepless nights to go.
******
In other Winter Classic News, local legend James Taylor will perform the U.S. National Anthem before the Bruins host the Flyers at Fenway Park. Taylor has sold more than 40 million albums and won more than 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards as well as five Grammy Awards. In 2000, Taylor was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
British Columbia native Daniel Powter -- best known for the hit song "Bad Day" -- will sing the Canadian National Anthem. The event will open with Boston band the Dropkick Murphys performing their signature tune, "I'm Shipping Up to Boston." If you don't know the song by name, you'll know it when you hear it. It was featured in Martin Scorcese's The Departed.
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