Bettman: Winter Classic to spotlight growth of hockey in St. Louis
On Jan. 2, Busch Stadium will transform from a diamond to a rink, as the St. Louis Blues host the Chicago Blackhawks in the ninth running of the NHL's Winter Classic.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, along with executives from both teams, gathered at the home of the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday to discuss the game. Bettman said he's thrilled to be hosting the event in a rapidly growing market.
"What better way to celebrate 100 years of NHL hockey than playing in the shadow of the Gateway Arch," Bettman said, according to NHL.com. "At the same time we will be able to spotlight the incredible growth of hockey in St. Louis. There will be plenty of history to commemorate and lots of excitement to anticipate."
The Blues are coming off their most successful season in recent memory, advancing to the conference finals for the first time in 15 years.
What's more, five St. Louis natives were taken in the first round of this year's draft.
| Player | Team | Overall pick |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew Tkachuk | Calgary Flames | 5th |
| Clayton Keller | Arizona Coyotes | 7th |
| Logan Brown | Ottawa Senators | 11th |
| Luke Kunin | Minnesota Wild | 15th |
| Trent Frederic | Boston Bruins | 28th |
The football team may have left town, but hockey is alive and well in The Gateway City.