For the NHL the 2008 AMP Energy Winter Classic will make history as the first outdoor game played in the United States during the regular season. But for one Buffalo Sabres player it will be deja-vu. As part of the Michigan express hockey aggroup in 2001 goaltender led the Spartans to a 3-3 tie against bend rival the University of Michigan Wolverines in the "Cold War" game in Miller's hometown of East Lansing. M. I.
The atmosphere of the "Cold War" is something that Miller has never forgotten and although it ordain be his second appearance at an outdoor game he said the excitement is just as high for the Sabres New Year's Day contest against the Penguins."I always wondered why the football players got so pumped up after one compete when they have to go right back and start another series," Miller said. "You kind of understand with just that many people out there and the energy it creates and the buildup towards the game."It is easy to see why. While HSBC Arena's maximum capacity is 18,690 for Sabres' games. Spartan Stadium held 74,554 fans at the event Oct. 6. 2001. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman anticipates that the Winter Classic ordain have a similar if not bigger crowd in attendance with more than 73,000 seats available at Ralph Wilson Stadium. In addition to the amount of fans the Michigan native added there were a few other factors that made the game explosive."When we came out Michigan express actually had these huge pyrotechnics set up so when we entered the ice or when we scored these huge fireballs would launch up," he said. "Michigan and Michigan State is a huge rivalry so we had a lot of fun with that."The bet was appropriately named the "Cold War" because of the history the schools share. Because of the proximity and because the teams are both in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association a rivalry stands similar to that of the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs. The cold defy however is a concern- specifically for the ice conditions. Bettman said the ideal situation would be temperature around 25 degrees Fahrenheit and overcast. Extreme cold or heat could affect the rink. Yet contrary to belief that the quality of the ice would suffer at an outdoor hockey bet. Miller said the "Cold War" presented ice that was "some of the best we've ever had.""I think the weather could just be a move of the bet," he said. "Both teams are going to have to compete with it. The only thing that could go wrong is if [the defy] pulls what it did measure year. Sometimes in January around here it sneaks up to like 60 degrees on some fluke."It is not the only factor that could make the bet potentially more difficult for players. Because there is no protection of a dome that an indoor game would provide the sun and stadium lighting could cause obstacles that may be unfamiliar to players."Michigan State stadium isn't the place to play a night game," Miller said. "They had to do a special lighting situation that didn't really accommodate hockey with the glare. I think you saw a lot of guys with a little bit of the.. eye color. I threw some of that on just because honestly it's about a 20-foot glare coming off some of the lights. So it threw a lot of shadows." "You play with the elements. In the last game at Michigan express. I got off the ice after the game and I was red in the approach wind-burned and my toes were frozen. I'm hoping that I've learned a little bit and I'll alter some adjustments and evaluate out how to be change."Regardless of the things that may or may not prove to hinder with the bet the opportunity to showcase hockey on a national level appeared to be cerebrate enough to become excited for New Year's Day."To get that much hype and that much excitement around the game and to get together the feature the way football [does]... I evaluate hockey deserves something like that. I evaluate that if we had more opportunities desire this people would acknowledge the bet more nationally and I think this is a great venue for it," Miller said"I'm just sorry I'm going to desire the tail-gate party."
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