Winter Classic 2012: Patti LaBelle To Sing National Anthem

Read More: St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia native Patti LaBelle will be singing the national anthem when the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers face off in the NHL Winter Classic, according to Flyers beat writer Anthony J. SanFilippo. The Flyers, like many teams in the NHL, have a regular singer of the national anthem. That singer, Lauren Hart, will perform God Bless America at some point during the game, in a similar fashion to baseball games. Which is appropriate, seeing as the game is being held at a baseball stadium and the Flyers wouldn't want to exclude Lauren Hart from proceedings.

As a Philadelphia native, LaBelle has sang at other Philadelphia sporting events on multiple occasions. Some hardcore Flyers fans might not be too happy that tradition is being messed with, but Hart will still get a chance to sing and some national TV face time.

For more on this year's game, head over to SB Nation's Rangers blog, Blueshirt Banter, and Flyers blog, Broad Street Hockey. For everything Winter Classic in the build-up to the game, head over to our NHL Winter Classic StoryStream.