2014 Winter Classic: Wings vs. Leafs to be made official Sunday

Blackhawks, Penguins to play outdoor game at Soldier Field

The Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins have been confirmed to play an outdoor regular-season game at Soldier Field in 2014.

NHL to play 6 outdoor games in 2014, says report; NYC gets 2

According to multiple reports, there will be not one, not two ... not three or four or five ... but SIX outdoor games during the 2013-14 NHL season.

Wings, Leafs Winter Classic jerseys revealed

One of the more popular aspects of the Winter Classic is the uniforms worn by the participating teams.

They tend to be sort of a mishmash of the teams' various threads from the past, and the Red Wings and Maple Leafs have both gone in that tradition. I still don't think they beat the Chicago Blackhawks jerseys from the 2009 Winter Classic -- in my mind, the best of the first set of these events -- but they're pretty good. Also, the clashing colors will make it like European football, and hopefully will allow teams to go to different formats than the rigid white vs. colors in the future.

The Red Wings retro threads were described as a throwback to the early 20th century by an NHL press release:

The Red Wings will wear iconic red and antique white uniforms featuring a striping pattern and arch Detroit wordmark inspired by the late-1920s Detroit Cougars. The front crest is an early iteration of the winged wheel from the late 1930s, featuring a novelty felt appliqué with a distinct chain stitch embroidery. The custom Detroit wordmark and number system is a nod to the exclusive typeface worn by the Red Wings during the early 1980's. The Red Wings' iconic diamond shape captain patch pays homage to the team's memorable heritage and the legends who wore it over the years.

Meanwhile, the Leafs sweaters have been seen in some form or another as recently as the 1960s.

The Maple Leafs will wear a royal blue and white unique uniform design and distinct striping configuration inspired by the Leafs circa the 1930s, a time when the franchise won its first Stanley Cup as the newly named Toronto Maple Leafs. The front crest is a felt appliqué with a very distinct wordmark from the inaugural Maple Leafs logo, revealed in 1927. This particular neckline design is taken from the memorable sweaters worn throughout the 1960s and the reverse lace-up detail is unique to the Maple Leafs' heritage. The iconic running stitch detail on the number system is a tribute to the Leafs sweater from the mid-1950s.

The alumni teams will wear separate, more conventional retro uniforms on Dec. 31 for the alumni showdown, two games between Wings and Leafs alumni at Comerica Park.

NHL Winter Classic 2014: League announces return to Ann Arbor

The National Hockey League's signature outdoor event will makeup for the cancelled game earlier this year.

Winter Classic 2014: Jersey unveiling, game announcement to come Sunday

The NHL is expected to announce the 2014 Winter Classic this Sunday at Joe Louis Arena.

2014 Winter Classic jerseys may have leaked

Do you think these are the jerseys the Maple Leafs and Red Wings will wear at the 2014 Winter Classic?

Winter Classic 2014: Red Wings vs. Maple Leafs still on, according to report

The 2014 Winter Classic will feature the Maple Leafs and Red Wings, making up for the lockout-canceled matchup from this season, according to a report.

NHLPA issues statement on Winter Classic cancellation

Donald Fehr, executive director of the NHLPA, calls the cancellation "unnecessary" and places all blame for the lockout's continuation on the NHL.

Winter Classic 2013: Refund policy for ticket holders

The NHL has announced the refund policy for the 2013 Winter Classic, which was canceled on Friday.

Winter Classic 2013, Hockeytown Winter Festival officially canceled

The NHL has dropped the hammer, canceling the 2013 Winter Classic and the Hockeytown Winter Festival on Friday. Reports indicate that the 2014 game will be held at the Big House.

Winter Classic 2013 canceled, but Big House to get 2014 game, says report

The 2014 Winter Classic will be hosted by the Detroit Red Wings at the University of Michigan's football stadium, just as it was supposed to be in 2013.

Winter Classic 2013: Cancelation set for Friday afternoon, says report

The 2013 Winter Classic will be canceled on Friday.

Winter Classic 2013: Sponsors informed of cancelation, according to report

The NHL is informing sponsors of the 2013 Winter Classic that it will be canceling the event on Friday, according to a report.

Winter Classic 2013 could be canceled Friday, and it doesn't make any sense

The 2013 Winter Classic could hit the history books Friday as the NHL makes what would be an incredibly hasty, stupid decision.

Winter Classic 2013 won't be canceled Thursday

The NHL will not be canceling the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday.

Winter Classic 2013 to be canceled Thursday, according to report

The NHL will cancel the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday, according to a report.

NHL lockout: Winter Classic, All-Star Game could be canceled next week

The Winter Classic could be on the chopping block next week.

Winter Classic 2013: Nov. 20 the drop-dead date for cancellation, according to report

The NHL will have to determine by Nov. 20 whether they will hold the 2013 Winter Classic, according to a report.

Winter Classic 2013: NHL not visiting Ann Arbor, cancellation fears grow

NHL staff have no future plans to visit Ann Arbor, making many fearful that the ongoing NHL lockout is threatening the 2013 Winter Classic.

NHL Lockout Could Cause November Cancellation Of 2013 Winter Classic

Contrary to previous reports that the NHL lockout wouldn't guarantee that the 2013 Winter Classic would be cancelled, a league source told The Toronto Star that, barring a settlement, commissioner Gary Bettman plans to cancel the New Years Day game.

"Gary told (the board of governors) he was going to cancel the Winter Classic in November because he didn't want the players to use the game as leverage," the source said.

A source close to the players said that the NHLPA had heard similar news.

Leafs GM Brian Burke, the NHL and the NHLPA declined comment. Jimmy Devellano, Red Wings senior vice-president, said the organization remains in wait-and-see mode.

The game, which has typically been a big television ratings success, is currently scheduled to be played at The Big House, Michigan Stadium, between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 1. With the lockout underway, no bargaining scheduled between NHL players and owners and owners seemingly being unwilling to budge from their position on the collective bargaining agreement, the game's future looks grim.

For more news on the NHL lockout, stay tuned to this StoryStream. For all of your NHL needs, check out SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

NHL Lockout Wouldn't Guarantee Cancellation Of 2013 Winter Classic

The NHL may be on verge of a lockout beginning on Sept. 15, but it wouldn't necessarily mean an immediate cancellation of the 2013 Winter Classic. That game— between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs— is scheduled to be held at the University of Michigan's Michigan Stadium on Jan. 1. According to the New York Times, a clause in the NHL's contract stipulates that the league can announce a cancellation of the game as late as the day of, which would allow the NHL to put the game on even if the lockout was resolved in mid-to-late December.

Winter Classic Alumni Game 2013 Initial Rosters Announced

The initial rosters for the 2013 Winter Classic Alumni Game have been released, featuring former greats from the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The game will be split into two doubleheaders on Dec. 31.

Winter Classic 2013: There Will Be Beer

There will be beer served at the 2013 Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Phew.

The Michigan Senate passed a bill Wednesday that will allow the NHL to use a temporary 30-day liquor license to serve beer at the Winter Classic, which will take place on Jan. 1, 2013. The same bill was approved by the state's House of Representatives on May 24.

The issue of whether alcohol would be served at the game stems from a policy enforced by the city of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan prohibiting the consumption of alcohol at Michigan Stadium and at all Wolverine sporting events. Michigan is a dry campus and the university has gone to great lengths to keep it that way, even refusing to allow purses into the stadium to prevent fans from smuggling in alcohol.

The passing of this bill essentially creates a special exception for a unique sporting event that has yet to be held in the hockey-centric state of Michigan.

With Michigan Stadium boasting a listed capacity of 109,901, the NHL hopes to break the world record for attendance of a professional hockey game, set in 2010 at the same stadium when the Michigan Wolverines and Michigan St. Spartans skated before 104,173 fans.

This time around, however, a sizable portion of that crowd will likely be giddy while openly sipping beer.

Stay up to date with all the news about the 2013 Winter Classic and all the latest from around the league at SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

Winter Classic 2013: Michigan House Votes To Allow Alcohol Sales; State Senate The Next Hurdle

The 2013 NHL Winter Classic will be held on New Year's Day at Michigan Stadium, the usual home of the Michigan Wolverines. The Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs will face off in the league's annual outdoor games. The city and state have to hold a special vote to decide the matter, but the good news is this: it looks as though there will be beer.

USA Today reports that the Michigan House has held a vote and will allow alcohol to be sold at the game, but state senate approval is needed before it become official.

The outdoor game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2013. The league made the sale of alcohol a condition of approving the venue. Alcohol is not permitted to be sold to the public during Michigan football games.

Hockey fans planning on attending the game will certainly welcome another way to keep warm.

For more on the Detroit Red Wings, please visit Winging It In Motown or stop by SB Nation Detroit. For info on the Toronto Maple Leafs, head over to Pension Plan Puppets and be sure to stay tuned to this StoryStream for lots more on the 2013 Winter Classic.

Winter Classic 2013: Michigan Stadium Needs Special Liquor License To Serve Alcohol At Game

University of Michigan officials are looking to the State House of Representatives this week to approve legislation that would make it legal to serve alcohol at Michigan Stadium for the 2013 NHL Winter Classic. The House Regulatory Reform Committee will reportedly hold a hearing Wednesday to discuss the legislation. The school needs a temporary liquor license large enough to accommodate the 109,000-plus Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs fans that could pack the stadium on Jan. 1.

The university does not allow any alcohol to be served at campus sporting events. However, one of the NHL's stipulations in their agreement to rent the stadium was that the ban be lifted. The approved license would be good for 30 days, long enough to cover all festivities leading up to the game itself.

The Michigan athletic department will take a healthy payday from the Winter Classic. After expenses, the school expects to net a $3 million profit.

For more on the 2013 Winter Classic, check in with Red Wings blog Winging It In Motown,Maple Leafs blog Pension Plan Puppets, SB Nation Detroit, and our SBNation.com StoryStream.

HBO 24/7 To Return For Season 3 Featuring Red Wings, Maple Leafs

"HBO 24/7" will return for a third season, this time to cover the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs in the lead up to the 2013 NHL Winter Classic to be held at Michigan Stadium on Jan. 1 next season. NHL COO John Collins confirmed the news Tuesday, saying that the third iteration of the series will feature a few changes.

"We're going to work a little more closely with HBO on production," Collins said. "We've been in partnership with them, but now that we have an original productions group here, we're going to work a little more closely with them on the production side."

The NHL will also partner with a Canadian network to take the series north of the border.

The series almost didn't get off the ground for a third season after HBO Sports management found itself in flux. Former president Ross Greenberg left the network to start up his own own production company providing similar reality programming to NBC Sports Network and the NHL Network. Thankfully, last year's 24/7 series covering the New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers drew in enough viewers to greenlight another year of programming.

For more on the 2013 Winter Classic, check in with Red Wings blog Winging It In Motown, Maple Leafs blog Pension Plan Puppets, SB Nation Detroit, and our SBNation.com StoryStream.

Winter Classic 2013 Between Red Wings, Maple Leafs Has Potential To Be Biggest Ever

The 2013 Winter Classic will be played at Michigan Stadium, the largest stadium in North America. It will break records, and it has the potential to be the largest event in league history for more reason than one.

HBO 24/7 Red Wings Vs. Maple Leafs Will Happen, Even If It Doesn't

Red Wings, Maple Leafs Have Played On Michigan's Campus Before

Winter Classic 2013 Tickets: Gary Bettman Says '115,000 Or More' Seats Will Be Available

2013 Winter Classic tickets are likely going to be hard to come by, but playing the game at the largest stadium in North America isn't a bad way to ensure as many people get to see the game live as possible.

At the press conference announcing the details of the 2013 Winter Classic at the Big House, Michigan Stadium, Gary Bettman promised that the event would shatter the record for attendance at a hockey game.

"Even with 115,000 or more tickets available, we still won't have enough to satisfy the demand," Bettman said while lauding the 110,000 seat capacity of Michigan Stadium. "A capacity we expect to challenge and surpass when the Maple Leafs and Red Wings resume their historic rivalry."

At the 2012 Winter Classic in Philadelphia, a very limited public sale of tickets -- brokered through an online lottery -- was made available following distribution to Flyers season ticket holders, New York Rangers ticket holders and league sponsors. The same was the case in Pittsburgh back in 2011, but the massive capacity of the venue in 2013 should make purchasing tickets at least slightly easier.

The only way to truly guarantee tickets is by purchasing Leafs or Red Wings season tickets, but otherwise, the NHL has set up a pre-sale website following Thursday's announcement. It crashed almost immediately due to a heavy traffic load.

For more on the 2013 Winter Classic, check in with Red Wings blog Winging It In Motown, Maple Leafs blog Pension Plan Puppets, SB Nation Detroit, and our SBNation.com StoryStream.

Winter Classic 2013: Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings To Play At Big House, Other Events At Comerica Park

There are 41 miles between the Big House, Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, and Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers downtown in the state's largest city. Fans, players and media alike will get used to that trek at New Year's 2013, as the NHL announced Thursday morning that Winter Classic festivities will be held at two separate sites for the first time in the history of the event.

The 2013 Winter Classic will be held at the Big House in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, January 1 between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. It's the largest stadium in North America and it'll certainly be the largest outdoor game in NHL history when it comes down to the sheer numbers.

But that's the only event that'll be held outside of Detroit. The rest of the Winter Classic festivities will be located in Detroit, primarily at Comerica Park, and the official NHL hotels will be located downtown. Here's a full (as of now) list of games scheduled to be played at the ballpark during Winter Classic week:

- An Alumni Game between Leafs and Wings alumni.

- An AHL game between the Toronto Marlies and Grand Rapids Griffins. This'll be the second year an AHL game is played as part of the Winter Classic, but it's the first in which the two affiliates of each NHL participant will face off against each other.

- Two Ontario Hockey League games: London Knights will face the Plymouth Whalers and the Windsor Spitfires will face the Saginaw Spirit. Both games feature Ontario teams and Michigan teams, and it's the first year junior hockey will play a part in the Winter Classic.

- The Great Lakes Invitational, a four-team NCAA Div. 1 mens hockey tournament typically held at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, will be played at Comerica Park.

Teams from outside of Michigan typically take part in the event, but it'll be a different story this time around as Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan Tech and Western Michigan will be the four participants. While a Michigan team has won the event each of the last six years, it hasn't been an all-intrastate affair since 1998.

That's all we know for now, but more events will almost certainly be announced in the coming months. This really will be the biggest Winter Classic we've seen to date.

Winter Classic 2013 Between Red Wings, Maple Leafs To Be Officially Announced Thursday

The NHL hasn't been especially prompt when it comes to announcing the details relating to the Winter Classic ever since the annual outdoor game's inception. That's apparently changing, however, as there are plans to officially announce the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday.

The Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs will play at Michigan Stadium, the site that the Michigan Wolverines play their football games on Saturdays. That isn't exactly breaking news, but it's better that the NHL is planning to announce the game nearly two years in advance instead of waiting until the last minute.

The details of the announcement were reported by MLive's Ansar Khan:

Next season's Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium will be officially announced on Thursday, an NHL source told MLive.com.

News conferences have been scheduled for Michigan Stadium, which will host the game in front of an anticipated NHL-record crowd of more than 110,000, and Comerica Park, which will host several events leading up to the Classic, including AHL, OHL and college games.

It will be the second hockey game hosted at Michigan Stadium after the first -- a 2010 contest between Michigan and Michigan State -- brought in 113, 411 fans to watch the outdoor game.

For more news surrounding the 2013 Winter Classic, stick with our StoryStream.

Winter Classic 2013: Chances Of Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs At Michigan Stadium 'Extremely High'

There's been a lot of scuttlebutt surrounding the potential of the 2013 Winter Classic coming to the Big House at the University of Michigan, hosted by the Detroit Red Wings. There's been even more regarding the potential of the Toronto Maple Leafs playing in the game as the visitor, despite the fact that they're in a Canadian market and thus essentially useless to the American television interests that control the NHL's marquee event.

But as reports have surfaced and those rumors have grown stronger, it's seemed less and less like the NHL and NBC care about the downsides of having Toronto play in the 2013 game. According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, speaking on television Thursday evening, it's almost a done deal that this will be the matchup come New Year's Day next year.

Extremely high. I can in fact confirm those reports that the NHL's desire is that the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Detroit Red Wings at the Big House, the University of Michigan football field. It'll be configured for 115,000 in terms of attendance. It's not finalized yet, but by the end of the month there's expected to be a formal announcement. The NHL is well down the road.

Who knows? Maybe the announcement will even come at the All-Star Game in Ottawa in late January. The news is getting Leafs fans very, very excited, and our friends at Leafs blog Pension Plan Puppets are just downright giddy about the possibilities. Better start saving your Loonies and Toonies now, guys.

For more news surrounding the 2013 Winter Classic, stick with our StoryStream.

Winter Classic 2013: Michigan Reportedly In 'Advanced Discussion' To Host Game At Big House

The NHL is inching closer to finalizing an agreement to play the 2013 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium, according to a report on Wednesday. The Detroit Red Wings have been the front-runners to host the next Winter Classic, with Michigan Stadium the desired location.

The report comes from Puck Daddy's Jeff Arnold, citing multiple sources near the negotiations.

One source, who spoke on a condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on the matter, said Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon wasn't initially sold on the idea of the NHL hosting an outdoor game at Michigan Stadium. But over a matter of a couple of weeks, the source said "something happened to make it go from looking like it could happen to [a point where] it probably will."

Should an agreement be reached, the Red Wings would likely play the Toronto Maple Leafs at the stadium affectionately known as The Big House. Michigan Stadium seats upwards of 114,000 fans for football games, making it a potentially lucrative investment for both the NHL and the Wolverines.

Winter Classic 2013: Detroit Red Wings Frontrunners To Host Game; Michigan Stadium Contacted

The 2012 NHL Winter Classic is only a few days old, but the speculation for where the 2013 game will be held has already started. The NHL just might already have it's destination in mind for the 2013 NHL Winter Classic. The current speculation is that the game will be held in Michigan at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor or at Comerica Park. Given the location, the signs point to the Detroit Red Wings as the hosting team for the game.

The NHL is in the early workings of setting up the game, but they have approached the University of Michigan about hosting the game. "We have been approached by the NHL about utilizing our facility for the 2013 Winter Classic," Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said in a statement. "There are a lot of complex circumstances that need to be ironed out before anything moves forward. We will have more to say if/when something materializes."

For more on this year's Winter Classic, head over to SB Nation's build-up to the game, head over to our NHL Winter Classic StoryStream. For more on the Detroit Red Wings, visit SB Nation's Redwings blog Winging It In Motown and SB Nation Detroit.

Winter Classic 2013 Won't Be Hosted By Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals won't be the home team in the 2013 Winter Classic, according to their owner. The Detroit Red Wings are currently the favorites to host the event.