Differences Between Winter Classic and Stadium Series
The brand new NHL Stadium Series kicks off this weekend as the LA Kings host the Anaheim Ducks at Dodger Stadium.
The #StadiumSeries rink pic.twitter.com/M8U2YyZMZ5
— LA Kings (@LAKings) January 23, 2014
So, so glorious.
It sure is an exciting time here in Los Angeles as thousands of Kings fans skimped on buying their loved ones Christmas presents and subsequently have had to move into studio apartments in Van Nuys in order to get a crack at seeing this historic game.
Sure, you can buy a ticket now for the price of a preseason inter-squad scrimmage, but that’s neither here nor there.
Hang on one second.
*Adds boiling water from a 20 year old coffee maker to an expired packet of ramen*
At any rate, the big game is almost here.
But for those of you confused about what the differences are between the NHL’s “Winter Classic” and the first ever “Coors Light Stadium Series,” well, you’re in luck.
I’ve gone ahead and assembled this handy guide so you can tell your friends and family which event you actually attended.
I know it’s confusing, but bear with me and I promise you’ll get it down.
For instance:
- This year’s Winter Classic featured two of the most storied franchises in league history.
- Meanwhile, this Stadium Series matchup features two teams that will actually make the playoffs.
See how simple it is!
Below, you’ll find plenty of other ways to differentiate the two historic games, but it’s up to you to figure out which fact goes with each event.
Good luck!
- After two years of waiting, 106,000 rabid fans spent New Year’s Day braving the elements in freezing temperatures to watch an outdoor hockey game.
- After failing to sell out the venue, 56,000 of the most believable Hollywood extras the NHL could afford were shuttled into Dodger Stadium.
- Before the main event, people were treated to two alumni games that featured some of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.
- Before the main event, a media game featuring Luc Robitaille’s D-List Celebrity Buddies was played in front of approximately 50 people.
- This road team’s captain is a Gold Medal-winning Olympian and former Stanley Cup champion.
- This road team’s captain has a rather impressive collection of bow ties.
- This home team has a US Olympic goaltender who has won the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy.
- This home team has a US Olympic goaltender who recently pooped himself.
- This event centered around the wonderful sport and embraced everything that is great about the game.
- This event sent out a casting call for skateboarders, joggers, rollerbladers and bikers.
So there you have it, all of the chief differences between these two monumental games that the NHL has made into an absolute exhibition, yet somehow each counts as one game in the standings.
