June
6, 2005; UPDATED: June 9, 2005
Wisconsin, Ohio State Set For Lambeau Game
By
Mike Eidelbes
Wisconsin,
Ohio State and Green Bay Packers officials announced their plans
for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game to be played at Lambeau
Field in February.
 |
| An
artist's rendering depicts the famous Frozen Tundra –
sans snow – set up for February's hockey game. |
The contest,
slated for 3 p.m. CT on Feb. 11, will be the second outdoor game
in recent college hockey history. Michigan and Michigan State
skated to a 3-3 draw in front of 74,554 fans – the most
to ever see a hockey game – at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing
to start the 2001-02 season.
Lambeau Field,
which holds 72,601 for Packers football, would be configured to
accommodate approximately 38,000 to 40,000 fans. The Ohio State-Wisconsin
game is being held in conjunction with the Packers Fan Fest, the
football organization’s off-season celebration.
 |
| Ohio
State head coach John Markell addresses the media Wednesday
with Wisconsin's Mike Eaves looking on. (Photo by Larry Radloff) |
"This
is going to be an event, not just a hockey game,” Wisconsin
coach Mike Eaves said. “It will be something that the players,
coaching staff and everyone involved will remember for a lifetime.
It will be something for these young men to share with their kids,
that they played in a football stadium in the middle of February
in Green Bay.”
Ohio State
was targeted as a participant after the Badgers’ efforts
to land a WCHA foe were fruitless. The Buckeyes had to juggle
their schedule in order to take part in the Lambeau game by shifting
a league series against Michigan State to a different weekend.
"This
game will bring a lot of recognition to college hockey,"
said Buckeye head coach John Markell. "Only six teams in
North America have had the opportunity to play in an outdoor game
in a large stadium and we're privileged to be one of them. Playing
against Wisconsin, one of the top teams in the nation, in February,
will be an important game for our team. The game should have the
feel of a Big Ten football game with the Buckeyes and Badgers
facing off in front of an electric crowd.”
 |
| Bucky
is not expected to play goal for the Badgers on Feb. 11. (Photo
by Larry Radloff) |
Playing outdoors
will create a unique environment
"I grew
up playing hockey outside," said Eaves. "There is a
unique sound of the skates on the ice, the puck off the boards
when you play outside, it is something to hear.”
While excited
about playing in such a unique setting, the idea did cause some
concern for the Badgers' Adam Burish.
"This
is a very special place to play, one of the most historic stadiums
ever," Burish said. "To put a sheet of ice over this
great field is almost a crime.”
There are
other hockey games in non-traditional venues on the horizon. Boston
College and Boston University are expected to play a doubleheader
against non-conference opponents at Fenway Park during the 2006-07
season, the Metrodome in Minneapolis is a potential site for the
2007 Hockey Hall of Fame Game pitting Minnesota against Minnesota-Duluth,
and Detroit’s Ford Field is one of six finalists to host
the Frozen Four in either 2010 or 2011.
Special
thanks to Larry Radloff for his assistance with this report.
