What To Expect At The NHL Winter Classic’s Alumni Game

Today is the Winter Classic’s annual alumni game. It’s usually a bigger affair for the home team than it is for the away club, and this year is no different. The Blackhawks’ roster’s biggest luminary is probably Blues’ TV broadcast color guy Darren Pang, or maybe former Blue Jamal Mayers.

If ketchup sandwiches are your thing, Brent Sopel might be more your cup of tea (seriously, look that one up).

The Blues? Well, the Blues’ alumni are stacked. If this was a game between these two teams with these players in their prime, there would be absolutely no contest. Garth Butcher would put Ben Eager in his place in probably less than a minute flat. Actually, you know what? I hope that happens this afternoon.

Before the Alumni game at 1:30 (which, if you can’t make it in person, will be televised on Fox Sports Midwest), St. Louis Game Time will be hosting a tailgate party. Come on down, have some shots for goals, and meet the incredible crew of people who put together one of the league’s two fan run papers (the other is The Committed Indian, which is also a quality publication even if they are Hawks fans). You might even meet one or two of us schmucks who do stuff for the website, but seriously, this is all about Brad’s incredible operation.

The rosters and coaches for both teams are as follows. Like mentioned above, the Blues’ team is special: Brett Hull, Adam Oates, Chris Pronger, Al MacInnis, Keith Tkachuk, Bernie Federko, Barret Jackman, Peter Stastny, Wayne Gretzky.

The Blackhawks’ team has Ben Eager on it.