Winter Classic Will Welcome Toronto Maple Leafs

The Winter Classic never got off the ground for this season but it sounds like it will be back for New Year’s Day 2014 and the Toronto Maple Leafs will get to be a part of it like they should have been this year. It has been reported that the National Hockey League will announce that the Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings will play at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor for the league’s annual outdoor game. It will be the first time that a Canadian team will be involved in the Winter Classic and brings a great matchup of two of the original six teams.

This becomes a matchup that should bring huge ratings on New Year’s Day next year with these two teams getting together. I remember seeing Detroit at Wrigley Field a few years ago but Toronto should have been in one of these games already instead of having to wait until this point. Detroit will be playing in their second Winter Classic game while several other teams like the Maple Leafs haven’t made a single appearance yet.

Toronto will bring quite a following I’m sure across the border for the 300-mile ride to Ann Arbor. There will be nothing like seeing 100,000 people watching a hockey game and I’m sure Toronto couldn’t be happier to be involved in this game. It should be players like Phil Kessel who really get to enjoy the chance to play on the biggest outdoor stage in the league in front of what should be a huge television audience. I really can’t wait for New Year’s Day to get here now.

Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports, like his Facebook page or add him to your network on Google.