A game on the Rideau Canal would be awesome, but you’re right, the logistics would be a nightmare. I’m seeing visions of crowds like the outdoor concerts we have in front of the Art Museum, and that quantity (or a lot more) of people trying to get a look at a hockey game that would take the whole width of the canal.

Since Edmonton/Montreal got an outdoor game already a few years ago, I wouldn’t be surprised if Calgary got one next. Flames/Canucks, maybe? I figure they would save the Leafs and Sens to play against each other rather than have one of them play Calgary.

NBC is not going to allow an all Canadian Winter Classic that is why they have that other outdoor game in Canada, but the Winter Classic is going to have to involve Cold Weather teams with a National fan base. I would expect to see the Caps soon but next year is going to be the Western conference anyway which is hard as all the US teams in the West are in fairly warm climates.

hockey players did look a lot cooler without helmets

yeah i was going to say something to this effect. the jackets have really led into his thousandth game in the best possible way: by allowing something like 34 goals in the last 6 games. i imagine he’ll be spending some time in the hospital very soon from the blood vessel in his brain that’s going to burst from all the screaming.