Jeff Bennett's Blog

There is nothing like skating on a lake or an outdoor rink.  My family had a rink in the front and back yards.  We would also skate on the ponds.  My Dad was a speedskater and they would race on the pond as well.

Before the Big Bad Bruins revolution in the early 1970’s that really advanced the popularity of the sport here, most of the rinks in New England were either outdoor or simply covered.  I got to play on a few of these rinks as a youth hockey player and I vividly remember sharing the duties shoveling off the show in between periods.   We still play on one of these outdoor rinks up in New Hampshire.  It is the best.

It is great to see what the NHL has done with the “Winter Classic,” what has fast become a New Years tradition.   I cant wait to see the Bruins battle the Flyers in a few days at the outdoor rink at Fenway Park.

It is also great to see so many of the old Big Bad Bruins on the ice at Fenway.  This picture features Cam Neely, Bobby Orr, Milt Schmidt, Terry O’Reilly, Ray Bourgue and Derek Sanderson.

The best game at Fenway this year might be the battle between BU and BC next week.  The long time rivals have each won the National Championship in the last two years.  This will also be a classic.

As I say, there is nothing like an outdoor hockey game.