It is still nearly six months away but preparations are being made for events leading up to the 2013 NHL Winter Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.
On Tuesday, Olympia Entertainment unveiled a preliminary schedule for the Hockeytown Winter Festival, which will take place at Comerica Park in the two weeks leading up to the Winter Classic.
The game itself takes place at Michigan Stadium on New Year’s Day in Ann Arbor, Mich., and could feature an NHL-record crowd of over 100,000 fans.
Also, the popular reality series HBO 24/7: Road to the Winter Classic will document the Maple Leafs and Red Wings in the weeks leading up to the game and fans can watch the episodes on Sportsnet.
Here is a list of events and dates for the Hockeytown Winter Festival:
Dec. 15-26: Celebration of hockey featuring amateur games, corporate outings and open skates. Information on booking ice time can be obtained by visiting DetroitRedWings.com/icetime.
Dec. 27-31: Outdoor festival featuring interactive games, autograph signings, face painting and ice sculpture exhibits as well as musical performances and entertainment.
Dec. 27-28: Great Lakes Invitational featuring the Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Western Michigan Broncos and Michigan Tech Huskies all competing for the 2012 MacInnes Cup.
Dec. 29: Ontario Hockey League doubleheader featuring the Windsor Spitfires taking on the Saginaw Spirit, and the Plymouth Whalers battling the J. Ross Robertson Cup champion London Knights.
Dec. 30: American Hockey League game featuring the Grand Rapids Griffins and Toronto Marlies, AHL affiliates of the Red Wings and Maple Leafs, respectively.
Dec. 31: Red Wings-Maple Leafs Alumni Showdown featuring legendary players from two of the National Hockey League’s most storied franchises going head-to-head.
