It’ll be the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. the Detroit Red Wings out in the fresh air on New Year’s Day.
It’s called the Winter Classic, and it’s an annual outdoor hockey game that features NHL teams playing on an outdoor rink.
Today, the NHL announced which teams will be playing in the special game. The game counts as a regular-season game.
Although it’s still 11 months away—the next Winter Classic will be held on Jan. 1, 2013—fans are excited. Because it’s outdoors, things like snow, rain and glare from the sun can affect the game, which makes it all the more interesting for spectators.
This will be the Wings’s second time playing in the Winter Classic, and the first time for the Leafs.
The game will be played at the largest sports venue in North America, Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor—nicknamed “The Big House” because it seats more than 109,000 people.
The Classic will be part of a week-long series of hockey events, including some other high-profile games featuring other leagues like the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) and the AHL (American Hockey League).
There will also be an alumni game. “Alumni” in this case are people who used to play in the NHL. According to the Globe and Mail newspaper, former Maple Leaf captain Mats Sundin wants to play in the alumni game, which will take place at a rink in downtown Detroit.
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
By Jonathan Tilly
Writing/Discussion Prompt
Did you know that there were only six teams in the NHL between 1942 – 1967? The Toronto Maple Leafs and The Detroit Red Wings were two of those teams and have had a rivalry ever since. What is a rivalry and how is it formed? Why do you think rivalries continue year to year even though the players change?
Reading Prompt: Text Features
Look carefully at the pictures included in today’s article. What do you notice? Predict what next year’s game might look like.
Primary & Junior
Identify a variety of text features and explain how they help readers understand texts (OME, Reading: 2.3).
Intermediate
Identify a variety of text features and explain how they help communicate
meaning (OME, Reading: 2.3).
Grammar Feature: Quotation Marks ( ” )
Quotation marks can be used in many different ways. Most often, they are placed on either side of spoken words. However, in today’s article, quotation marks are used differently.
In the example below, quotation marks are used to emphasize the word alumni and to let readers know that that’s what will be discussed.
“Alumni” in this case are people who used to play in the NHL.
In the next example, quotation marks are used to show a nickname.
The game will be played at the largest sports venue in North America, Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor—nicknamed “The Big House” because it seats more than 109,000 people.
Now it’s up to you. Place quotation marks where you think they belong in the sentences below.
1. Lots of people call Penelope by her name, but I like to call her Petunia.
2. If I get home before you, please put the lasagna in the oven, said Dad.
3. Anatomy is the study of the human body.
4. I want to go to Graceland to see where The King lived.
5. Mrs. Domelle asked her students, if you could be any person in history, who would you be?
