Great news for fans of Chicago hockey. The annual NHL Winter Classic, played outdoors in a converted MLB stadium on New Year's Day, will feature the Chicago Blackhawks and the Washington Capitals at National's Park, home of the Washington Nationals. What a way to start the new year! 

The event, which is becoming a popular New Year's tradition, will be broadcast on NBC at noon CT.

In a press release from NBC, NHL play-by-play announcer Mike "Doc" Emrick commented on the unusual conditions players must face in the outdoor environment: “We’ve had sun delays in Philly, we had snow start-to-finish last year in Ann Arbor, rain-to-sleet-to-snow in Buffalo, and not only have the crews adjusted, but the players have played. They enjoy it when they are playing in it and they sure enjoyed talking about it when it’s over, with smiles on their faces.”

“The Winter Classic is really a destination location for hockey fans and non-hockey fans. It’s more than a hockey game. The Capitals are a huge part of Washington D.C.’s sports fabric, and you’ve got a great team in the Chicago Blackhawks. If we have the right conditions for this Winter Classic in Washington, it could be one of the more memorable games,” said NBC hockey analytist Pierre McGuire.

The 2015 NHL Winter Classic will be the seventh contest in the series. In 2009, the second NHL Winter Classic was held at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

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