Players itching for Wrigley's Winter Classic

Dustin Byfuglien remembers the fun he had playing outdoor hockey as a kid in Minnesota. The 23-year-old Blackhawks right winger will get a chance to relive the experience — at least for a day — when Chicago hosts the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings on New Year's Day at baseball's Wrigley Field. "It's exciting, as a kid I played in a lot of rinks outdoors," said Byfuglien, a second year pro and among the rising stars of a reviving Blackhawks franchise. "I lived out in the country so I was always skating outdoors. This is a big deal. Everyone's going to be watching all over the world." Byfuglien was among a dozen current and former Blackhawks on hand Tuesday as the NHL showed off the venue for its second outdoor Winter Classic. The announcement at sun-kissed Wrigley Field featured a mock-up of a rink that... [read full story]