Thank you.
The entire Winter Classic experience was epic; and fun; and magnificent; and great for the league and for all fans.
Thank you to the NHL league offices. The care they display in putting on such an incredible spectacle is amazing. I love the Winter Classic. I am a fan of the game and I am so happy we were a part of this romantic and big time new tradition. That the NHL now owns New Year’s Day on network television is a wonderful accomplishment! Kudos to everyone at the NHL! The Winter Classic is truly a CLASSIC!
Thank you to Pittsburgh for being such gracious hosts. The city looked fantastic under the lights. The people and fans were fun to be with. The city provided great services to our fans; and everyone was respectful and nice and we had a great time at the stadium. The Penguins and the Steelers’ organizations were very supportive of us and they have a modern and world class set of stadiums and arenas and organizations that is for sure. We were treated well. I promise to return the favor and the care if we ever can reciprocate. To be honest, our local government here in DC can learn a lot from Pittsburgh as they (Government and franchises) work hand in glove in such a seamless manner to support their sports teams. They truly understand the importance of competition and pro sports and its role in civic pride and economic stimulus. World class all around. A great sports city.
Thank you HBO. Thanks for becoming a part of the family. I believe 24/7 on HBO will win a bunch of Emmy Awards. It is just fantastic production quality; great storytelling; reality programming at its finest showing people and players – warts and all – helping to reach a wider audience to help promote the game we all love and respect. This work was classic as well. Epic and I guess I will enjoy watching this final episode more than the first episode if I can confess. As I noted, “We were lost and now we are found.” A typical made-for-television drama. We will miss you HBO crew. Now go home!
Thank you to the players on both teams. They are heroes. So much competition. They are warriors playing in the elements. Pond Hockey comes to life. Thank you for all you do. The Winter Classic takes its toll on players. It inhales energy and bandwidth at high rates and then you get to play again on Tuesday. Thank you very much. No rest for the weary, that is for sure.
Thank you to our fans. Wow. It was so heart warming to see so many Caps fans in Pittsburgh braving the elements and making such a big investment of time and money and energy over a holiday weekend. I can’t say enough nice things. I am so touched by your support. I mean it. That was just awesome to see.
We win a game we get two points. We get to play another important game on Tuesday against the hottest team in the NHL and the team in first place in our Division, Tampa. Here we go. We aren’t even at the half way point of the season yet. We are on a 100 point pace. We are playing smarter hockey. The world didn’t end when we lost 8 games in a row. We have miles to go before we sleep.
Savor the moment. Get some sleep and rest. Show gratitude. Go Caps! Thank you. Just CLASSIC!
Ted, awesome event, thanks for making this a class organization.
I know it’s probably not practical, but when the Classic comes here, can you look into putting it on the National Mall in full view of the monuments? And please, whatever you do, don’t have it to Fedex Field or M&T Bank Stadium.
It was so awesome. It really was a great feeling for Caps fans that we sorely needed and we no doubt got.
It’s a shame the Penguins had to stomp on it at the end by not shaking hands. That is something I believe non hockey regulars would have appreciated. Oh well is anyone surprised a team captained my Crosby is selfish?
Uncle Ted, I wish all I could say is thank you, but it’s not.
What an unbelievable experience this has been. The highs and lows that we as CAPS fans have to endure year after year. Being a Saints fan, I finally got one bone thrown to me. Now it’s the CAPS turn.
First I will say, thank you for all you have done for the Capitals and their fans (now, don’t let ticket prices go much higher).
Secondly, Keep those jerseys. We as fans love them. They should be the jerseys, and make the current jerseys the 3rd jerseys. (Think of the revenue from redressing all the fans in red versions for home games).
Lastly, Thank you for what you will continue to do for years to come.
I loved the Winter Classic and the fact we beat Pittsburgh makes it even better! Do you think we will ever be able to host a Winter Classic here in the D.C. area? I think that basketball could do the same type of thing. Play an outdoor game in the spring. Like a return to the playground type of atmosphere except on a much larger scale of course.
As a lifelong Pens fan, I have to say that having this game against such a big rival really made the experience that much better. It just would not have been the same if either team played someone else.
As for the NHL, I hope they take the rain delay as a blessing in disguise and move future Winter Classics to primetime. Playing at night under the lights made this truly unique, and the look and the feel, I think, made this the best of the four Winter Classics.
I also hope the NHL will make this a weeklong event in the future. The college games at the Consol, the game between Hersey and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the rink outside Heinz Field, and the alumni game all heightened the experience for me. Hopefully it was the same for Caps’ fans!
Ted,
A line from my favorite poem by my favorite poet.
This Winter Classic is my favorite victory by my favorite sports team.
I, like you, cannot wait until Jan. 5 to see the final episode of 24/7 road to the Winter Classic. Thank you for everything you and your team have done for this team, this sport, this town and all of its fans.
TED,
It was fun trading stares and smiles with you and your guests thru the glass from our suite to yours at the Classic Sat. night. Nice gesture to ask HBO to
capture the crazed Pens fans in our box but glad they refused to move the camara off you . Hope to see you in the playoffs !
So much fun and was definitely worth it. Everything was perfect that day…. well, maybe except for the wrong photo in the Winter Classic program under John Carlson’s player profile.
Thanks Ted for your classy comments. As a life long resident of Pittsburgh, I am very proud of the transformation our city has made in the last 20 years. It was great to see all the Caps fans come to enjoy not only the Winter Classic but also experience our wonderful city. I truly hope that all of the Caps fans had a great time in our city and hope we meet in the playoffs. Again, thanks for being part of a wonderful event.
Hands down the best night a father and young son could have. You can see my brief article (mainly photos) of experience at Dangeroushockey.com
Thanks BOTH teams!
Worth every penny I spent to be part of this spectacular event. As was stated prior this is an event that has earned its rightful spot in prime time on new year’s day. After watching the Boston – Philly classic last year and being astonished by the beauty of the game played under the lights of Fenway in the third, I began to hope that this momentous game would be viewed with the same stunning visuals. Though there are so many memorable moments from the whole event, personally the crowning moment of this whole weekend was the traffic on the Penn St Turnpike toll plaza at exit 161, though i loath traffic on a normal occasion the fact that i was surrounded with exhilarated Caps fans honking their horns as if they were pulling out of the F st parking lot after a win against the Pens at the Phone Booth. This experience has been one that I will remember and cherish the rest of my life, Thank You to everyone that made it possible.
Ted,
I sat in Section 212, along with my friend who is a Pens fan. Weather aside, it was a great atmosphere, both for the Alumni game as well as the main event on New Year’s day. Tell the NHL to put future Winter Classics on at night. It made for a great time.
I am so thankful that I was able to go and be a part of the most watched winter classic ever (i.e. on TV). Even though a pens fan through a cup at me when
Fehr scored to break the tie, it still didn’t dampen my spirits, It was a event I will never forget and will be able to tell my kids about it (when i have some one day).
Now a very special thank you to the caps for making the trip worth it more, by beating the Pens. I can’t wait for the next matchup here in DC on Super Bowl Sunday. This rivalry always leave you wanting for more…Go Caps
Thanks for getting the Caps into the Classic, Ted. We enjoyed every minute of our roadtrip up to Pittsburgh. Recapped our funfilled trip on my blog. Was the most fun at a hockey game I have ever had. Can’t wait to see that last episode of 24/7 now.
http://wp.me/pTgeI-gQ
Ted, Thanks for ensuring we had the oppportunity to be part of such a phenomenal event. Can’t say enough about the game, atmosphere and fan support for the Caps. It was a pleasure to “invade” another team’s home game for once! I also had the same thought about the seamless and supportive efforts undertaken by the City of Pittsburgh and its teams; a definite lesson to learn for DC.
The WC was fun to watch at home. Actually glad that the weather didn’t cooperate — this is an event that deserves a primetime slot. The boys looked good and were having FUN.
Can’t wait for the finale of 24-7.
It really was nice and a lot of fun. I think these Capitals Winter Classic uniforms are lucky, Ted. Should wear them the rest of the season!
Where, where, WHERE can I find those numbered white sweatshirts that Ovie and Fehr were wearing at the postgame interview???
The jerseys were great, brought back some great (and not so great) memories. The first 10 minutes of the game a was a bit surreal; watching the current class of caps wearing uniforms I grew up with… I would love to see those as a third jersey!
Ted: Caps fans love our team, starting with you. The classiest team in professional sports. Man, what a ride!
Capitals-Penguins is inarguably the greatest NHL rivalry today!
Every game is a battle!
NHL have Division Championship,
Conference Championship,
Stanley Cup Championship and
since 2005-2006 season the CAPS-PENS Championship!
The yesterday’s game was a further proof!
Watch out for that:
10/16/2008 Capitals 4 @ 3 Penguins
01/14/2009 Capitals 6 @ 3 Penguins
02/22/2009 Penguins 2 @ 5 Capitals
03/08/2009 Penguins 4 SO @ 3 Capitals
01/21/2010 Capitals 6 @ 3 Penguins
02/07/2010 Penguins 4 @ 5 OT Capitals
03/24/2010 Penguins 3 @ 4 SO Capitals
04/06/2010 Capitals 6 @ 3 Penguins
12/23/2010 Penguins 3 SO @ 2 Capitals
01/01/2011 Capitals 3 @ 1 Penguins [NHL Winter Classic]
Final Result in the last 10 regular season games:
Remarkable Record for Washington Capitals 8-0-2 against Pittsburg Penguins!
8 wins and just 2 shootout losses!
Astounding!
Breathtaking!
Teddy, Amazing Day for hockey and the fans! My family and friends enjoyed every minute of it. The icing on the cake, WE WON!!!!!!!! Bruceeee’s interview with the press was great. He sets them straight about OVIE’S goal and makes very clear our Captain is a great leader because he thinks about the team and the win first.
It was good see and hear your discussion in the broadcast box. But it was even better to see a proud father with his son roaming the locker room. Hockey really is the emotional growth of a family.
Ted,
I can’t thank you and everyone in the Caps organization enough for making sure Caps fans got tickets to this game. It was amazing! And also I was in section 223 and there was one lone guy wearing a Pronger Flyers shirt and everytime he got up caps/pens fans chanted “Flyers Suck” which you commented on.
Thanks for allowing us to Rock The Red in Pittsburgh!! Best game ever!!
GREAT game…nuff said….