On Wednesday, January 4, 2012, the varsity boys' hockey team will take on rival Lawrenceville at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, as part of the NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic festivities. Faceoff is at 2 p.m. and tickets are free. A total of 4,000 tickets are available for both teams. We invite all parents, alumni, and friends of The Hill to come out and support our team at this amazing opportunity. If you wish to attend, please register using the link below.
Parking, which also is free, will be in Lot "P" at the corner of Pattison Avenue and Darien Street.
View a Philadelphia Sports Complex parking map. Please be aware that no tailgaiting is permitted in this lot. Guests and teams will enter through the first base gate and will be directed to their appropriate locations for the event. A post-game reception will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon, which is connected to Citizens Bank Park. A complimentary buffet package including cheesesteaks, chicken fingers, french fries, mac & cheese, salad, cookies, and soft drinks will be provided free to Hill alumni, parents, and friends; cash bar available for guests over 21 years of age. Look for The Hill banner when you go inside to find our private section for some great food, drinks, and conversation!
The first annual NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic was held on New Year's Day in 2008, when the Pittsburgh Penguins faced the Buffalo Sabers at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo. The outdoor game has become the marquee event of the NHL calendar each season, as the sport returns to its outdoor roots. In 2010, the event was held at Boston's famous Fenway Park and expanded to include a collegiate game and also included a prep hockey matchup as Taft played Belmont Hill, setting the precedent for prep games to be included in the event festivities.
Rumors began to swirl during the summer of 2011 that Philadelphia would be selected to host the 2012 Winter Classic, and the varsity boys' coaching staff of Matt Mulhern, Chris Bala '97, and Justin Cerenzia began brainstorming about the possibility of Hill partaking in the event. The Flyers approached the School in early December with specifics about a date and time for the game, making the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity a reality for the program.
A total of three Winter Classic games will be played on January 4. The day's final game features former boys' hockey captain Jake Kratz '07 and the Neumann University Knights, who will take on Penn State University at 8 p.m. View an interview with Jake that recently appeared on
phillyburbs.com.