Today, I'm reviewing The Winter Classic by Russ Cohen and Michael del Tufo.

The first outdoor game in modern days was played in Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens. Well over 51,000 people were present for that game, taking place in temperatures plummeting to 30 below on the Celsius scale.

Unfortunately, ratings in the United States weren't nearly as high as hoped for. After the 04-05 lockout was settled, the NHL was looking for a way to jolt interest in the game. Two Stanley Cups won by smaller market teams hadn't helped much. So, in September '07, it was announced in Buffalo that the Penguins and Sabres would be playing an outdoor game on New Years Day. Tickets were snapped up quickly, and the game proved to be an unqualified success. Since that game, the Winter Classic, as it has come to be known, has become the premier event of the NHL season.

Russ Cohen has definitely put together an excellent work of prose, outlining the ins and outs of putting together an outdoor hockey game in a baseball or football stadium. Each chapter is dedicated to each outdoor game, with a look at setting it up, the preparations for each team, the lineups for each team, and much more. There is a pre-game, in-game, and post game section as well. Comments from players and coaches, plus photos from the games help round out each section.

Chapter 9 is a look, from the author's perspective, behind the scenes of each game. It's interesting to see the comparisons from the first game, with little fanfare, as opposed to the later games where there is much more interest by the press and the public.

Unfortunately, the section for the 2013 Winter Classic focuses much more on the lockout issues that eventually postponed that game between Detroit and Toronto. However, there is plenty to read about for the game when it comes up in 2014.

I found this to be an easy and enjoyable read. It's laid out nicely, and each chapter builds on the last, giving a look at the past, present, and future of the Winter Classic. No doubt, Mr. Cohen has done his homework, that's for sure.

I would like to publicly give a shout out to Mr. Cohen for making a copy available to me for reviewing purposes. Thanks!!

Link to Powell's City of Books: http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9781935723769-1

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Classic-Russ-Cohen/dp/1935723766/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358205654&sr=1-1&keywords=the+winter+classic

Link to Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-winter-classic-russ-cohen/1113563376?ean=9781935723769