Wings, Leafs in Ann Arbor to be Classic

DETROIT (WOOD) - The 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will feature an Original Six matchup.

The National Hockey League announced Thursday that the Detroit Red Wings will play the Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Jan. 1, 2013.

This will be the sixth year for the outdoor hockey game, and the second appearance for the Red Wings. Detroit beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4 at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Jan. 1, 2009.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman revealed details at a news conference at Comerica Park in Detroit. He said, "Detroit is hockey and Michigan is a hotbed of hockey."

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The Red Wings will host the 2012 Hockeytown Winter Festival at Comerica Park -- a two-week long outdoor celebration culminated by the Winter Classic. A hockey rink will be on the ballpark's field, featuring these events --

• The Great Lakes Invitational with the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Michigan Tech University and Western Michigan University
• American Hockey League game between the Grand Rapids Griffins and Toronto Marlies
• Ontario Hockey League games between the Plymouth Whalers and London Knights; and Saginaw Spirit and Windsor Spitfires
• An historic alumni showdown
• Boys and girls youth games
• High school games
• Sled hockey games
• Celebrity games
• Companies utilizing the ice for private events
• Open skating

"We're honored to be part of such a tremendous and historic event for the Red Wings and hockey fans across Michigan," Tim Gortsema, the Griffins' senior vice president of business operations said in a news release. "Comerica Park is an appropriate place for us to play our first outdoor game, as many of our current players will be playing full-time in downtown Detroit in just a few years, and nearly 50 former Griffins have worn the Winged Wheel since 2002. Our organization and our fans are thrilled to have this opportunity to represent the AHL in Hockeytown."

Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch spoke at Thursday's event. "We're really excited for the fans. We're committed to making this the best Winter Classic ever. ... We're proud to show the world we're excited about Hockeytown."

This will be the second hockey game at the football field in Ann Arbor. Michigan beat Michigan State 5-0 during "The Big Chill at The Big House" on Dec. 11, 2010. A record crowd for an outdoor hockey game was set with 104,173 people in attendance.

The NHL is hoping to break that mark as 115,000 or more tickets will be available for the 2013 Winter Classic, Bettman said.

You can watch the 2013 Winter Classic on WOOD TV8.

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Online:

Keep checking www.2013winterclassic.com or www.detroitredwings.com/2013winterclassic for all the latest information