2024 NHL Winter Classic
{{Short description|Outdoor hockey game in Seattle, Washington}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{for|the Winter Classic played on December 31, 2024|2025 NHL Winter Classic}}
{{Infobox ice hockey game
| outdoor = yes
| game_name = 2024 NHL Winter Classic
| image =2024 NHL Winter Classic Logo.png
| visitor = Vegas Golden Knights
| home = Seattle Kraken
| visitor_total =0
| home_total =3
| visitor_per1 = 0
| visitor_per2 = 0
| visitor_per3 = 0
| visitor_OT =
| visitor_SO =
| home_per1 = 1
| home_per2 = 1
| home_per3 = 1
| home_OT =
| home_SO =
| attendance = 47,313
| date = January 1, 2024
| arena = T-Mobile Park
| city = Seattle, Washington
| previous = 2023
| next = 2025
}}
The 2024 NHL Winter Classic was a regular season outdoor National Hockey League (NHL) game between the Seattle Kraken and the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights. The game was played on January 1, 2024 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, before a crowd of 47,313 spectators. The Kraken defeated the Golden Knights 3–0 and became the first team to earn a shutout in a Winter Classic.{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Geoff |date=January 1, 2023 |title=Kraken's Joey Daccord shines in shutout win over Vegas in NHL Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/kraken-score-rare-shutout-win-over-vegas-in-nhl-winter-classic-at-t-mobile-park/ |accessdate=January 1, 2023 |work=The Seattle Times}}
Background
File:2024 NHL Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park (20240106225501).jpg during the Winter Classic]]
The league announced the game on January 2, 2023, before the start of the previous season's Winter Classic. This was the first Winter Classic held in the Pacific Time Zone, as well as Seattle's first outdoor game.{{cite web |last=McDaniel |first=Mike |url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2023/01/02/2024-nhl-winter-classic-outdoor-game-seattle |title=2024 NHL Winter Classic Outdoor Game to Be Held in Seattle |website=SI.com |date=January 2, 2023 |access-date=January 2, 2023}} Vegas previously appeared in the 2021 NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe.{{cite news |last=Rosen |first=Dan |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/2024-nhl-winter-classic-kraken-golden-knights-in-seattle/c-339420522 |title=Kraken to host 2024 NHL Winter Classic, face Vegas at Mariners stadium |work=NHL |publisher=NHL |date=January 2, 2023 |access-date=January 2, 2023}}
This was also the first Winter Classic to take place in a stadium with a retractable roof. Due to Seattle's rainy climate that may have affected ice conditions, organizers planned on closing T-Mobile Park's retractable roof in case of heavy rainfall.{{cite news |last=Booth |first=Tim |date=January 2, 2023 |title=NHL announces Winter Classic in 2024 will be at T-Mobile Park |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/nhl-announces-winter-classic-in-2024-will-be-at-t-mobile-park/ |work=The Everett Herald |agency=Associated Press |access-date=June 23, 2023}} This could have resulted in the first "indoor" Winter Classic, and the first such game since the 2014 Heritage Classic at BC Place in Vancouver. However, on game day, the weather forecast was partly cloudy with a temperature of 44°F and only a 10% chance of rain, and the roof was left open during the game.{{cite news |last=Brehm |first=Mike |date=December 31, 2023 |title=2024 Winter Classic: Live stream, time, weather, how to watch Golden Knights at Kraken |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2023/12/31/2024-winter-classic-golden-knights-kraken-tv-stream-time-weather/71992603007/ |work=USA Today |access-date=January 3, 2024}}
The rink was surrounded by decorations in a nautical theme that reflected local heritage and the Kraken mythos; topographic designs were laid on the surface and the walkway between the rink and dugouts resembled docks and piers. A boathouse was used as a broadcast studio.{{cite news |last=Shefte |first=Kate |date=December 21, 2023 |title=Here's how the T-Mobile Park field will look for Kraken's Winter Classic game |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/heres-how-the-t-mobile-park-field-will-look-for-krakens-winter-classic-game/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 22, 2023}} Construction of the rink began in December using a temporary ice plant to pump up to {{convert|3,000|USgal|L}} of glycol to create the rink surface.{{cite news |last=Shefte |first=Kate |date=December 21, 2023 |title=Inside T-Mobile Park, preparation for 2024 Winter Classic running smoothly |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/inside-t-mobile-park-preparation-for-2024-winter-classic-running-smoothly/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 22, 2023}} A two-day fan festival was held on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in the north parking lot of Lumen Field, located adjacent to T-Mobile Park. The event included a mobile hockey museum and a display of the Stanley Cup.{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Geoff |date=December 14, 2023 |title=NHL announces two-day outdoor Fan Village surrounding Kraken's Winter Classic game |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/nhl-announces-two-day-outdoor-fan-village-surrounding-krakens-winter-classic-game/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 22, 2023}}
Both teams' uniforms were leaked to the public four days prior to their official unveiling on November 22, 2023. Players from the NBA's Utah Jazz were spotted wearing the Kraken's Winter Classic uniform inside the Delta Center,{{cite news|first=Paul|last=Lukas|title=Bizarre Development: Utah Jazz Apparently Leak Seattle Kraken Winter Classic Jersey |url=https://uni-watch.com/2023/11/18/bizarre-development-utah-jazz-apparently-leak-seattle-kraken-winter-classic-jersey/|publisher=Uni-Watch|date=November 18, 2023|access-date=November 23, 2023}} while All Elite Wrestling host Renee Paquette wore the Golden Knights' Winter Classic uniform ahead of the promotion's Full Gear pay-per-view.{{cite news|first=Phil|last=Hecken|title=Looks Like the Vegas Winter Classic Jersey Has Leaked |url=https://uni-watch.com/2023/11/18/looks-like-the-vegas-winter-classic-jersey-has-leaked/|publisher=Uni-Watch|date=November 18, 2023|access-date=November 23, 2023}} The Golden Knights wore faux-back 1917 vintage white uniforms with heritage gold stripes, gray pants and helmets, featuring a stylized gray "V" crest with petal accents and gold trim. The Kraken wore Seattle Metropolitans-inspired uniforms in the team's current colors, featuring barber-pole stripes in ice blue, vintage white and deep sea blue, and a stylized red "S" modeled after the team's logo.{{cite news|title=Winter Classic jerseys for Kraken, Golden Knights unveiled |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/winter-classic-jerseys-for-seattle-and-vegas-unveiled|website=NHL.com|date=November 22, 2023|access-date=November 23, 2023}}
Game summary
File:Winter Classic - Vegas Golden Knights at Seattle Kraken - January 1, 2024 - Brayden Pachal, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Yanni Gourde, William Karlsson, Alec Martinez and Logan Thompson (53440834756).jpg Logan Thompson.]]The first period of the game commenced after puck drop at 12:24 P.M. Pacific Time.
| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |
| colspan=6 | Scoring summary{{Cite web |date=January 1, 2024 |title=Game Summary - 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic - Monday, January 1, 2024 |url=https://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20232024/GS020573.HTM |access-date=January 2, 2024 |website=National Hockey League}}{{efn|Number in parentheses represents the player's total in goals or assists to that point of the season}} |
|---|
| style="width:12%;"| Period
! style="width:7%;"| Team{{efn|SEA – Seattle Kraken, VGK – Vegas Golden Knights}} ! style="width:28%;"| Goal ! style="width:35%;"| Assist(s) ! style="width:7%;"| Time ! style="width:11%;"| Score |
| style="text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:center;" | 1st | align=center | SEA | Eeli Tolvanen (10) | Vince Dunn (25), Adam Larsson (9) | align=center | 4:50 | align=center | 1–0 SEA |
| style="text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd | align=center | SEA | Will Borgen (1) | Tye Kartye (6), Eeli Tolvanen (13) | align=center | 2:19 | align=center | 2–0 SEA |
| style="text-align:center;"
| style="text-align:center;" | 3rd | align=center | SEA | Yanni Gourde (5) | Unassisted | align=center | 2:10 | align=center | 3–0 SEA |
:
| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable" |
| colspan=6 | Penalty summary |
|---|
| style="width:12%;"| Period
! style="width:7%;"| Team ! style="width:28%;"| Player ! style="width:35%;"| Penalty ! style="width:7%;"| Time ! style="width:11%;"| PIM |
| style="text-align:center;"| 1st
|align=center colspan=5 | None |
| style="text-align:center;" | 2nd
|align=center | SEA |align=center | Adam Larsson |align=center | Interference |align=center | 16:39 |align=center | 2:00 |
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2 | 3rd
|align=center | VGK |align=center | Brayden McNabb |align=center | Tripping |align=center | 12:10 |align=center | 2:00 |
| align=center | VGK
|align=center | Alex Pietrangelo |align=center | Slashing |align=center | 19:54 |align=center | 2:00 |
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-break|gap=1em}}
| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;text-align: center;" | |
| style="width:40%;"| Team
! style="width:60%;"| Goals/Opportunities | |
|---|---|
| VGK | 0/1 |
| SEA | 0/2 |
{{col-end}}
| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;text-align: center;" |
| style="width:15%;"|
!style="width:15%;"|Team !style="width:35%;"|Player !style="width:35%;"|Statistics |
|---|
| 1st
| SEA | 35 saves, 1.000 SV% |
| 2nd
| SEA | Eeli Tolvanen | 1 goal, 1 assist |
| 3rd
| SEA | Yanni Gourde | 1 goal |
Team rosters
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
| class="wikitable" style="width:65%; text-align:center;" |
| colspan=4 | Vegas Golden Knights{{efn|name=rosters|# – Jersey number, Nat. – Nationality, Pos. – Position (Left wing, Center, Right wing)}} |
|---|
| #
! Nat. ! Player ! Pos. |
| 2
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Zach Whitecloud | D |
| 3
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Brayden McNabb | D |
| 7
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Alex Pietrangelo (A) | D |
| 9
| align=center| {{flagicon|USA}} | align=left | Jack Eichel (A) | C |
| 10
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Nicolas Roy | C |
| 14
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Nic Hague | D |
| 20
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Chandler Stephenson | C |
| 21
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Brett Howden | C |
| 22
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Michael Amadio | RW |
| 23
| align=center| {{flagicon|USA}} | align=left | Alec Martinez | D |
| 28
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | William Carrier | LW |
| 30
| align=center| {{flagicon|CZE}} | align=left | Jiri Patera{{efn|name=backup|Jiri Patera and Chris Driedger dressed as the back-up goaltenders. Neither entered the game.}} | G |
| 36
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Logan Thompson | G |
| 43
| align=center| {{flagicon|USA}} | align=left | Paul Cotter | C |
| 49
| align=center| {{flagicon|RUS}} | align=left | Ivan Barbashev | C |
| 55
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Keegan Kolesar | RW |
| 61
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Mark Stone (C) | RW |
| 71
| align=center| {{flagicon|SWE}} | align=left | William Karlsson | C |
| 81
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Jonathan Marchessault | RW |
| 94
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Brayden Pachal | D |
| colspan=4 |Head coach: {{flagicon|CAN}} Bruce Cassidy |
{{col-break|gap=1em}}
| class="wikitable" style="width:65%; text-align:center;" |
| colspan=4 | Seattle Kraken{{efn|name=rosters}} |
|---|
| #
! Nat. ! Player ! Pos. |
| 3
| align=center| {{flagicon|USA}} | align=left | Will Borgen | D |
| 4
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Justin Schultz | D |
| 6
| align=center| {{flagicon|SWE}} | align=left | Adam Larsson (A) | D |
| 7
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Jordan Eberle (A) | RW |
| 8
| align=center| {{flagicon|USA}} | align=left | Brian Dumoulin | D |
| 10
| align=center| {{flagicon|USA}} | align=left | Matty Beniers | C |
| 13
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Brandon Tanev | LW |
| 19
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Jared McCann | LW |
| 20
| align=center| {{flagicon|FIN}} | align=left | Eeli Tolvanen | RW |
| 21
| align=center| {{flagicon|SWE}} | align=left | Alexander Wennberg | C |
| 22
| align=center| {{flagicon|DEN}} | align=left | Oliver Bjorkstrand | RW |
| 24
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Jamie Oleksiak | D |
| 29
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Vince Dunn | D |
| 35
| align=center| {{flagicon|USA}} | align=left | Joey Daccord | G |
| 37
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Yanni Gourde | C |
| 52
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Tye Kartye | LW |
| 56
| align=center| {{flagicon|USA}} | align=left | Kailer Yamamoto | RW |
| 60
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}} | align=left | Chris Driedger{{efn|name=backup}} | G |
| 90
| align=center| {{flagicon|SVK}} | align=left | Tomas Tatar | LW |
| 95
| align=center| {{flagicon|SWE}} | align=left | Andre Burakovsky | LW |
| colspan=4 |Head coach: {{flagicon|CAN}} Dave Hakstol |
{{col-end}}
=Scratches=
- Vegas Golden Knights: Pavel Dorofeyev, Ben Hutton, Dysin Mayo
- Seattle Kraken: Jaycob Megna, Devin Shore
Entertainment
The American national anthem was performed by 14-year-old guitarist Nikhil Bagga (who has also performed at select Kraken games at Climate Pledge Arena) accompanied by American Sign Language performer Brittany Rupik. Rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot performed during the player introductions while Seattle-based rock band Heart performed during the first intermission.{{cite news |last=Phair |first=Vonnai |date=December 21, 2023 |title=Heart, Sir Mix-a-Lot to perform at 2024 NHL Winter Classic in Seattle |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/heart-sir-mix-a-lot-to-perform-at-2024-nhl-winter-classic-in-seattle/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 22, 2023}}
During the pregame arrival for the teams, the Kraken wore outfits resembling workers from the Pike Place Fish Market, while the Golden Knights wore Elvis Presley costumes. The players were introduced during a ceremony that featured the Fish Market's employees tossing fish over the teams.{{cite news |last=Shefte |first=Kate |date=January 1, 2014 |title=Pike Place Market fishmongers real and fake highlight wild NHL Winter Classic |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/pike-place-market-fishmongers-real-and-fake-highlight-wild-nhl-winter-classic/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=January 1, 2024}}
Broadcasting
In the United States, the game was televised on TNT, simulcasted on TruTV, and streamed on Max. In Canada, the TNT feed was simulcast on Sportsnet and streamed on Sportsnet+.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nhl/news/winter-classic-2024-channel-time-stream-golden-knights-kraken/e2d52c5380807dead3d5f2f5|title=What channel is the Winter Classic on? Time, TV schedule, live stream for 2024 Golden Knights vs. Kraken game|website=Sporting News|date=December 31, 2023|access-date=January 1, 2024}}
Television ratings
The 2024 NHL Winter Classic surpassed the 2022 game for the lowest ratings of any Winter Classic in the United States to date, with an average of 1.1 million American viewers watching the game.{{cite web|url= https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/nhl-winter-classic-2024-tnt-tv-audience-viewership-kraken-golden-knights/?zephr_sso_ott=bOWp9W#:~:text=Confirmed%3A,while%2076%2C000%20watched%20on%20TrueTV |title= 2024 NHL Winter Classic is least-watched edition on record|website=Sports Pro Media|date= January 4, 2024|access-date=January 5, 2024}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{NHL outdoor games}}
{{Vegas Golden Knights}}
{{Seattle Kraken}}
{{2023–24 NHL season by team}}
{{NHL on TNT}}
{{NHL on Sportsnet}}
Category:Vegas Golden Knights games
Category:Ice hockey in Seattle