FOX Sports Midwest to televise 2017 NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game
ST. LOUIS -- FOX Sports Midwest will televise live the 2017 NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game, the St. Louis Blues, NHL and FOX Sports Midwest announced today. The alumni game between the Blues and Chicago Blackhawks is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 31, at 1:30 p.m. at Busch Stadium.
The Blues' roster includes Hall of Famers Bernie Federko, Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, Al MacInnis, Adam Oates, Chris Pronger and Peter Stastny, plus a number of fan favorites.
FOX Sports Midwest Blues play-by-play announcer John Kelly (play-by-play) will call the action alongside NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp. FOX Sports Midwest analyst Darren Pang will wear a microphone rink-side -- he’ll also play in the game, as a goaltender for the Blackhawks. Fellow FOX Sports Midwest analyst Federko will skate at forward for the Blues.
FOX Sports Midwest will televise the game within its Blues television footprint in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Kansas City. It will also be streamed live in those areas on FOX Sports GO.
“FOX Sports Midwest is the home of the Blues, and we’re excited to give fans at home the chance to watch some of the greatest stars in Blues and NHL history,” said FOX Sports Midwest General Manager and Senior Vice President Jack Donovan.
The NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game on New Year's Eve precedes the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® where the St. Louis Blues will play host to the Chicago Blackhawks at Busch Stadium on Jan. 2 at Noon CT. When these Central Division rivals meet, it will mark the first-ever regular-season outdoor game for the Blues and the fifth for the Blackhawks. St. Louis and Chicago have competed in the same division in every season since 1970-71, tied with the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres for the longest active streak in the NHL. The longtime rivals have met 12 times in the Stanley Cup® Playoffs, facing off at least once in each of the past five decades, including a seven-game series won by St. Louis during the First Round of the 2016 Stanley Cup® Playoffs.
