Are You Ready for Outdoor Hockey?

We reached the quarter point in the NHL season this last week, and the Philadelphia Flyers are in a tight race to stay atop the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division.

The Winter Classic is approaching—it's just over a little more than a month away— and I personally could not be more excited. As a former casual hockey fan, I understand, there are a lot of games in the season, but the 2011-12 Flyers are a pretty stellar collection of players who know how to put on a show.

Despite injuries to several key players suck as Chris Pronger, Jaromir Jagr and Jersey native James vanRiemsdyk, the season has gotten off to a much better start than other area pro teams—ahem, Eagles. The teams continual success over the past several years has resulted in growth of fairweather fans I see rocking the black and orange in the spring time, but the season starts in October. By the time the Winter Classic rolls around, I hope the groans of how terribly the Eagles have been playing will have subsided, and sports fans give hockey a real chance. If you have been living under a rock, this game will be played at Citizens Bank Park against the New York Rangers on Monday, Jan. 2. 

Perhaps what has me more excited than the Winter Classic game (since I can't afford tickets) is the HBO series 24/7. HBO began filming the teams in September during key games, and this weekend began with the round-the-clock coverage which will chronicle the teams' journeys toward the Winter Classic. The Flyers will step into the national spotlight on Dec. 14 at 10 p.m. when the first hour-long episode debuts. Three more episodes will follow each Wednesday, on Dec. 21, Dec. 28 and Jan. 4. Last year, HBO followed the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins during the month of December and their battle at Heinz Field on New Year's Day, making for some of the best television I watched all holiday season.

As I mentioned, tickets for this event aren't exactly easy to come by. However, two other events will also be played on the outdoor rink at a much more affordable price. Flyers and Rangers alumni take the ice in a New Year's Eve matinee at 1 p.m. and the former Philadelphia (now Adirondack) Phantoms will face off against the Hershey Bears on Friday, Jan. 6. Some hockey greats are included on the Flyers alumni roster. Both of these are an exciting and cheaper option if you can't drop a few paychecks on the real thing! 

Even if you are not a hockey fan, this series does an incredible job of capturing the essence and passion involved for fans and players alike. These cameras won't miss a minute of the action on and off the ice as each episode will include interviews, practices, family time, and players and refs mic-ed up during games. If you're looking for comedy or hatred, hard hits or family hugs, I fully recommend checking out this 12-minute preview of what is to come on “Flyers-Rangers: 24/7 Road to the Winter Classic,” and the rest of the season on Dec. 14.