PITTSBURGH -- It's a big day here in the Steel City with the Winter Classic build-out going on at Heinz Field and the Penguins getting ready to drop the puck against the Atlanta Thrashers at CONSOL Energy Center.
Of course, NHL.com will be in both places.
I'm bringing you this blog from inside the quiet media room at CONSOL Energy Center, where the Penguins won't take the ice for their morning skate until 10:30. We're here early to shoot the Blackberry All-Access Show.
Blog Central
Posted On Tuesday, 12.28.2010 / 9:25 AM
By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer /NHL.com - 2011 Winter Classic Blog
Hockey day in Pittsburgh
Posted On Monday, 12.27.2010 / 6:30 PM
By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer /NHL.com - 2011 Winter Classic Blog
Have fun boys
PITTSBURGH -- The ice crew is getting a well-deserved night off.
Dan Craig told me Monday afternoon that they're about five hours ahead of schedule so he's giving the boys a chance to go out for a good dinner.
The ice right now is painted white and they'll probably be here until 8 or 9 tonight spraying water to seal that in. Once that's done they'll take off for the night and come back Tuesday morning to start painting down the lines and logos as well as spray water on the auxiliary rink to build that ice.
Dan Craig told me Monday afternoon that they're about five hours ahead of schedule so he's giving the boys a chance to go out for a good dinner.
The ice right now is painted white and they'll probably be here until 8 or 9 tonight spraying water to seal that in. Once that's done they'll take off for the night and come back Tuesday morning to start painting down the lines and logos as well as spray water on the auxiliary rink to build that ice.
Posted On Monday, 12.27.2010 / 5:35 PM
By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer /NHL.com - 2011 Winter Classic Blog
Dan Craig, folks, he'll be here all week
PITTSBURGH -- To get an idea of how good Dan Craig is feeling right now, you had to only listen to him at his media briefing on Monday afternoon.
Nearly all of the questions aimied at him and Don Renzulli at Monday afternoon's press briefing were about the inclement weather expected for New Year's Day, but Craig was a one-man show, cracking jokes and looking for laughs as he attempted to lighten the mood.
The first question he got was about that predicted rain. How does it affect his ice?
"It makes it very slick," Craig cracked.
Nearly all of the questions aimied at him and Don Renzulli at Monday afternoon's press briefing were about the inclement weather expected for New Year's Day, but Craig was a one-man show, cracking jokes and looking for laughs as he attempted to lighten the mood.
The first question he got was about that predicted rain. How does it affect his ice?
"It makes it very slick," Craig cracked.
Posted On Monday, 12.27.2010 / 11:35 AM
By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer /NHL.com - 2011 Winter Classic Blog
Commotion comes to town
PITTSBURGH -- As expected, Heinz Field is buzzing with people this morning. There is plenty of commotion going on all around this place. It feels so different than it did the past couple of days.
The rink continues to take shape as the boys are on it right now with hoses. The goal is to paint white later today.
The ice pans for the auxiliary rink have been placed down and connected in the south end zone. Not far away workers are putting together the bleachers that will be used for 1,500 auxiliary seats that the NHL is bringing in for the New Year's Day game.
The rink continues to take shape as the boys are on it right now with hoses. The goal is to paint white later today.
The ice pans for the auxiliary rink have been placed down and connected in the south end zone. Not far away workers are putting together the bleachers that will be used for 1,500 auxiliary seats that the NHL is bringing in for the New Year's Day game.
Posted On Sunday, 12.26.2010 / 4:25 PM
By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer /NHL.com - 2011 Winter Classic Blog
Looking into glass
PITTSBURGH -- The weather has cleared up here and the ice crew just finished spraying some hot water on the ice to clear off the top layer that was covered in snow.
The ice looks like glass. You can almost see yourself in it.
I just passed Dan Craig, who was walking down one of the corridors holding a big box, and smiling widely.
The snow that hit Pittsburgh earlier today did set Craig and his boys back about three hours, but all that did was put them back on schedule. As long as the weather stays the way it is right now they'll be able to get back ahead of schedule over night.
The ice looks like glass. You can almost see yourself in it.
I just passed Dan Craig, who was walking down one of the corridors holding a big box, and smiling widely.
The snow that hit Pittsburgh earlier today did set Craig and his boys back about three hours, but all that did was put them back on schedule. As long as the weather stays the way it is right now they'll be able to get back ahead of schedule over night.
Posted On Sunday, 12.26.2010 / 11:15 AM
By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer /NHL.com - 2011 Winter Classic Blog
Rink taking shape
PITTSBURGH -- This is how well things are going here at Heinz Field:
Dan Craig sent his overnight crew back to the hotel at 2 o'clock this morning because they were so far ahead of schedule that he figured he could give them a normal night of sleep and have them back here by lunch.
Craig told me he's got about a half an inch of ice built already, so he's a third of the way to his mark before he brings out the white paint. He's planning on building an inch between now and Monday afternoon before painting white and getting in some lines and logos when that paint dries.
Craig will be doing an on-camera report for us later this afternoon, so make sure to look for that.
Dan Craig sent his overnight crew back to the hotel at 2 o'clock this morning because they were so far ahead of schedule that he figured he could give them a normal night of sleep and have them back here by lunch.
Craig told me he's got about a half an inch of ice built already, so he's a third of the way to his mark before he brings out the white paint. He's planning on building an inch between now and Monday afternoon before painting white and getting in some lines and logos when that paint dries.
Craig will be doing an on-camera report for us later this afternoon, so make sure to look for that.
Posted On Saturday, 12.25.2010 / 8:15 PM
By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer /NHL.com - 2011 Winter Classic Blog
Making ice in P-burgh
PITTSBURGH -- They're making ice here at Heinz Field.
Just after 7 o'clock Saturday night Dan Craig grabbed the front end of one of the two long hoses, walked to the far end of his rink and started spraying water. Craig looked like the happiest guy in hockey.
"This right here is one of the best feelings in hockey next to scoring a goal," Craig told NHL.com as he sprayed.
Just after 7 o'clock Saturday night Dan Craig grabbed the front end of one of the two long hoses, walked to the far end of his rink and started spraying water. Craig looked like the happiest guy in hockey.
"This right here is one of the best feelings in hockey next to scoring a goal," Craig told NHL.com as he sprayed.
Posted On Saturday, 12.25.2010 / 12:30 PM
By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer /NHL.com - 2011 Winter Classic Blog
Right on schedule
PITTSBURGH -- It was a white Christmas morning in Pittsburgh, but all that meant for the guys here was added labor.
Snow fell overnight and there was about an inch covering the ice pans, so the shovels and brooms had to be used to clear that off so the boys could get back to work. Fortunately it was so light and so little that it didn't require much effort.
They're still running some brooms across the rink just to be sure, but pretty much all of the snow and slush is cleared off now and the boys are hard at work putting up dasher boards and filling in all the cracks between the ice pans.
Snow fell overnight and there was about an inch covering the ice pans, so the shovels and brooms had to be used to clear that off so the boys could get back to work. Fortunately it was so light and so little that it didn't require much effort.
They're still running some brooms across the rink just to be sure, but pretty much all of the snow and slush is cleared off now and the boys are hard at work putting up dasher boards and filling in all the cracks between the ice pans.
Posted On Saturday, 12.25.2010 / 12:10 AM
By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer /NHL.com - 2011 Winter Classic Blog
Graveyard shift
PITTSBURGH -- After spending a few hours at the hotel I am back at Heinz Field. No rest for the weary, right?
Don't feel for me. My job here is nothing compared to the guys from the ice crew and all the union workers that are laboring overnight to keep the rink build for the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic alive.
It's Christmas Eve (Christmas morning now), but they're working just like it's any other night because, in reality, that's what it is for the good men who have signed up to be a part of this event.
Don't feel for me. My job here is nothing compared to the guys from the ice crew and all the union workers that are laboring overnight to keep the rink build for the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic alive.
It's Christmas Eve (Christmas morning now), but they're working just like it's any other night because, in reality, that's what it is for the good men who have signed up to be a part of this event.
Posted On Friday, 12.24.2010 / 2:45 PM
By Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer /NHL.com - 2011 Winter Classic Blog
A stage for the holidays
PITTSBURGH -- It's almost Christmas Eve, but the NHL ice crew doesn't care about that. It's almost their time to start plugging away here at Heinz Field, where the snow flurries have been falling all day.
It really would be a perfect day for hockey. The snow is not sticking because the ground is too warm for that, but the temperature and daylight is just right. The flurries would add the ideal dimension to NBC's broadcast.
But, hey, work still has to get done before we can get a game going here. Hopefully Mother Nature again proves she's a hockey fan and brings Pittsburgh a good cold front when the calendars flip to 2011.
It really would be a perfect day for hockey. The snow is not sticking because the ground is too warm for that, but the temperature and daylight is just right. The flurries would add the ideal dimension to NBC's broadcast.
But, hey, work still has to get done before we can get a game going here. Hopefully Mother Nature again proves she's a hockey fan and brings Pittsburgh a good cold front when the calendars flip to 2011.
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