NEW YORK/CHICAGO – The National Hockey League (NHL) and the Chicago Blackhawks today jointly announced ticket information for NHL Winter ClassicTM 2009.  Similar to last year's inaugural NHL Winter Classic in Buffalo, the event's home team season ticketholder base (Chicago Blackhawks) as well as NHL Winter Classic partners will have the right to purchase tickets for the event during the initial on-sale phase. 

A general public random drawing will be held to determine who will have an opportunity to purchase the remaining tickets with a limited number of tickets set aside for the community ticket initiative described below.  Fan registration for the random drawing will be conducted through the Chicago Blackhawks' official website (www.chicagoblackhawks.com) beginning on or about Noon ET/11 a.m. CT, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, through on or about 11:59 a.m. ET/10:59 a.m. CT, Friday, Nov. 28, 2008.  Registrations received after the deadline will not be accepted.  There is no fee to register.  Limit one entry per person.  Each registrant selected will have an opportunity to purchase a limited number of tickets. 

To celebrate amateur hockey in Illinois, a community ticket initiative will be conducted in the form of a youth hockey drawing for an opportunity to purchase NHL Winter Classic 2009 tickets.  In conjunction with the Blackhawks and the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI), the NHL will make available a limited number of tickets along the baselines to AHAI members only.  To be eligible for the youth hockey drawing, AHAI members must register at www.ahai.org or www.chicagoblackhawks.com between Noon ET/11 a.m. CT, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, through on or about 11:59 a.m. ET/10:59 a.m. CT, Friday, Nov. 28, 2008. 

A USA Hockey membership number active as of Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008, will be required for registration purposes.  If selected, the AHAI member will be allowed to purchase two tickets.  One ticketholder must be 18 years of age or under and accompanied by an adult.  There will be no exceptions and registrations that are incomplete or not meeting these eligibility requirements will not be processed.  There is no fee to register.  Limit one entry per AHAI member.

The Blackhawks will host the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, in NHL Winter Classic 2009 on New Year's Day.  The 701st all-time meeting of the clubs – no NHL opponents have played more regular-season games against each other – will begin at the memorably unique venue at 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT.  NBC will provide live broadcast coverage of the game in the U.S.  In Canada, CBC and RDS will televise the event live.  NHL Radio will provide coverage for radio stations across North America, and NHL Network and NHL.com will provide extensive coverage around the event.