Rangers gear up for Winter Classic with outdoor practice

NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers had a practice they'll never forget Saturday.
The Rangers took it outside at Lasker Rink on the northern tip of Central Park in front of thousands of fans, including players from the Ice Hockey in Harlem program. It was the first time the Rangers held an outdoor practice in Central Park since 2003.

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The event was part of the buildup to the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1, when the Rangers will play the Buffalo Sabres at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, but the hourlong practice felt like much more.
"You go back to your young days when you're putting your skates out in the little house by the rink, you're putting mittens on and you're going out there and spending hours on the ice just for the love of the game and the fun of the game," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "That's a little bit of what happened today. It brought everybody back."
It was special for the fans too. Rangers practices and morning skates aren't open to the public, so fans never get to see them being put through the paces by Vigneault.

They got a taste of that Saturday.
Fans filled the spectator area, extending beyond the fence to the grassy area up the hill, with many sitting on stone ledges.
"I'm not surprised, but still you appreciate it," goalie Henrik Lundqvist said of the turnout. "I know the fan base in New York is very passionate about the game. When we pulled up I was like, 'Yeah, of course.' "

Fans held signs and screamed for their favorite players. Some were lucky enough to get autographs. Many laughed and celebrated along with the Rangers as the players did a shootout drill to close practice.
"It's fun," captain Ryan McDonagh said. "You love getting these unique experiences. We've had some outdoor skates in the past with Winter Classic [in Philadelphia in 2012] and Stadium Series games [at Yankee Stadium in 2014], but you think about where you are, right in the middle of Central Park here, in the heart of New York City, it's a pretty unique experience and something that I'll remember for a long time."
The Rangers made it memorable for the Ice Hockey in Harlem program too.

Former Rangers forward Adam Graves put the kids in the program through a clinic in the morning, before the Rangers arrived. The Rangers also presented the nonprofit organization 50 tickets to the Winter Classic so 40 kids and 10 coaches can attend the game. Ten players from the Ice Hockey in Harlem program will also be skating on the auxiliary rink before the game.
"We got tickets to the Winter Classic!" one of the Ice Hockey in Harlem players screamed.
"Oh, my God, yes!" screamed another.
Graves had a big smile upon hearing those reactions.
"These kids going to the Winter Classic will never forget that opportunity," Graves said. "It's just like today. It was an opportunity. Not just for everyone that is here, but the guys on the ice will never forget this practice because it's a special opportunity.
"Doing this, having an opportunity to bring the guys outside, opening it up to the bigger Ranger family to come enjoy it and having Ice Hockey in Harlem, it's a win, win, win."
Most of the Rangers players arrived at the park dressed in full gear, including their Winter Classic practice jerseys. They dressed at Madison Square Garden and drove uptown in vans.

Forwards Kevin Hayes and Jimmy Vesey, and defenseman Brady Skjei rode the subway to practice. They were followed by a camera crew for the upcoming four-part series "Road To The NHL Winter Classic presented by Honda," which debuts in the United States on NBCSN on Dec. 13 (11:30 p.m. ET) and in Canada on Sportsnet on Dec. 14 (7 p.m. ET).
"We definitely got a couple looks, but I think it's awesome," Vesey said. "The whole Winter Classic is a great event and it's all about growing the game of hockey. Getting out there in public on the subway, I think definitely goes along with that cause."
The practice allowed the Rangers, probably for the first time this season, to start thinking about the outdoor game against the Sabres.
"You definitely get that taste of it," McDonagh said. "The sun in your eyes. The glare on the ice. Just a lot of memories of growing up as a little kid and getting to play outdoors with your family and the kids in your neighborhood. It's a month away but it's going to come quick so it's good for us to get a little taste of it now."