Being indoors for most NHL contests, the fans are closer and more intimate. In this setting, however, the fans are farther and farther away from the players - a different feel to the game for all involved.
"There's not the guys banging on the glass, but there's this huge roar that's off in the distance and listening to that was crazy," Gill said. "It's almost like you can feel it, and it's super loud, but it's not right on you."
Weather could also potentially come into play. As of now, conditions look ideal come game time, but the elements can change quickly and the players will have to adapt, something Gill has experienced in the past.
"If it's cold, your eyes are watering while you're trying to make a play, and you're trying to play a game with different circumstances," Gill said.
Outdoor games open up a whole new world for not only fans and the players, but the League as well. These events bring in fans from all over and add an entire new level of excitement to everyone. Count Mason and Gill among those who are full of anticipation for what's to come, especially considering their resumes participating in stadium events.
"The impressive part is what they've done with the ice… They're a well-oiled machine," Gill said. "They're figuring this out, and they can do it anywhere, which opens it up to the whole League."
"We actually walked out the tunnel there, and it was just to visualize what these guys are going to go through," Mason said. "It's one of those things you'll never forget, the fans will never forget, the players, everybody involved in this game… But the fans here are going to get the real show."
