Outdoor hockey games have certainly become a new fad. After the original Cold War between Michigan and Michigan State gained so much attention, and after the success of the Winter Classic for the NHL, it has become a huge trend. Sometimes it gets a little out of hand, but this is by far one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.
There are two games that will be played here, with a capacity crowd of about 7,022. The teams that will be involved are: Austrian-based EBEL league’s Croatian hosts Medvescak Zagreb faces off against Olimpija Ljubljana and the Vienna Capitals. Playing outside in a Roman amphitheatre makes this one of the most rare and unique outdoor hockey games to ever be played. And while it won’t break any attendance records, it will break a record for oldest facility used to play hockey. The only issue I foresee is some serious problems with the ice. The game is being hosted in Pula, Croatia, and the forecast for the day there was a low of 61 degrees.
Having played in an outdoor game myself, it is bar none the coolest thing I’ve ever gotten to do as a player, and no matter how bad the ice gets, it is something you will remember forever.
Photo Credit to IIHF
