Capitals Rally to Victory at 2011 NHL Winter Classic Heinz Field Pittsburgh
Heinz Field NHL Winter Classic - Photo credit: Megan Herod
It was not the most picturesque of days, it was not the Winter Classic of 2010 in beautiful Boston with the ultimate outdoor weather conditions for a nostalgic outdoor game. It was raining, dreary, a wet, raw Pittsburgh day for the perfect match-up of one of the best games in hockey history. Over 68,000 hockey fans converged at the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2011 NHL Winter Classic. The media surrounding the NHL’s crown jewel annual event has been unprecedented this year. The Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins won over the attention of America with an HBO reality show series, 24/7. The four part mini series took hockey fans old and new on a journey following the two teams, from the inside with a behind the scenes view of the months leading up to the most successful sporting event of the year, the 2011 NHL Winter Classic. HBO’s reality TV series offered a backstage pass to the coaches and players lives and showed the differences in the philosophies of the two teams.
This is the fourth year the NHL has hosted a Winter Classic game on New Years Day and the second year that the Penguins have played in the mega match-up since 2008. What made the 2011 NHL Winter Classic so dynamic was the matchup between the two teams, who are such long time rivals they didin’t even shake hands after yesterdays game. To make things even more interesting, there was stark differences and drama in each of the teams in the month leading up to the event. The Pittsburgh Penguins, led by Olympic gold medal and Stanly Cup winning forward Sidney Crosby, won 18 of the last 20 games leading up to the Classic. The Capitals didn’t win a game from Dec 3rd to Dec 19th until they finally broke an eight game losing streak in Ottawa when they beat the senators 3-2. The Capitals regained their composure and added momentum in the next week and a half putting them in good position, they won 4 out of the next 5 games. Ironically the one loss they faced was to Pittsburgh, at the Verizon Center, in a nail bitting shootout.
Eric Fehr rejoices after scoring his second goal to lead the Capitals to a 3-1 victory at the 2011 NHL Winter Classic - Photo credit: Gregory Shamus
The Winter Classic was delayed due to the warm weather and rain from 1pm to 8pm yesterday. Approximately 30,000 Caps fans and 40,000 Pens fans converged at Heinz Field for what was to be the most exciting game of the year, and the game did not disappoint. The time change seemed to help, the overall TV ratings were reportedly up by 8%. The first period the Pens started out hot with goal tender Marc-Andre Fleury stopping all 20 shots and getting an assist on Evgeni Malkin goal. This would be the only goal for Pittsburgh on New Years day. Mike Knuble answered with the first goal for the Caps in the second period. The real star of the day was Eric Fehr. He picked a high profile game to let the world know that he is a force to be reckoned with scoring both of Washington’s other goals to make the final score 3-1 Caps. This was such an important win for the Capitals. They emerge victorious, the month long HBO special, that didn’t start out well, ended with the big win in front of millions of hockey fans worldwide. Not only did the Capitals steal the Winter Classic title from the Pens in their own backyard…literally, but they also presented themselves as a team that doesn’t need to rely on their star player to win games. People are thinking this could be the year for the Caps to bring home the coveted Stanley Cup that has eluded our Nations Capital to date.
One of the best parts about the Winter Classic is the nostalgia of playing hockey outside in the elements where hockey originated. And what old time hockey game would be complete without two bruisers squaring off and dropping the gloves. In a fight that will be carried on hockey channels for years John Erskine unleashed the fury with Pittsburgh’s Michael Rupp. These two hockey players fought it out old school style, blow by blow. At one point it looked like Rupp had the upper hand as Erskine lost his footing. The seasoned Capitals veteran regained his balance and landed some massive blows to the Penguins center. The fight ended in a draw as the two exhausted players were subdued by the officials and the game continued to the applause of the crowd. This is real raw hockey.
The word has trickled down from Ted Leonsis that the most exciting game in hockey, the NHL Winter Classic, will come to Washington, DC in the next two to three years. Places being considered for hosting the event are Nationals Park, Fedex Field, M&T Bank Stadium, Camden Yards and RFK Stadium. Nationals Park seems to be the favorite candidate with M&T Bank Stadium as a viable option possibly increasing the Capitals fan base. National Park holds 41,000 fans, RFK Stadium holds 46,000, Camden Yards holds 48,000 M&T Bank Stadium holds 71,000 and Fedex holds 91,000. Caps fans have been trying hard to BRING THE NHL WINTER CLASSIC TO DC and it looks like we may get our wish.
Emme Porter, Bruce Porter Jr celebrating the 2011 NHL Winter Classic win
EmmeGirls is a national promotional marketing agency headquartered in Washington, DC. We staff elite models for various events including, trade show models, spokesmodels, producing in-game entertainment at sporting events, runway fashion shows, hot promotional models and dancers from DC to Las Vegas. The agency is led by CEO Emme Porter. She is former Miss Massachusetts, Bella Vita REAL Reality TV Star and a three time member of the Washington Capitals Cheerleading squad called the Red Rockers. She was recently featured on www.HockeyBuzz.com. You can read the article here: Getting to Know Your Fellow Red Rockers: An Interview with Emme Porter
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If you were at the 2011 NHL Winter Classic you can send your photos to have them featured on our websites: Email to Emme@EmmeGIrls.com with photo credit information
Cap’s Take Down Penguins 5-4…How about a rematch at the 2011 NHL Winter Classic?
The Pittsburgh Penguins beat mother nature to come to Washington DC during the Snow-pocalypse of 2010, but would that foreshadow their beating the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center yesterday? No way!
The infamous Ovechkin vs Crosby match-up perhaps out shinned even this year’s Super Bowl game! It certainly had every fan in the National Hockey League talking. Would Ovechkin’s Capitals be able to extend their franchise record-setting 13 wins, to 14, against the team that knocked them from competing for the Stanley Cup just last year?
The game did not disappoint; it was a seething rematch as far as Caps fans were concerned. Things weren’t looking too good going into the 3rd period as Pittsburgh’s led 4-2, but the Capitals, led by their captain Ovechkin, were not going down with out a fight. Ovi rallied his team for the 5-4 win. If the final score of 5-4 is any indication of how Captain Alex Ovechkin will lead his Capitals…then DC may finally get it’s coveted Stanley Cup!
Sunday’s game sure makes you think an Alex vs Sydney match up for the 4th Annual NHL Winter Classic would be an epic outdoor game that would appeal to any hockey fan. The prospects of getting a Winter Classic has every team in the league salivating. Even though Pittsburgh has already played in one outdoor Classic, the match-up of these two team might be too big a ticket to turn down.
If NHL fans want the Ovechkin vs Crosby match-up for next year’s Winter Classic, then lets give it to them…right here in DC! We can keep the ice frozen outdoors on January 1st in DC. They keep the Verizon Center nice and warm and the ice stays frozen just fine. So then you have to think, where to hold such a high profile game?
Many Washingtonians think the nostalgia of having hockey’s two biggest marquee players match-up on a sheet of ice at old RFK Stadium is appealing. After enduring the extremely cold temperatures on December 29th at this year’s EagelBank Bowl, I would agree it would be the perfect venue; but the EagleBank Bowl is just the problem. After moving the Bowl from before Christmas in 2008 to Dec. 29th this last year, I imagine they will hold that same date next year at RFK. The NHL wants at least a week before the game to set up the ice and advertisements. So RFK would appear to be out.
The thought of making Fedex Field a sea of red, as 80,000 Caps Fans pack into the Redskin’s own stadium makes my heart beat speed up. Cheering the NHL’s biggest and sexiest rivalry of Sidney and Alex in front of this many fans would indeed be epic. However, the word on the street is the NHL is wary to use a professional football stadium because it is in the middle of their official season. So, another idea has emerged, using the Washington Nationals Stadium to hold the Classic. It is a baseball field and as best I can tell, has no scheduling conflicts. It would hold at least 41,000 fans, is Metro accessible and we could possibly set up more seats since an ice rink is much smaller than a baseball field.
Caps vs Rangers, Caps vs Penguins, Caps vs whoever lets bring the NHL Winter Classic to DC! One thing is for sure, the NHL fans want their own Ovechkin and his Capitals in the next NHL Winter Classic whether it’s in our Nation’s Capital or not. Click the photo to become a fan of BRING THE NHL WINTER CLASSIC TO DC BY EMMEGIRLS
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2009 EagleBank Bowl Recap
At a crisp and sunny day at RFK Stadium, Washington DC hosted the 2009 EagleBank Bowl. Temple University made it’s first postseason appearance since 1979 and their opponent UCLA secured their position in the bowl when Navy defeated Army on December 12. The match-up should have been fairly easy for the UCLA Bruins, but with Temple showing up with a lot of heart, a lot of fight and a lot of fans, the 2009 Eagle Bank Bowl was anything but a predictable game. Tuesdays second annual EagleBank Bowl was a fight until the end.
Temple dominated the first two quarters leading 21 to 10 at the half. A series of unfortunate events for the Owls changed the momentum of the game. First, they lost their star running back to what appeared to be a shoulder injury. Then, in the third quarter, a referee on the field spotted the ball about a foot further back from where the scrambling Temple 5’5 running back, Matt Brown stopped his forward momentum. This placing cost Temple a first down inside the Bruins ten yard line. An official review was conducted, but the controversial call was upheld. Temple lost possession of the ball by downs on the next play.
The Owl’s were still up 21 – 20 but ultimately the skill of UCLA’s defense, led by Brian Price, proved too much. The Bruins were able to intercept the ball at the Temple 2 yard line for a touchdown. A two point conversion and a bad snap for a punt, that sent the ball into Temple’s own end-zone, brought the 2009 EagleBank Bowl to the final score:
UCLA 30
TEMPLE 21
Proceeds from the EagleBank Bowl go the the Wounded Warrior Project. The Wounded Warrior Project helps severely wounded soldiers and their families and provides services which help them ultimately transition back into civilian life.
EmmeGirls is a proud sponsor of the 2009 EagleBank Bowl. www.EmmeGirls.com
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Limo, Drinks and Tickets to the Eagle Bank Bowl at Front Page Arlington
•1 ticket to the Eagle Bank Bowl
•1 admission to Eagle Bank Bowl pre‐game party at Front Page Arlington including food and beverage discounts
•1 Limo Party Bus Ride to and from RFK Stadium & Front Page Arlington on game day with the EmmeGirls
•5 drinks tickets to be redeemed aboard the limo to and from RFK Stadium
•1 Eagle Bank Bowl Debit Card good for discounts all over town!
PURCHASE EAGLE BANK BOWL PACKAGE TICKETS ANYTIME AT FRONT PAGE ARLINGTON!
The Eagle Bank Bowl is dedicated to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and the service academies. This is the third year since it’s inception. For the 2009 Bowl, a team from the ACC will play Army, represented by the US Military Academy at West Point. If Army does not qualify for a bowl game by winning half (6) of its games this season then a team from Conference USA will play in their place.
Front Page will be sponsoring the EmmeGirls and the Eagle Bank Bowl this and every Wednesday leading up the the bowl from 8 PM to 10 PM. Enjoy the drink specials, T-shirt giveaways and a pair of Eagle Bank Bowl tickets to be raffled off. See you there! 
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Front Page Arlington & EmmeGirls sponsors the Eagle Bank Bowl
