The NHL starts every calendar year with a tradition: playing the Winter Classic. Each year, a different city hosts an outdoor hockey game. This year, the Seattle Kraken hosted Vegas at T-Mobile Park (home of the Mariners).
Forty-seven thousand three hundred thirteen fans witnessed the first-ever outdoor NHL game in the Emerald City’s history. Despite the Seahawks’ failure to clinch a playoff spot just 24 hours earlier, there was still much to celebrate from this game.
The Good
There was plenty that went right in this game. To start, Mother Nature felt generous to drop the puck on 2024. With no rain or snow in the forecast, the stadium roof was open, presenting an international audience with a beautiful view of the mountains overlooking Seattle.
The weather also allowed fans an opportunity to head downtown early, taking in a free concert of Seattle’s own The Head and The Heart at The Hatback, located across the street from T-Mobile Park. From there, tens of thousands of fans made their way to the stadium.
The fans were plenty entertained – off the ice, the Seattle Kraken players entered the stadium wearing fisherman gear as if they had just come off the boats in Ballard.
Their entrance onto the ice to start the game was something to behold: local music legend Sir Mix-A-Lot performed a special rendition of “Jump on It” with Seattle-themed text. Meanwhile, Seattle Kraken players walked onto the ice through an archway of fresh salmon flying through the air created by the fish-yeeters of Pike Place Market.
Then there was the music. Between performing the national anthem in the style of Jimmy Hendrix, Seattle rock legends Heart providing the first intermission entertainment, and the post-game entertainment being provided by Fitz The Tantrums, there was no shortage of musical memories created.
On the ice, fans had PLENTY to cheer for. One particular name stands out: Joey Daccord. A sold-out baseball stadium chanting, “JO-EY, JO-EY, JO-EY,” echoed through T-Mobile Park as the Kraken came out with a 3-0 win.
The shutout marked the second of Daccord’s young career – and the first ever in Winter Classic history. The 36-save performance was good enough to make him the MVP of this game. He was rewarded with a one-of-a-kind trophy resembling a cup of coffee.
