Viva México: Winter Classic This Sunday

[Konnan511 1,736]

This Sunday the Division III World Junior tournament starts in Mexico City. Participating teams include Bulgaria, Mexico, New Zealand, North Korea, Serbia, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), and Turkey. Obviously no major hockey powers there, and an otherwise non-notable tournament.

Except the opening game Sunday night will be a first for a World Junior tournament, in any division. Mexico is playing Bulgaria on an outdoor rink; with free admisison, organisers expect up to 50,000 people to show up.

Of note is that the average temperature for Mexico City in January is 23°C (73°F) during the day and 9°C(48°F) at night. Some would argue that it is way to warm to have an outdoor game, and that ice probably wouldn't work there. However, the Plaza de la Constitución, also known as Zócalo, has had an ice rink built there several times, one that measures 240 by 240 metres (800x800 feet).

So the success of this game should make the NHL consider the possibility of a Winter Classic in a southern US market. After all if Mexico City can host one, Miami or Phoenix should be able to.

=4272&cHash=4a579fd583"]El Linko

[wingslogo19 281]

This Sunday the Division III World Junior tournament starts in Mexico City. Participating teams include Bulgaria, Mexico, New Zealand, North Korea, Serbia, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), and Turkey. Obviously no major hockey powers there, and an otherwise non-notable tournament.

Except the opening game Sunday night will be a first for a World Junior tournament, in any division. Mexico is playing Bulgaria on an outdoor rink; with free admisison, organisers expect up to 50,000 people to show up.

Of note is that the average temperature for Mexico City in January is 23°C (73°F) during the day and 9°C(48°F) at night. Some would argue that it is way to warm to have an outdoor game, and that ice probably wouldn't work there. However, the Plaza de la Constitución, also known as Zócalo, has had an ice rink built there several times, one that measures 240 by 240 metres (800x800 feet).

So the success of this game should make the NHL consider the possibility of a Winter Classic in a southern US market. After all if Mexico City can host one, Miami or Phoenix should be able to.

=4272&cHash=4a579fd583"]El Linko

Thanks for posting this, it's pretty cool.. Now I wonder who will win?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Awesome! I wish I lived close enough to show my support.

[TheUkrainian 49]

I'd go with Serbia or Bulgaria. They're in close proximity to Ukraine They also seem like hockey countries to me. I think it'd be awesome if Mexico won it though.

The womens ice hockey team is famous though:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Bulgarian-women-s-ice-hockey-loses-82-0-gives-u?urn=nhl-106362

Yikes.

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

Actually they have held an outdoor game in the desert before, in 1991 they held an exhibition between the Rangers and the Kings at the outdoor arena at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. I didn't hear much about the ice conditions, but they were able to finish the game back then and I'm sure they could do it now.

[Din758 371]

in college i played for northwood university acha div III. in our opening game, or warm up game, one season was against the mexican junior team. they werent very good to be totally honest. just imagine a group of college kids that never played a game together before beating a mexican junior team that had been playing together for years. thats about the level of play they were at, and i would imagine this is the same team, but probably new players by now as this was about 4 years ago.

just wanted to give you guys an idea of their skill level...

EDIT: forgot to mention how sweet this is. gotta love seeing hockey expand across the world. it is surprising they were able to put ice down there, i thought it was always hot down there..

Edited January 6, 2011 by Din758

[toby91_ca 620]

Warm temparatures aren't really the problem. You could probably play an outdoor game in 100 degrees F, which I think it was for the Las Vegas game. It would probably be uncomfortable for the players, but the ice woudl hold up. The problem at this year's Winter Classic wasn't the warm weather, it was the rain. They can keep the ice cold, even during warm weather.

[jollymania 162]

i thought there was a like a 3rd tier ontario team in that tourney, or at least one of my mexican friends who actually played hockey sent me a text of mexico playing ontario on tv

[dragonballgtz 273]

Don't drink the water

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Wow, I had no idea about this.

I know there are hockey leagues all over the world in non-traditional markets, but you never really hear anything about it here.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

This is awesome! Really great to see the game taken to other countries in the outdoor format no less. I like Serbia to take this with Mexico being the sleeper (home soil!). Wasn't that a Canadian's explanation as to why they will take the WJC next year?

[sputman 1,268]

Don't drink the water

or breathe the air

[Chelios57 31]

Awesome!!

[selkie 10]

Wow, I had no idea about this.

I know there are hockey leagues all over the world in non-traditional markets, but you never really hear anything about it here.

A few years back, I remember hearing about a book someone had written about playing hockey in the IIHF D&E championships pool. (sinced renamed Divisions IIB and III) And it actually sounded like crazy fun despite the low skill levels. This year's Division III championships is in South Africa in April, and features Greece, Israel, Luxemborg, Mongolia, South Africa, and Turkey all fighting for the right to maybe move up to IIB at some point.

I'm kind of surprised Israel isn't better. Seems like they should have some Russian/former Soviet areas Jewish hockey players who immigrate there. Even if they weren't good enough to stay in the Russian/Ukraine developmental hockey systems all the way through, you'd think it would be enough to kick start the Israeli team up a level or two. (The Israeli national figure skating teams are actually quite good because of those kinds of immigrants to the country)

And I suspect Greece-Turkey is always a little on the intense side, no matter the sport involved.

[Konnan511 1,736]

I'd hate to be the team that beats North Korea.

[sputman 1,268]

I'd hate to be the team that beats North Korea.

i'd hate to be a beaten north korea. their skins will probably be fashioned into some sort of crazy raincoat for that nutter kim jong-il.

that dude is cuckoo-bananas.

[selkie 10]

The PRK won Group IIIB last year, beating Armenia in the gold medal game, and pasting Mongolia 22-1 along the way. They advanced to IIA this year, which is going to be a decidedly tougher group. (Mexico, Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, Serbia)