Winter Classic Pits Historic Rivals

As has been widely reported, the NHL is expected to announce that the Winter Classic will be played at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Jan. 1, 2009. The expected combatants, the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, are longtime rivals -- much more fierce than last season's opponents, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres.

A quirky book on hockey, "Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Shoots and Scores," details the disdain between the two teams. A quick summary: James Norris was looking to create a second franchise in Chicago amidst the objections of Hawks' owner Major Frederic McLaughlin. After the building of Chicago Stadium in 1929, Norris founded the Chicago Shamrocks of the American Hockey Association. That team folded soon after and McLaughlin moved the Hawks into the Stadium.

However, the arena was deeply in debt and Norris purchased the building along with the Detroit Olympia. Because of their feud, McLaughlin pulled the Hawks out of Chicago Stadium and moved them back to the team's original home, the Chicago Coliseum. However, the NHL ordered the Hawks to play in the much-larger Chicago Stadium.

At the same time, Norris purchased the bankrupt Detroit Falcons, changed their name to the Red Wings and had them play at the Olympia. Norris and McLaughlin continued to fight at NHL Board of Governors' meetings -- along with other legendary owners Art Ross (Boston Bruins), Lester Patrick (New York Rangers) and Conn Smythe (Toronto Maple Leafs).

And thus, one of the best NHL rivalries was born -- something that hopefully will be highlighted during the Winter Classic.