The first Winter Classic in the history of both the LFA and the city took place on Saturday. More than just a charity event celebrating our national pastime, the Classic was a family party, a welcome excuse to spend time with loved ones. Walking among the hundreds of hockey fans who showed up to cheer friends, families, and lovers, I was struck by the number of children and their outbursts of laughter. It was as if the game became secondary to the off-ice party; the score was an after-thought to the pleasure generated by this winter “happening.”  The temperature was perfect. A softened light pierced the celestial grey which, mixed with a few flakes of snow, gave a magical atmosphere to the whole event.

As I mentioned above, the Winter Classic was a charity event. And while it is still too early to know exactly how much we raised for the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation, it will be more than our 2014 fundraiser for them, which resulted in a $4 400 donation. With 1 031 tickets sold, and donations that are still coming in 48 hours after the game, I think the final amount will bring a smile to all involved, especially the children we will have helped. The Winter Classic represents an important investment in our community. In short, the Ligue Fédérale des As can say “mission accomplished” following its first large-scale outdoor event. It may not have been perfect, but the league can be satisfied with this initial effort to make the world a better place by hosting a unique event. The league would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers who made the event possible, as well as all those who supported it by buying tickets or making a donation to the Montreal Canadians Children’s Foundation.

JFD (AS TRANSLATED BY JONATHAN MONTPETIT)