Wrigley due to freeze over

While it's long been rumored, I just got the official word that the NHL's Winter Classic 2009 will be taking place on Zambrano, Soriano and the rest of the Cubs' field of dreams.

At noon central time January 1 (just about the time I've cleared the NYE cobwebs from my head), the puck will drop at Wrigley Field as the Blackhawks take on the defending Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings. While the NHL bigwigs originally coveted Yankee Stadium for the historic stadium's last hurrah, the Hawks and the Friendly Confines won out thanks to a few too many logistical concerns to overcome at the House that Ruth Built. For those of you who won't be topping off your annual New Year's Day Polar Plunge watching Kane, Toews and the rest of the rejuvinated Hawks live at Wrigley, NBC will carry the game live so you can nurse a Bloody Mary from the couch. Last year's Winter Classic at Buffalo's drew 71,217 fans to watch the action, and with the snowflakes falling, you were hard-pressed to find better action on the tube, even though traditionally the day belongs to college football's endless parade of bowl games.

In other Hawks news, their first-ever Blackhawks convention kicks off this weekend (though it sold out ages ago), and the NHL has said they will release the Hawks and Red Wings full schedules tomorrow.