The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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M ichigan will play in its seventh outdoor game since 2001 on Feb. 7 at Soldier Field in Chicago, tak- ing on in-state rival Michigan State at 8 p.m. in the 2015 Coyote Logistics Hockey City Classic. Western Michi- gan and Miami (Ohio) will meet at 4 p.m. in the Classic's other contest. "We are pleased to be a part of the Hockey City Classic this season in its return to Soldier Field and the city of Chicago," Michigan head coach Red Berenson said. "It will be exciting for our players and our loyal Michigan hockey fans to witness this historic outdoor game with all-important Big Ten conference points on the line. The Hockey City Classic was ini- tially held at Soldier Field in Chicago in 2013, with Big Ten rivals (then WCHA) Minnesota and Wisconsin headlining a card that also featured a matchup between Notre Dame and Miami (Ohio). The event moved to TCF Bank Sta- dium in Minneapolis last season for a one-year run before returning to Chicago this season. The two 2015 college hockey con- tests are the main event at the 2015 Hockey Classic Winter Festival that includes open and corporate skates, hockey clinics and exhibition games all conducted at the Soldier Field site. Michigan last played outdoors in December 2013, in the Great Lakes Invitational tournament held at Co- merica Park in Detroit as part of the NHL Winter Classic series of events. There is a growing sentiment that outdoor games are becoming too fre- quent, and Michigan's head coach doesn't disagree — but with a caveat. "I feel the same way," Berenson said. "I feel there are too many out- door games, but the ones we're in- volved in are truly a great experience. Our freshmen … have never played in anything like this. And even for our whole team, [playing in] Soldier Field is a lot different than Comerica Park. "I don't know if there's anybody left over on our team from the Big Chill. So, if we had another Big Chill would they be excited? Absolutely. These are major life experience events for the players and the coaches, too. I hope they are for the fans, too. At the Winter Classic last year, I sat and froze through the whole thing, but I'll never forget that game." U-M PICKS UP COMMITMENT Josh Norris' hockey journey has already spanned two continents. Born to a North American father playing professional hockey in Ger- many, Norris has added another des- tination for the continuation of that journey by committing to be a mem- ber of Michigan hockey's incoming freshman class in the fall of 2017. Currently playing for the Oakland Junior Grizzlies midget major Tier 1 Elite team, the 5-11 170-pound, Ox- ford, Mich., native will likely follow MICHIGAN HOCKEY Wolverines Excited For Outdoor Game At Soldier Field