Citizens Bank Park to host hockey’s Winter Classic

Philadelphia will host a unique hockey game to start the new year.

The Philadelphia Flyers will face off against the New York Rangers outdoors at Citizens Bank Park for the National Hockey League’s Winter Classic on Jan. 2.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the weather plays as big a role as the venue and the teams involved.

“We’ve played in the snow, we’ve played in rain, we’ve played in extreme cold, we’ve faced a variety of challenging conditions,” Bettman said. “And that is one of the elements, if you will excuse the pun, that adds to the legend of this event.”

David Montgomery, Phillies president, is happy to host the hockey game.

“To be one of the venues that in our sport joins Wrigley Field and Fenway Park as a host of this event is something really special to us,” he said.

The Flyers lost when they played outdoors against Boston at Fenway in 2010; Rangers officials are predicting another loss this year.

The rink will cover just part of the infield.