The Steadman Philippon Outdoor Arena came alive under a chilly December sky as an array of NHL legends and stars converged for the second annual NHL Alumni Winter Classic on Saturday. 

Put on by the Colorado Extreme hockey program, the event was a festival of hockey, complete with an F-16 flyover and fireworks that lit up the night. The Avalanche alumni team emerged victorious with a 8-4 win over the NHL alumni, thrilling the packed stands that included fans young and old, from near and far, including youth hockey programs from Denver and beyond who made their way to Carbondale to witness the event.

“Seeing a sold-out crowd here, and for me, seeing all the kids and parents smiling, that’s all that matters,” Wolitski said. “These guys came out and played hard and provided amazing entertainment for the community. At the end of the day, it’s just for the kids who don’t get to see players of this caliber, besides once a year. So I’m really, really grateful. It was an amazing event tonight.”

The Avalanche alumni team was highlighted by the likes of Milan Hedjuk, Darren Helm and John Michael-Liles, while the NHL alumni team featured Colorado Extreme President and former first overall pick in  Bryan Berard and legendary goalie Henrik Lundqvist. The event was graced by celebrities, with country music star Dustin Lynch dropping the ceremonial puck, while actor Cuba Gooding Jr. donned hockey gear to join the fray. 

“Cuba happens to be a huge hockey fan,” Wolitski said. “With Bryan’s (Berard) network, we’re drawing big names from beyond the NHL, which really elevates the event.”

As organizers look ahead, they’re already gearing up to expand the classic’s reach.

 “We’ve already got some hall-of-famers lined up for next year,” Wolitski revealed. “We need to work on creating more stands because I want to get more people in here.”

Berard, reflecting on the event’s growth, emphasized the community focus.

“It’s all about the fans and the kids. Each year, it’s our goal to make the experience bigger and better,” Berard said. “We’re still learning, but it’s great to see the community come together like this, and hopefully, we can build an indoor rink here soon.”

Lundqvist, back for his second year, expressed his commitment to the event’s cause.

“I love what Sheldon is doing. I love the fact that he’s trying to grow the game. We’re all here having a blast, meeting old friends and trying to raise some money for this program,” Lundqvist said. “We’re trending in the right direction. Seriously, it was so fun. We improved from last year and maybe next year we can beat them.”