'Hockey Gods' Take on the Weather

Fifty-degree temperatures and rain are not ideal conditions for an outdoor hockey game. But Cranberry resident Angie Mencer believes it would take more than bad weather for the NHL to call off the 2011 Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals.

"I think they will [play]," Mencer said. "They will do whatever possible to get it in [on Saturday]."

The forecast for Saturday afternoon calls for temperatures around 50 degrees with a 70 percent chance of rain in the afternoon and 50 percent chance at night, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Lee Hendricks.

The ice at Heinz Field is maintained at a temperature of 22 degrees and warmer temperatures will not cause the ice to melt quickly, said Hendricks. David Anderson, the general manager of Ice Connection, an indoor hockey rink in Valencia,  said refrigeration systems can keep the ice frozen in warmer temperatures.

"They are probably going to make it work," Anderson said. "I don't see how they wouldn't, they are professionals."

This is good news for Mencer, who is attending the alumni game on . Friday's forecast calls for rain, but temperatures will climb to around 50 degrees.

"I'm not too worried [about Friday]," she said. "But if the ice gets too slushy … the puck bounces around a lot and you don't get as good of a game."

The rain forecast for Saturday is another issue. The first Winter Classic played in Buffalo, NY, in 2008 also was affected by the weather, but because of snow instead of rain. Hendricks said snow and rain cause similar problems on the ice — it piles up, freezes and causes a rough playing surface. Anderson compared rain hitting ice with icicles dripping into snow; it creates small divots and frozen specks on the ice.

"I'm not sure how severe skating on a rougher surface is," Hendricks said. "It would probably cause a greater potential for injuries."

Cranberry resident Scott Jugan received Winter Classic tickets through the Penguins' lottery system. The system gave everyone with season tickets and on the waiting list first dibs at Winter Classic tickets. His seat is in the bleachers at the top of Heinz Field, but Jugan said it was more about being there than where he is sitting.

"Hopefully it won't rain, or won't rain a lot so they can play the game," he said. "I think the hockey gods will let them play."

The NHL is still calling for a 1 p.m. starting time, but back-up plans are in place. The NHL could push the start time to Saturday evening, postpone the game until Sunday, or if necessary, play the game later in the season at the Consol Energy Center.

If the game is postponed until Sunday, it would compete with the Steelers for TV viewers. The Steelers game against the Cleveland Browns starts at 1 p.m. Sunday.

"People don't want to compete with watching the Steelers on Sunday," Mencer said. "And if they play it in the Consol Energy Center later, then it's not really a Winter Classic."  

Jugan agrees.

If the game is moved to the Consol Energy Center, he said, he would rather get his money refunded than attend the game.  

"It is a once in a lifetime opportunity [to go to the Winter Classic]," he said. "I would be very upset if they didn't play the game."