2023 NHL Alumni Winter Classic set to dazzle Carbondale

Excitement builds as the 2023 National Hockey League Alumni Winter Classic gears up to take place at the expanded Steadman Philippon Outdoor Arena outside of Carbondale on Dec. 9. The spotlight is set to shine not only on the rink, but also on Colorado Extreme Hockey’s commitment to fostering love for the game in the Roaring Fork Valley.

In what is expected to be a riveting match-up, the NHL Colorado Alumni will face off against the NHL Alumni. Notable NHL alumni attending the event include 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Henrik Lundqvist, sixth-overall pick in the 2002 NHL Draft Scottie Upshall, 2008 Stanley Cup champion Kyle Quincey, and more.

The action-packed evening is slated to begin at 6:30. Fans, however, will be in for a treat with a free skills session from 5 to 6:30 p.m. with the players, allowing them a close-up view of their favorite NHL alumni. 

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Colorado Extreme Hockey, a non-profit organization founded in 2021, has been lauded for its inclusivity, notably inviting the Latino community to participate. Housing around 50 young players and distributing 300 free hockey bags filled with gear, the youth club stands as a testament to Extreme Founder Sheldon Wolitski’s dedication. Two trailers, each 25-feet long and currently packed with equipment, await the next generation of hockey enthusiasts, thanks to the NHL’s generosity.

Wolitski spoke passionately about its significance.

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“The most important thing that we can do for this community is light a spark,” he said. “Most of these kids have never been to an NHL game before. This is a great opportunity to give these kids something that they might not have ever seen.”

Upshall, a sixth-overall draft pick in the 2002 NHL Draft, told the Post Independent on Wednesday he is ecstatic to take part in the event. Upshall, who lives part time in the valley, also expressed his appreciation for Wolitski and the Colorado Extreme program.

“What Sheldon and his wife Katie have done for this valley with Colorado Extreme is incredible,” Upshall said. “Kids who have looked at this sport and thought they would never have a chance to play it, Sheldon has given them that chance.”

Wolitski is excited for an event that has never occurred in the Roaring Fork Valley.

“These alumni want to support a cause that is great for the community,” he said. “They are bringing something to the valley that we have never seen before.”

Colorado Extreme wants this event to drive local youth to keep playing hockey, he said. 

“This event is about inspiring our youth,” he said.

Quincey, a 2008 Stanley Cup champion with the Detroit Red Wings, spoke about the opportunity for hockey-goers in the valley to meet NHL players — one he said he never had growing up in Toronto.

“Growing up in Toronto, I never had access to go meet the Toronto Maple Leafs,” he said. “This is an iconic opportunity to bring some legends of the game to Carbondale and give back to the game that has done so much for us.”

He further touched on his sentiment, saying he is excited to see the many players that he played both with and against.

“The NHL community is a tight-knit family,” Quincey said. “We miss the guys, we miss the game, and we miss the community, so it’s going to be a lot of fun. But I think a lot of us are most excited to share the love of the game with this community.”

With 25 NHL alumni already committed, Wolitski said he is in the process of adding even more former players to the event’s roster.

While the event is free, attendees wishing to support Colorado Extreme Hockey’s mission can donate at the door or online at coloradoextreme.org.