Oh Captain, My Captain – Winter Classic 2025

First and fore-(check)-most – Happy New Year, Goons and Goonettes.

In the year of our Lord, 2025 – I resolve to be more timely in talking about hockey fights.

I have been trying to post this for two days (off to a great start!) but the people at my job have been all like, literally, like: you’re here to work. Not post about rink rumbles or Winter Classic confrontations.

Winter Classic Blackhawk Blues

Having said that, there was a pretty good goddamn scrap at the Winter Classic this year.

The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues took it outside at Wrigley Field on the 31^st of December, which is a change from the usual date of January 1^st. The date change saw me more confused (Bud Lite) than usual, but I still managed to catch the first and third periods of the game.

Now, if I were a Blackhawk, I would start declining invites to play in this tradition full stop – in favor of whacking myself in the schnutz with a Bauer Vapor HyperLite 2.

They are now 1-6 in outdoor contests, and were absolutely embarrassed in front of their own crowd Tuesday afternoon. The only bright spot for the fans may have been the beating Hawks Captain, Nick Foligno, doled out to St. Louis Captain, Brayden Schenn.

Brayden and Jayden: Monikers Once Forsaken

No disrespect to the children or parents who named them in the last 18 years, but this is what happens. When instead of Bob, Matt, or “Tie” – you start making up modern (?) names for your kid. It’s only a matter of time before there’s an NHL netminder with the first name Daenerys.

Brayden, Hayden, Jayden, Grayden, Caden, Drayden, Tayden, Payden, Kaden and yes… even Wayden. It’s probably why the aforementioned Lord of 2025 granted me two girls. No offense, eh? Just give me a solid “Gord” once in a while.

Foligno vs. Schenn: Likely Never Again

It all started after the Blues took a 4-1 lead in the second period. After the goal, Schenn and Foligno lined up beside one another, and can been seen talking before the puck drops. When the biscuit hits the ice, the mitts come off, and the fight is on.

Uncle Nick proceeds to give Schenn 6-7 right hands right out of the gate. I don’t want to say Schenn was begging for a left, but he may just have been tired of eating rights.

Schenn ties it up to stop the onslaught, and gets a bunch of jersey shots in on Foligno. After Nick eats a couple of those, he regains control of the bout with a few more hard rights, gets Schenn bent over, and they go to the ice.

It was a clear win for Foligno, a.k.a “Fayden”? Anyone?

Seriously, half my friends have kids named “…ayden”, and I’m going to catch a lot of shit for this.

Noteworthy is that Foligno and Schenn were previously seen talking about having a handshake after the game – during warmups. Who knew what was in store? Also, it was Schenn that asked Foligno for the fight, so they would have a nice memory of the Winter Classic!

It’s not often the guy with the 3-goal lead asks for the fight. 99.9% it is the guy whose team is getting smoked and looking to turn the tide by getting into a donny.

Schenn had this to say about the fight. “I asked him. You look back on these moments in your career and why not, eh? You’re squaring off at Wrigley Field at center ice against a tough customer. You never know if you’re going to play in another Winter Classic, so get in a fight while you’re at it. You want the memory.”

I love the mentality. Foligno was throwing punches with such anger, too. This now makes sense.

He was almost like, OK, you’re killing us on the scoreboard, and you asked me for a fight for a nice memory? How ’bout I beat the brakes off your snot box… for a memory?

This type of stuff is what makes hockey so unique. In no other sport does this ridiculous shit happen. That’s why we’re all here.

Not a sound from the pavement. Or the rink. Thanks for the 2025 Winter Classic memories, boys!