"It's a tricky one because there's a lot more to it. There's family coming, there's this and that. There's the equipment, guys are going out with the new gloves. There's so much to it," Sturm said. "When there's the puck drop, I think that's where the enjoyment comes. Before, it's very hectic, it's chaos, it's a lot of questions. So we try to minimize that."
"But as soon as we're there and we go on the ice, especially for the game and even the day before for a skate, I think that's when it really kicks in. Right now, it's more for me and my staff to organize things, not for players. But it's a good event and the guys should enjoy it when it's time."
Sixteen years after scoring the decisive goal in the first Fenway Park Winter Classic, Marco Sturm is now the Bruins' coach preparing for another outdoor game at Raymond James Stadium. Sturm balances appreciation for outdoor hockey with extensive logistical planning, treating the event like a busy hockey parent and focusing on minimizing pregame chaos so players can enjoy the puck drop. The Bruins will miss Elias Lindholm and Pavel Zacha because of recent upper-body injuries, creating the club's biggest injury challenge since Charlie McAvoy and David Pastrnak were sidelined together. Marat Khusnutdinov is penciled into the middle alongside Fraser Minten, Matt Poitras and Sean Kuraly, with no expected call-ups.
Read at Boston Herald
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