All systems go for Hawks' Winter Classic

In the temporary interview room beneath Wrigley Field's south grandstand, National Hockey League facilities/operations manager Dan Craig said what thousands of fans wanted to hear.

"We're ready to go."

Tuesday, two days before the Jan. 1 Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings, the ice guru was joined by NHL chief operations officer John Collins and senior vice president of events Don Renzulli.

Renzulli said construction of the hockey rink atop the baseball infield is "ahead of schedule by probably a good day" compared to last year's event at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium.

The first skates to hit the ice belonged to Craig and his crew, who tested the 2-inch-thick surface Tuesday at 10:15 a.m., followed two hours later by an international contingent of media and some old Hawks heroes.

Jerry "King Kong" Korab, Grant Mulvey, Brian Noonan, J.P. Bordeleau, Peter Marsh, Reggie Kerr and Cliff Koroll took spins with Stan Mikita entertaining media indoors. "There's me at 9 years of age, but not playing on a custom-made hockey rink," Mikita said. "We made the rink first and then we played. But, yeah, the memories are there."

Bordeleau, who played 519 games with the Blackhawks between 1969-80, flew in from Halifax, Nova Scotia, for Thursday's game. "When I found out about this, I said, 'I've got to get there,' " he said.

The 6-foot-3 Korab, wearing sunglasses, a hockey sweater and a fur hat with ear flaps, looked every bit the ruffian he was as a 15-year NHL defenseman, the first three seasons in Chicago.

After a few trips around the oval and hobnobbing with old teammates, "King Kong" Korab concluded the ice was "a little soft and it's a little chippy," but he had no doubt Craig and his crew would make it just right.

"I think we're helping it out a little bit, chipping it up a little," Korab said. "They'll shave her down. I think it'll be perfect for the game."

Craig confirmed the ice sheet was solid and that slight bleeding of the blue lines due to direct sunlight would be remedied. He said the repetitive process of shaving, buildup and washing would continue overnight to complete a surface worthy of the spectacle.

"You'd better put a seat belt on your seat when these two clubs get together, that's what I have to say," Craig said. "Because you are going to have one fast hockey game."