Winter Classic brought a buzz to St. Louis, says Hall of Famer Hull
ST. LOUIS - Brett Hull was on fire.
Not necessarily during the Blues vs. Blackhawks Alumni Game at Busch Stadium on Saturday, but certainly during a Q&A session with reporters afterward.
Here's what the Hall of Famer had to say about the Winter Classic, the Blackhawks and who surprised him during an "old-timer's game" won by the Blues 8-7.
Q. Can you please describe the excitement of St. Louis as a city this weekend and what this means for St. Louis as a hockey town?
A: It hasn't just been this week. It's from the minute they announced it there was a buzz, there's a buzz in the arena during games.
You go out to eat and people would walk by your table and say, 'Oh, we can't wait for the Winter Classic and to see you guys out there, the alumni.' And first thing I did is I went and got my ticket. …
Now that it's here, I think having (the Alumni Game) here - a couple days ahead of the real one - it's going to be even more exciting. Because I think they saw, even as slow and as old as we were, it was still exciting. And they can feel the Blackhawks-Blues game coming, and it's a real game.
Q. Talk about the fact that it's versus Chicago.
A: That's the way you have to do it. No sense having Tampa against St. Louis. … That's why Toronto and Detroit (played Sunday). And you've got to have the rivalry and that close proximity between cities so their fans can come and watch as well.
So, the game against the Blackhawks and how both teams now are - obviously Chicago has won the Cups and they have such a great corps of players. Well, the Blues the last five years have been as good as anybody, (and) haven't quite gotten over the hump to win that Cup. But there's two really good teams in the NHL and they always have good battles.
Q: Anybody really surprise you in the Alumni Game as far as what they had left in the tank?
A: Yeah, I thought I had a lot more left in the tank. (Laughter) I mean, I was good for about 10 steps and then it was just burning. ...
But I thought a lot of the guys looked really good. Keith (Tkachuk). Keith's a big man and he looked good out there. I thought he was great. And Larry Patey, he's got to be 60 years old and he pumped a goal in. And Bernie (Federko). Everyone looked good. And to win was great because I thought they had a bunch of young guys that barely just retired. So it was great. And it was nice to have Marty Brodeur in the net for us as well.