Black And Gold Fills Fenway

In an area of Boston where one normally sees a lot of red and a little bit of navy blue, there was a lot of black and gold Friday morning, as fans gathered around Fenway Park for the NHL Winter Classic.

This contest, between the hometown Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers, is the third annual Winter Classic. Last year's game was also held at a historic ballpark - Wrigley Field, in Chicago.

Despite previous concerns about weather, conditions Friday turned out for fans and players alike, as, before the puck dropped, there was no precipitation and temperatures hovered right about freezing.

"If we could die right now, well, let me get in this place first. Then, let me die," said Randi Rossi of New Bedford, Mass., while waiting outside before the game.

"It's definitely where hockey should be," said Elizabeth Cohen, a Northeastern student and lifetime hockey player. "I mean, that's where I learned, in my backyard around a pond, I didn't learn inside of a rink. In Barnstable and Hyannis, we just tore down the last remaining Massachusetts [outdoor] rink. So we get to experience another outdoor rink now."

Earlier Friday morning, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino spoke enthusiastically of the sell-out event as a boost for the city.

"This is a great opportunity for Boston to shine during the part of the winter that really doesn't have much going on," said Menino.

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