Before center John Mitchell was signed as a free agent by the Colorado Avalanche in 2012, he spent the 2011-12 season with the New York Rangers. While in New York, Mitchell had the opportunity to play outside in the 2012 Winter Classic, an unforgettable experience in which he tallied two helpers.
“I remember it being a fairly brisk day,” the 30-year-old forward recalled. “You kind of feel like you are playing in a minor hockey rink because there are really no stands right there, right beside you. But then when you look up and take a look around, you see that there is close to 50,000 people in the stands.