Blade Hunter grew up in a place where outdoor ice hockey was a way of life. Winters were cold, ponds were frozen, and hockey wasn’t just a sport, it was a ritual. Blade spent countless hours skating on the local pond, bundled up against the chill, with nothing but a couple of nets and his buddies to keep the game alive. The ice was bumpy, the wind freezing cold, but there was something about it raw hockey, where it was just about the love of the game. Playing in the Winter Classic is more than a flashy event for Blade, it’s a chance to reconnect with that feeling. Sure, the lights, roaring fans, and expensive tickets are a far cry from those quiet days, but the essence of playing outdoors remains. If Blade could pick the opponent, he’d want the Minnesota Monarchs. And for the location? Somewhere iconic, like Central Park in New York.